PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - VIVIAN P. BYKERK AU - ORIT SCHIEIR AU - POONEH AKHAVAN AU - GLEN S. HAZLEWOOD AU - CARLY K. CHENG AU - CLAIRE BOMBARDIER TI - Emerging Issues in Pharmacological Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a National Needs Assessment Survey Identifying Practice Variations for the Development of Canadian Rheumatology Association Clinical Practice Recommendations AID - 10.3899/jrheum.110208 DP - 2012 Aug 01 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - 1555--1558 VI - 39 IP - 8 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/8/1555.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/8/1555.full SO - J Rheumatol2012 Aug 01; 39 AB - Objective. To describe Canadian clinical practice patterns in the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and identify practice variations. Methods. A 44-item pre-guideline needs assessment survey was sent to all members of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondent characteristics and practice patterns. Results. Survey respondents (n = 164) reported variations in practice regarding assessment strategies, treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug monotherapy versus combination therapy, methotrexate dosing and escalation, corticosteroid strategies, and optimal use of biologics. Conclusions. Practice variations identified in this pre-guideline needs assessment survey were used to formulate key treatment questions for the development of CRA recommendations.