TY - JOUR T1 - 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 JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1555 LP - 1558 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.110208 VL - 39 IS - 8 AU - VIVIAN P. BYKERK AU - ORIT SCHIEIR AU - POONEH AKHAVAN AU - GLEN S. HAZLEWOOD AU - CARLY K. CHENG AU - CLAIRE BOMBARDIER Y1 - 2012/08/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/8/1555.abstract N2 - 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. ER -