Table 1 Description of decisions as provided in questionnaire (translated from Dutch)

Starting traditional anti-rheumatic drugs.

The following questions concern starting traditional anti-rheumatic drugs, also called traditional DMARDs. These drugs can reduce joint damage. They decrease disease activity: they ease pain and rigor and on the long term prevent further joint damage.

Examples: methotrexate (Emthexate ® , Ledertrexate ® ), sulfasalazine (Salazopyrine ®); go l d (Tauredo ® , Ridaura ® ), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil ® ), penicillamine (Gerodyl ® ), azathioprine (Imuran ® ), ciclosporine (Neoral ® ) and leflunomide (Arava ® ).

Starting to inject.

Medication can be administered in various ways. Most drugs are administered orally as tablets. Another way is by subcutaneous injection. Methotrexate (Emthexate®, Ledertrexate®) is available as tablet, but can also be administered by subcutaneous injection. The following questions concern starting subcutaneous methotrexate injections.

Beware: these questions only concern methotrexate and not other drugs that may be administered by subcutaneous injection.

Starting biologic anti-rheumatic drugs.

The following questions concern starting biologic anti-rheumatic drugs, also called biologic DMARDs. Biologic DMARDs are administered by subcutaneous injection or directly into a vein. Biologic DMARDs aim to reduce arthritis by inhibiting mediators of inflammation, such as TNF and Interleukine-1.

Examples: Adalimumab (Humira ® ), Etanercept (Enbrel ® ), Infliximab (Remicade ® ), Anakinra (Kineret ® ).

Decreasing or stopping anti-rheumatic drugs.

For various reasons medication can be decreased or even stopped. This may be due to side effects or because you are doing so well that the dosage may be decreased.

The following questions concern decreasing or stopping anti-rheumatic drugs.

Beware: these questions only concern your anti-rheumatic drugs and not pain medication or other drugs.