Table 2 Demographic, health-related, physician-related and patient-related characteristics (n = 519)*

Socio-demographic variables

Age, years

56 ± 12

Women, no. (%)

285 (59)

Married/living with a partner, no. (%)

391 (82)

Education, no. (%)

Low (<12 years)

155 (33)

Medium (12 – 16 years)

220 (47)

High (>16 years)

94 (20)

Family income, no. (%)

Low (< €28.500/year)

114 (31)

Medium (€28.500 - €34.000/year)

112 (31)

High (> €34.000/year)

139 (38)

Fulltime and part time employed, no. (%)

198 (45)

Health-related variables

Diagnosis (n,%)

Rheumatoid Arthritis

307 (63)

Psoriatic Arthritis

120 (25)

Ankylosing Spondylitis

58 (12)

Years since diagnosis, no. (%)

<1

19 (5)

1–5

82 (21)

6–10

159 (40)

>10

139 (35)

Well-being (SF-12) (range 0–100)

Physical

39 ± 10

Mental

49 ± 10

Patient-related

Self-efficacy in patient-provider interaction (PEPPI) (range 10–50)

39.9 ± 4.2

Need for information (API) (range 0–100)

71.7 ± 10.3

Physician-related variables

Frequency of visits in the last year, no. (%)

once a year

75 (14.7)

2–4 times a year

344 (67.5)

>4 times a year

89 (17.5)

Duration of relationship with rheumatologist (years)

7 (7)

Almost every visit the same rheumatologist, no. (%)

501 (97%)

Trust in physician (CPQ) (range 1–4)

3.48 ± .49

Emotional support of physician (CPQ) (range 1–4)

3.13 ± .49