Table 1 Patient-related characteristics (n = 281)

 Age, years

54 ± 15 (158)

55 ± 13 (123)

n.s.^b

 Gender, % (n)

Women

65 % (102)

61 % (75)

Men

35 % (56)

39 % (48)

n.s.

 Marital status, % (n)

Married/living with partner

78 % (121)

89 % (109)

Not married/living alone

22 % (34)

11 % (14)

0.02

 Education, % (n)

Low

26 % (41)

30 % (37)

Medium

52 % (81)

50 % (61)

High

22 % (34)

20 % (25)

n.s.

 Work status, % (n)

Employed/studying

67 % (82)

67 % (58)

Not employed/not studying

33 % (41)

33 % (29)

n.s.

 Diagnosis, % (n)

Rheumatoid arthritis

76 % (108)

81 % (91)

Psoriatic arthritis

19 % (27)

13 % (15)

Ankylosing spondylitis

5 % (7)

6 % (7)

n.s.

 Years since diagnosis, % (n)

<1

37 % (58)

25 % (31)

1–5

34 % (52)

41 % (50)

6–10

10 % (16)

12 % (14)

>10

19 % (29)

22 % (27)

n.s.

 Pain (NRS)

Range 0–10

4.7 ± 2,4 (158)

4.7 ± 2,5 (123)

n.s.^b

 Physical function (HAQ-II)

range 0–3

2.17 ± 0.57 (155)

2.13 ± 0.57 (120)

n.s.^b

 Preferred role in decision-making (CPS), % (n)

(Mostly) doctor

15 % (23)

8 % (10)

Shared

76 % (119)

77 % (94)

(Mostly) patient

9 % (14)

15 % (18)

n.s.

 Need for information (CPQ)

range 1–5

4.4 ± 0.8 (154)

4.5 ± 0.7 (121)

n.s.^b