Disease Knowledge Assessed by RAKE-T and Its Sociodemographic and Clinical Correlates in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Biologic and Targeted Synthetic DMARDs: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Disease-related knowledge is important in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly for patients receiving biologic (bDMARD) or targeted synthetic (tsDMARD) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. This study aimed to assess disease knowledge using the Turkish version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire (RAKE-T) in patients receiving bDMARD/tsDMARD therapy and to investigate its sociodemographic and clinical correlates. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study included 230 patients with RA receiving bDMARD/tsDMARD therapy at four rheumatology centers. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and disease knowledge was assessed using the 45-item RAKE-T. Linear or robust regression analyses, as appropriate, were used to evaluate factors associated with total and domain-specific scores, except for the single-item comorbidity domain, which was analyzed using binary logistic regression. Results: The mean total RAKE-T score was 61.77 ± 19.00. Older age was associated with lower total RAKE-T and disease knowledge domain scores (p = 0.033 for both). University education or higher was associated with higher total RAKE-T scores (β = 14.503, p < 0.001) and higher scores in the disease knowledge, pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological treatments, and adaptive skills domains. Place of residence was associated with disease knowledge, self-care, and adaptive skills scores. Disease duration, duration of biologic therapy, sex, marital status, and previous biologic agent use were not significantly associated with total or domain-specific RAKE-T scores. Conclusions: Among patients with RA receiving bDMARD/tsDMARD therapy, disease knowledge was associated with age, educational level, and place of residence, whereas no statistically significant associations were observed with disease duration or duration of biologic therapy. These findings suggest that longer disease or treatment experience should not be assumed to correspond to greater disease knowledge and support periodic reassessment of educational needs and individually tailored patient education.