Table 2.

Factors associated with increased self-reported autonomy in medical care

Independence outcome
		Independent action	Dependent action	p-value
	Variable
When you don’t feel well, who usually phones the doctor? (“me” was considered independent action)	Age (years)	18.80 ± 1.32	16.70 ± 1.63	0
	Summer Job
	Yes	100 %	51.50 %	0.014*
Who would you call first if you ran out of medication and there were no refills left on your bottle? (“doctor or pharmacy” was considered independent action)	Age (years)	17.68 ± 1.76	16.55 ± 1.60	0.01
	Parents older than 40 years
	Yes	70.40 %	92.50 %	0.02
	Driver’s license
	Yes	64.50 %	29.30 %	0.03*
Who makes your routine doctor’s appointments? (“yourself” was considered independent action)	Age (years)	18.5 ± 1.2	16.5 ± 1.7	<0.0001
	Fibromyalgia
	Yes	61.50 %	11.70 %	0.02*
	Non-rheumatologic diagnosis
	Yes	75 %	33.30 %	0.01
What do you do if you can’t keep an appointment scheduled with your rheumatologist? (“call and cancel yourself” was the independent action)	Age (years)	18.51 ± 1.23	16.3 7 ± 1.58	<0.0001
	3Disease duration (years)	5.77 ± 3.66	3.91 ± 2.97	0.03
	Family with similar disease
	Yes	72.10 %	44.70 %	0.03
	Driver’s license
	Yes	77.30 %	37.50 %	0.003*
	Summer job
	Yes	90.90 %	43.10 %	0
Do you take your medications as prescribed without someone reminding you?	No significant variable associations

*No longer significant when controlled for age