Rehabilitation provided to patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison of three different Rheumatology clinics in Austria, Sweden, and the UK from the perspectives of patients and health professionals

Objective: This study aimed to explore from the perspective of patients and health professionals (HPs) how outpatient rehabilitation services for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are set up in three different Rheumatology sites across Europe. Methods: A qualitative multi-method study was conducted with patients and HPs in Vienna (AUT), Gothenburg (SE), and Leeds (UK). For data collection focus groups with patients and HPs were conducted respectively and hospital records of these patients were integrated into the analysis. Data was analysed first for each site to subsequently compare the findings across sites. Results: Twenty patients and 20 HPs participated in 12 focus groups. Though the three sites have in common that they were all university clinics and publicly funded, differences across sites were revealed regarding the structure and content of rehabilitation services. Though most of the themes were addressed at all three sites, the specifics within a theme varied. These themes are: Referrals, Continuity in rehabilitation, Information provided to patients, Patients’ Organizations, Documentation and Communication amongst HPs, Interface between primary and specialist care, and Prescription practices. Conclusion: The integration of patients’ and HPs’ perspectives on how rehabilitation services are coordinated and how (parts of) processes are set up elsewhere provide valuable information for further optimizing rehabilitation services.