Factors influencing early referral, early diagnosis and management in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
Rheumatology (Oxford)
; 57(5): 813-817, 2018 05 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29415230
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To gain insight into clinical practice regarding referral, early diagnosis and other aspects of the management of patients with dcSSc in Europe and the USA.Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 84 rheumatologists (or internal medicine physicians) and 40 dermatologists in different countries (the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the USA). Physicians were asked to identify key steps in the patient pathway relating to patient presentation, diagnosis and referral, in addition to other treatment and follow-up processes.Results:
The interviewed physicians reported that late presentation with dcSSc was common, with some patients presenting to primary care physicians after symptoms had persisted for up to 1 year. Awareness of dcSSc is reported to vary widely among primary care physicians. Final diagnosis, generally following guideline-based recommendations, was by rheumatologists in most cases (or internal medicine physicians in France) and they remained responsible for global patient management, with lesser involvement in diagnosis and management by dermatologists. Specialist centres were not well defined and did not exist in all countries.Conclusion:
Patients and primary healthcare providers can be unaware of the symptoms of dcSSc, therefore presentation and referral to specialist care are often late. Thus, improved awareness among patients and primary care physicians is necessary to facilitate earlier referral and diagnosis. Once referred, more consistent use of the modified Rodnan skin score at diagnosis and follow-up may help to monitor disease progression. Furthermore, establishing specialist centres may help to promote such changes and improve patient care.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Calidad de la Atención de Salud
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Derivación y Consulta
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Competencia Clínica
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Manejo de la Enfermedad
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Esclerodermia Difusa
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Diagnóstico Precoz
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Reumatólogos
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
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Diagnostic_studies
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Etiology_studies
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Guideline
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Qualitative_research
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Risk_factors_studies
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Screening_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rheumatology (Oxford)
Asunto de la revista:
REUMATOLOGIA
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Suiza