Objective Interdisciplinary team-based models of rheumatology care, where rheumatologists and interdisciplinary healthcare professionals deliver care collaboratively, offer a promising solution to improve integrated care, however an understanding of patients' experiences with this approach remains limited. We explored patients' perspectives on receiving care through an interdisciplinary team-based model. Methods This was a qualitative study informed by qualitative description. We conducted a secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews with patients receiving care through an interdisciplinary model in Ontario, Canada. The interviews explored patients' experiences with team-based care and perceived impact on disease management. We inductively coded interview transcripts and constructed themes using thematic analysis. Results Among fifteen participants, 47% were female, ten (67%) had inflammatory arthritis, three (20%) had other inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and two (13%) had osteoarthritis. We identified five overarching themes: 1) Educational Empowerment, 2) Unhurried Thoroughness, 3) Responsive Care, 4) Timely Care, and 5) Personalized Care through Multi-specialized Collaboration. Participants perceived team-based care to offer enhanced access, including prompt appointments and timely responses to phone calls, attributed to the involvement of multiple health professionals. Participants described care as comprehensive and proactive, addressing needs beyond what a rheumatologist alone could provide. Longer consultations enabled thorough assessments, education, and support across all aspects of disease management. Participants valued the integrated "one-stop-shop" model, which reduced the number of external referrals and separate appointments. Conclusion Patients valued interdisciplinary team-based rheumatology care for improving care access and delivering integrated, convenient, comprehensive care that holistically addressed their needs. These results support wider implementation.
Sraka et al. (Mon,) studied this question.