The patient experience of services for thyroid eye disease in the United Kingdom: results of a nationwide survey

BACKGROUND: A recent consensus statement from the European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy recommends referring all patients with thyroid eye disease (TED), except the mildest cases, to a specialist multidisciplinary clinic. OBJECTIVE: To study the patients' experiences of accessing services for the treatment of TED in the UK. METHODS: A postal questionnaire survey of 395 members of two patients support organisations for TED in the UK, the TED Charitable Trust and the British Thyroid Foundation. RESULTS: The response rate was 67%. The majority of responders were females (91%) and aged above 45 (74%). There were delays in the diagnosis and referral. In 26% of responders, the time lapsed from the first symptoms to the diagnosis of TED for over 12 months. There was a wide variation in the type of clinic and healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of TED. Only 25% of the responders attended a specialist TED clinic. Out of these, 33% waited over 6 months from the first consultation with a doctor to being seen at a specialist TED clinic. Only 56% of responders were satisfied with the treatment they received for TED. More responders who had attended a specialist TED clinic were satisfied with the treatment than those who had not attended a specialist clinic (67 vs 52%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Only a minority of patients with TED are treated at a specialist TED clinic in the UK. Those patients who are treated at a specialist TED clinic are more likely to be satisfied with the treatment.