What type of study is this?

This is a Qualitative Study study.

December 4, 2025Open Access

"It's Like a One-Stop-Shop": A Qualitative Study Exploring Patient Experiences with Interdisciplinary Team-Based Rheumatology Care

GSGabrielle SrakaBrampton Civic Hospital ZLZeenat LadakUniversity of Toronto CLCelia LaurUniversity of Toronto

Key Points

Patients reported improved disease management through interdisciplinary care, enhancing integrated access to services.
Key themes identified include educational empowerment, responsive care, and personalized intervention for various rheumatic diseases.
Qualitative analysis of interviews highlights the benefits of timely accessibility and comprehensive assessments by health professionals.
These findings suggest the need for broader implementation of interdisciplinary models for better patient outcomes in rheumatology.

Abstract

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.

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