ArticleRheumatology international2024
Barriers and facilitators in diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis: a qualitative study.
Article in Rheumatology international, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Barriers and facilitators associated with diagnostic and treatment delays in lupus in the Global South and North: a systematic review of qualitative and mixed methods studies.Rheumatology international · 2025Pooled it
- Performance of referral strategies for patients with suspected axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2026Article
- First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) Referral Practices to Rheumatology: A Scoping Review of the Evidence Base.Musculoskeletal care · 2026Article
- Treatment satisfaction, disease severity, and health-care use in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in the United States and Europe.Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · 2026Article
- Time and patient journey to axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis: a retrospective study in French primary care.Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · 2026Article
- Spondyloarthritis in Latin America: a difficult-to-diagnose challenge.Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2026Review
- Representation of underserved communities in non-pharmacological axial spondyloarthritis trials: a scoping review protocol.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2026Article
- Referral Patterns, Diagnostic Delay, and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis in a Tertiary Rheumatology Centre in Malaysia: A Retrospective Observational Study.International journal of general medicine · 2026Article
- Practice patterns and challenges in the referral, diagnosis, management, and monitoring of axial spondyloarthritis: insights from an online survey of rheumatologists.Rheumatology international · 2025Article
- Prevalence and clinical features of early axial spondyloarthritis according to ASAS definition: a cross-sectional analysis from the reuma-check cohort.Rheumatology international · 2025Observational
- Delayed diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis: the crucial role of primary care - how you can make a difference.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2025Article
- Living with axial spondyloarthritis: a cross-sectional survey of patient knowledge and perceptions.Rheumatology international · 2024Article
- Knowledge, perceptions, and practices of axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis and management among healthcare professionals: an online cross-sectional survey.Rheumatology international · 2024Article
- Progressive improvement in time to diagnosis in axial spondyloarthritis through an integrated referral and education system.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2024Article
- British Axial Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (BAxSIC): a protocol for a multicentre real-world observational cohort study of early axial spondyloarthritis.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionDiagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is frequently delayed for years after symptom onset. However, little is known about patient and healthcare professional (HCP) perspectives on barriers and facilitators in axSpA diagnosis. This study explored the experiences and perceptions of both groups regarding the factors affecting the timely diagnosis of axSpA.
methodSemi-structured interviews with patients with axSpA and axSpA-interested HCPs from the United Kingdom (UK) were performed by telephone or Microsoft Teams and focussed on the individuals' perspective of the diagnostic journey for axSpA. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed.
resultsFourteen patients with axSpA (10 female, 4 male) and 14 UK based HCPs were recruited, the latter comprising of 5 physiotherapists, 4 General Practitioners, 3 rheumatologists, a nurse, and an occupational therapist. Barriers to diagnosis identified by patients and HCPs were: difficult to diagnose, a lack of awareness, unclear referral pathways, patient behaviour and patient/HCP communication. Patient-identified facilitators of diagnosis were patient advocacy, clear referral processes and pathways, increased awareness, and serendipity. HCPs identified promoting awareness as a facilitator of diagnosis, along with symptom recognition, improvements to healthcare practice and patient/HCP communications.
conclusionPoor communication and a lack of understanding of axSpA in the professional and public spheres undermine progress towards timely diagnosis of axSpA. Improving communication and awareness for patients and HCPs, along with systemic changes in healthcare (such as improved referral pathways) could reduce diagnostic delay.
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