ArticleRheumatology international2025
The journey of patients with musculoskeletal complaints in Europe: a cross-sectional European survey.
Article in Rheumatology international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The journey of Europeans with musculoskeletal complaints: the creation of the SPIDeRR's personas.EULAR rheumatology open · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are highly prevalent and place a significant socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems. However, their diagnosis and management remain suboptimal. This study aimed to analyze healthcare-seeking behaviors, key touchpoints, access barriers, and diagnostic pathways for individuals experiencing initial or progressive symptoms of RMDs across European countries. Understanding these differences is crucial for improving early access to specialized care. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 141 participants from seven European countries, including 67 rheumatologists and 39 general practitioners (GPs). The survey assessed initial healthcare-seeking behaviors, delays in diagnosis, and perceived barriers to specialized rheumatology care. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for data analysis. The survey indicated that individuals experiencing RMD symptoms primarily seek information through internet research and GP consultations. Despite their role as primary gatekeepers, GPs' knowledge of RMDs was generally perceived as moderate to low. Significant disparities in access to rheumatological diagnostics, time to diagnosis, and treatment, coupled with organizational barriers between primary and specialist care, were reported across most countries. Spanish participants reported the longest diagnostic delays, while Swedish respondents experienced the shortest. Additionally, access to sacroiliac MRI was limited in Hungary and Spain, whereas glucocorticoids were widely available across all countries according to the participants. The study also revealed that early arthritis clinics were most accessible in the UK from the participants' perspectives. Significant variations in healthcare access for patients with RMDs persist across Europe. Strategies to enhance early detection, including GP education and improved specialist accessibility, are essential to optimizing patient outcomes.
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