Little is known about the ideal service delivery model and shortcomings in patient experiences in the NHS for patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The objective of this work was to identify unmet needs perceived within the current health service delivery model for PsA from the UK Psoriatic Arthritis Priority Setting Partnership (PsA-PSP).
Methods
An online survey was conducted in 2020 and distributed to people with PsA, their carers and clinicians to identify research priorities in PsA. The participants were asked to submit three questions unanswered in PsA research. A proportion of submissions related to health service delivery were identified, which were deemed as out of scope for the main PsA-PSP but nevertheless important to report. Content analysis was used to analyse these submissions separately.
Results
We reviewed 138 submissions that were not related to the James Lind PSP and research priorities in PsA. Among these, 118 (85.5%) were focused on health service delivery and were classified into five main themes: rheumatology service, primary care navigation, education, holistic care, and ethnicity, diversity and inclusion. Further analysis within the rheumatology service theme revealed additional sub-themes that emphasized integrating multidisciplinary services, improving access to advice lines and ensuring fair access to treatments.
Conclusion
The five key themes provide valuable insights into the important areas of interest within health service delivery in the UK. By understanding these themes, policymakers, healthcare providers and researchers can better prioritize their efforts and address the specific care needs of people with PsA, their care providers and clinicians.
