Diagnosis and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in Dutch nursing homes: a qualitative study among healthcare professionals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are common but often underrecognized in nursing home residents, potentially resulting in suboptimal management and reduced quality of life. This qualitative study explored experiences of health care professionals (HCPs), specifically lead clinicians (elderly care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) and physiotherapists, related to diagnosing and managing RMDs in nursing homes.

Methods

HCPs were purposively sampled for a semi-structured interview. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data systematically. Two researchers independently read and coded the interview transcripts. Important concepts were categorized and combined in overarching themes through multiple iterations by usin

SUBMITTER: Austen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12918116 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature