Patient's access to healthcare and treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: the views of stakeholders in Portugal.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The access to healthcare and treatment by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, particularly to biologics, differs significantly among European countries.We aimed to explore the views and experiences of Portuguese healthcare stakeholders on key barriers which limit the access to treatment, and ultimately to biologics, by RA patients and to find potential solutions (leverage points) to overcome the identified barriers.

Methods

This was a qualitative research consisting of semi-structured face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders in RA framework. Thirty four individuals from eight groups of stakeholders were interviewed: rural and urban general practitioners (GPs), rheumatologists, hospital managers, hospital pharmacists, budget holders, representatives from the P

SUBMITTER: Laires PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3849024 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature