Rudolf Puchner1, Gertraud Schaffer2, Judith Sautner3, Alois Alkin4, Klaus Machold5, Tanja Stamm6. 1. Rheumatologist in private practice, Freiung 19, 4600, Wels, Austria. rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. 2. Austrian League Against Rheumatism (patient organisation and support group), Maria Alm, Austria. 3. 2nd Department of Medicine, Center for Rheumatology, Lower Austria state hospital Stockerau, Stockerau, Austria. 4. Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz, Austria. 5. Deparment of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 6. Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Section for Outcomes Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the medical care of individuals in rural areas during a public health awareness project on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). METHODS: A tour bus was adapted to accommodate rheumatological consultations at widely accessible sites in 16 towns, providing individual medical advice with respect to MSD. The participating rheumatologists assessed the nature (e.g. inflammatory/non inflammatory), extent and duration of MSD and, where possible, made a tentative diagnosis and gave further advice on the course of action. In addition, age, sex and pre-existing care were recorded. All individuals were asked to assess their own severity of pain using a numeric ordinal scale from "no" (0) to "extreme" (10). RESULTS: A total of 647 individuals visited the service. Median current pain intensity was 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 3-6), mean 4.9 (standard deviation [SD] 2.3). Osteoarthritis was suspected in 381 clients (59.6%), inflammatory rheumatic disease in 247 (38.7%), and in 104 (16.3%) other diseases. 307 (50%) were treated by a GP, 95 (15.5%) were under orthopaedic care, 204 (33.2%) under rheumatological care and 81 (13.1%) under supervision of other specialists. 104 clients (17%) had never consulted a physician for their MSD symptoms before. 27 (4.2%) of all the clients had a newly detected inflammatory rheumatic disease and 62 (9.6%) patients with suspected inflammatory rheumatic disease were not under previous rheumatological care. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that there is still a lot of negligence in awareness and knowledge of rheumatic diseases, at least in rural areas.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the medical care of individuals in rural areas during a public health awareness project on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). METHODS: A tour bus was adapted to accommodate rheumatological consultations at widely accessible sites in 16 towns, providing individual medical advice with respect to MSD. The participating rheumatologists assessed the nature (e.g. inflammatory/non inflammatory), extent and duration of MSD and, where possible, made a tentative diagnosis and gave further advice on the course of action. In addition, age, sex and pre-existing care were recorded. All individuals were asked to assess their own severity of pain using a numeric ordinal scale from "no" (0) to "extreme" (10). RESULTS: A total of 647 individuals visited the service. Median current pain intensity was 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 3-6), mean 4.9 (standard deviation [SD] 2.3). Osteoarthritis was suspected in 381 clients (59.6%), inflammatory rheumatic disease in 247 (38.7%), and in 104 (16.3%) other diseases. 307 (50%) were treated by a GP, 95 (15.5%) were under orthopaedic care, 204 (33.2%) under rheumatological care and 81 (13.1%) under supervision of other specialists. 104 clients (17%) had never consulted a physician for their MSD symptoms before. 27 (4.2%) of all the clients had a newly detected inflammatory rheumatic disease and 62 (9.6%) patients with suspected inflammatory rheumatic disease were not under previous rheumatological care. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that there is still a lot of negligence in awareness and knowledge of rheumatic diseases, at least in rural areas.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health care research; Musculoskeletal disorders; Quality of care; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rural patients in Austria
Authors: Rudolf Puchner; Hans Peter Brezinschek; Manfred Herold; Thomas Nothnagl; Andrea Studnicka-Benke; Josef Fritz; Burkhard F Leeb Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2014-03-28 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Rudolf Puchner; Richard Janetschko; Wilhelm Kaiser; Manfred Linkesch; Markus Steininger; Raimund Tremetsberger; Alois Alkin; Klaus Machold Journal: J Rheumatol Date: 2016-04-01 Impact factor: 4.666