Anna E B McLean1,2, Susanne E Webster2, Margaret Fry3,4, Edmund M Lau1,2, Peter Corte2, Paul J Torzillo1,2, Lauren K Troy1,2, Helen E Jo1,2, Monika Geis2, Jessica E Rhodes2, Shannon Cleary2, Lissa Spencer5,6, Tamera J Corte1,2. 1. Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 3. Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 4. Research and Practice Development, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 5. Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 6. Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The significant and progressive morbidity associated with ILD mean that patients often struggle with the impact of this disease on their QOL and independence. To date, no studies have investigated the importance of multidisciplinary care on patient experience in ILD. We aimed to determine the expectations and priorities of patients attending a tertiary referral centre multidisciplinary ILD clinic. In particular, we sought to learn how important the multidisciplinary element of the clinic was to patients and which aspects of the clinic were most valued. METHODS: An 18-item patient questionnaire was developed in conjunction with expert physicians and specialist nurses involved in the ILD clinic and sent to all patients on the centre's ILD registry at the time of the study (n = 240). Patients rated the importance of different aspects of their experience of attending the clinic. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Comparisons across disease severity were made using two-sided Z-tests for independent proportions. RESULTS: A total of 100 respondents comprised the study group. Almost all respondents valued the multidisciplinary aspect of the clinic. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis and improving their disease understanding was most important to respondents. The importance of the ILD specialist nurse for both education and support increased with worsening disease severity. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a multidisciplinary approach to the management of ILD with additional focus on patient education, as well as tailoring care to disease severity, is a plausible pathway to improving the patient experience with ILD.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The significant and progressive morbidity associated with ILD mean that patients often struggle with the impact of this disease on their QOL and independence. To date, no studies have investigated the importance of multidisciplinary care on patient experience in ILD. We aimed to determine the expectations and priorities of patients attending a tertiary referral centre multidisciplinary ILD clinic. In particular, we sought to learn how important the multidisciplinary element of the clinic was to patients and which aspects of the clinic were most valued. METHODS: An 18-item patient questionnaire was developed in conjunction with expert physicians and specialist nurses involved in the ILD clinic and sent to all patients on the centre's ILD registry at the time of the study (n = 240). Patients rated the importance of different aspects of their experience of attending the clinic. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Comparisons across disease severity were made using two-sided Z-tests for independent proportions. RESULTS: A total of 100 respondents comprised the study group. Almost all respondents valued the multidisciplinary aspect of the clinic. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis and improving their disease understanding was most important to respondents. The importance of the ILD specialist nurse for both education and support increased with worsening disease severity. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a multidisciplinary approach to the management of ILD with additional focus on patient education, as well as tailoring care to disease severity, is a plausible pathway to improving the patient experience with ILD.