Aim: Between 2000 and 2003 the collaborative arthritis center Hanover implemented a quality management program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fourteen rheumatologists in private practice participated in this model project. One of the aims of the project was to improve the cooperation between primary care physicians and rheumatologists. A survey of the primary care physicians was conducted to evaluate rheumatological care.
Methods: A total of 340 patients with RA were included in the study. All primary care physicians of these patients were informed about the goals of the project and asked to answer a questionnaire on cooperation with rheumatologists. The questionnaire contained 14 questions and was sent to 270 primary care physicians.
Results: Of the primary care physicians, 83% returned the questionnaire, and 81% percent of these were family practitioners. The primary care physicians treated a mean of 19 patients with RA, of whom 14 were attended in cooperation with rheumatologists. High mean values were found for satisfaction with different aspects of rheumatological patient care on a numerical rating scale from 0 (not satisfied at all) to 10 (completely satisfied). Mean values for satisfaction: diagnosis 7.9, therapy recommendations 7.6, follow-up 7.2,and usefulness of medical report 7.7. A total of 70% of primary care physicians reported difficulties in realizing the recommendations of the rheumatologists. Of the respondents, 90% saw a need for improvement in cooperation with rheumatologists, the most frequently mentioned being the difficulty of consultation with appointments.
Conclusion: This survey of primary care physicians of patients with RA reveals a positive assessment of the cooperation with rheumatologists. The problems which exist mainly concern the realization of recommendations. There is a great requirement for further improvement in the cooperation between primary care physicians and rheumatologists.