Patients’ healthcare experiences are increasingly important in the delivery of a patient-centered healthcare paradigm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate individuals with inflammatory arthritis’s experience with health care, as well as patient- and health-care-related variables. Patients completed an anonymous survey administered by their medical providers. The survey included the validated 12-item IEXPAC instrument, as well as demographic data and health-care-related parameters that might influence patients’ experiences. A total of 359 surveys were returned out of a total of 625. Overall, patient answers were positive for comments measuring patient-health care professional contact or patient self-management following health care professional assistance. Positive patient answers for items involving patient engagement with the health care system via the internet or with other patients, on the other hand, were fewer than 13%. Only 25.6 percent of hospitalized patients reported receiving a follow-up call or visit after discharge. In the bivariate study, men, patients seen by fewer specialists or by the same physician, and patients treated with less medicines or subcutaneous/intravenous pharmaceuticals had better experience scores. Regular follow-up by the same physician and therapy with subcutaneous/intravenous medicines were identified as factors linked with a better patient experience in multivariate analyses.
This study outlines areas of treatment for patients with inflammatory arthritis that have the potential to enhance patients’ experiences and emphasizes the significance of patient-physician interactions and complete patient care.
