Unmet demands for health care among patients with RA: Indications for underuse

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Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Jun 15;51(3):440-6.

Unmet demands for health care among patients with rheumatoid arthritis:

Indications for underuse?

i CE, Rupp I, Boshuizen HC, Triemstra M, Dinant HJ, Van Den Bos GA.

Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The

Netherlands, and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The

Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of unmet health care demands among

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to determine if these unmet

demands indicate underuse. METHODS: A total of 679 patients with RA

participated in a questionnaire survey and clinical examination. Unmet

health care demands and health care use were assessed for orthopedic

care, allied health care, home care, and psychosocial care. Indications

for underuse were determined by comparing health outcomes of patients

with unmet health care demands and of health care users. RESULTS: Of the

679 patients, 28.7% had an unmet demand for 1 of the 4 services: 13.4%

for allied health care, 9.7% for orthopedic care, 9.4% for home care,

and 6.2% for psychosocial care. Underuse of allied health care, home

care and psychosocial care was observed.

CONCLUSION: Unmet demands for health care are frequent among RA

patients. Most unmet demands indicate underuse. Health care

professionals should therefore be more responsive to the demands of

patients.

PMID: 15188331

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