Perceptions of foot health services from the perspective of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Finland.

Abstract

Foot health services for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are an important part of their comprehensive care. However, little is known about the perceptions of people with RA have about foot health services. This study aimed to explore how people with RA perceive foot health services. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was applied. The electronic survey data were collected in April 2023 from people with RA through a national patients' association (N=2400, response rate 24%, n=565). The statistical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and textual data with thematic analysis. Most of the respondents (n=322, 59%) had used foot health services provided by chiropodist or podiatrist. Those who had used services were mostly satisfied but considered patient education about foot health insufficient. One third reported no visits to foot health services at all because of personal and health service system-related factors. Those people with RA who have access to foot health services value and appreciate the services. However, many people with RA do not use foot health services because they perceive availability of such services limited and thus unequal and hard to access. There is a need to develop foot health services for people with RA so that they are easy to access, correspond to their foot health needs and have seamless care paths at different levels of the health care system.