title: Facilitators to implement standards of care for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: the EUMUSC.NET project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are important musculoskeletal diseases that the EUMUSC.NET project developed Standards of Care (SOC) for.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to explore factors to enable successful implementation of the SOC for RA and OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A combined set of methods was used; a literature search, a European survey among patients, clinicians and policymakers; and focus groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Potential facilitators were identified during a literature search. The online survey captured 282 responses from clinicians, patients and policymakers from 35 European countries, and focus groups from 5 countries contributed with knowledge about possible additional facilitators and strategies. Both the survey and the focus groups endorsed all 11 facilitators. The most important facilitators for implementing the SOC were motivation, agreement, knowledge and personal attitude. The focus groups underlined the lack of access to recommended care in some countries, that multidisciplinary teams should be strengthened and that some healthcare reimbursement systems need change to implement recommended clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eleven facilitators key for the implementation of the SOC for RA and OA were endorsed by patients and clinicians from 35 European countries. This knowledge may contribute to improved care for patients with RA and OA in Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Rikke H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingemar F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Salud Musculosqueletica, Spain.
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.affiliation: Swedish Rheumatism Association, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greiff
authors.affiliation: Lorraine Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillemin
authors.affiliation: Dr Ion Cantacuzino Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Udrea
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Salud Musculosqueletica, Spain.
authors.forename: Estibaliz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loza
authors.affiliation: Medizinsche Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michaela A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stoffer
authors.affiliation: Reumapatiëntenbond, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.affiliation: Deutsche Reuma-Liga, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiek
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vliet Vlieland
authors.affiliation: Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro Cornwall, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uhlig
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D005060:Europe; D017144:Focus Groups; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*; D059039:Standard of Care
keywords: Health services research; Osteoarthritis; Patient perspective; Rheumatoid Arthritis