Table 1

Disruptive points and challenges reported by healthcare professionals and patients with SLE

Potential disruption points to an optimal patient pathway in SLEPhysiciansPatients
Undertraining of physicians (including primary care physicians) about SLE.
Excessive diagnosis delay for SLE (in some cases).
Indications for ANA testing.
Lack of adequate management and/or referral strategy for patients with ANA positivity.
Lack of dedicated consultation for announcing the diagnosis.
Lack of proper support following diagnosis announcement.
Need for more coordinated healthcare.
Need for interoperable data management systems between healthcare professionals.
Use of innovating tools and technologies to ensure privacy and high quality of care.
Need for clearly defined and individualised SLE patient pathways.
Lack of detailed information about how to prepare the consultation with the specialist.
Need to clarify the role of secondary healthcare professionals.
Management and referral strategy for SLE flares.
Lack of access to an SLE care coordinator (such as a specialised nurse).
Written personalised therapeutic management plan for patients.
Regular SLE cases review by a multidisciplinary expert panel.
Individualised treatment strategies based on patient characteristics.
Lack of detailed feedback on laboratory tests results.
Therapeutic education about SLE.
Prevention of work disability, including the use of appropriate social support.
Increased interprofessional interactions with coordinated care.
Access to psychologists and dietitians (outside inpatient care settings).
Specific management of paediatric and adolescent SLE, including transition towards adult care.
Improved pain management.
The need for more coordinated care between in-hospital and outpatient pharmacies.
Lack of detailed assessment of SLE impact over personal life.
  • Disruptive points and challenges marked with a tick (✓) were spontaneously reported by the stakeholders during the focus groups while those marked with a cross (✗) were not.