Referral patterns, influencing factors, and satisfaction related to referrals of patients with rheumatic diseases to other healthcare professionals: an online survey of rheumatologists

Managing rheumatic diseases requires teamwork, but referral patterns and challenges remain poorly understood. This study explored rheumatologists’ perspectives on referral patterns in the Gulf countries. We conducted a web-based, 21-question cross-sectional survey between November and December 2024, collecting data on rheumatologists’ demographics, referral patterns, influencing factors, and satisfaction. Participants were recruited through email invitations, WhatsApp groups and snowball sampling. Statistical analyses included descriptive and inferential methods, such as subgroup comparisons and logistic regression, to identify predictors of referral frequency and satisfaction. A total of 149 rheumatologists participated, with 58.4% being consultants. Approximately 55% had up to 10 years of post-training experience. The primary referral method was electronic health records (EHR) (84.8%). In the three months preceding the survey, 36.3% made 0–10 referrals, while 35.6% made over 20. Dermatology (85.5%) and physiotherapy (79.5%) were the most referred specialties, aligning with psoriatic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus as the most referred diseases. Most rheumatologists (78%) often or always followed up on referrals, and 37.4% reported moderate changes in their referral decision-making over time. Key influences on referral decisions included patient-, practice-, and diagnostic-related factors. Patient gender preference had no impact. Multidisciplinary meetings (78.2%), access to updated clinical guidelines (76.5%), attending multidisciplinary continuing medical education or training programs (67.2%), and improved EHR referral systems (64.7%) were the top resources for improving referrals. Satisfaction post-referral was affected by various factors such as patients’ experiences post-referral (61.5%), and healthcare professionals’ responsiveness to their questions (54.2%). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, employment status, practice setting, and geographical location were associated with referral decisions. This study is the first to provide valuable insights into referral practices among Gulf rheumatologists, identifying key influencing factors and areas for improvement. Findings suggest that enhancing EHR systems, multidisciplinary meetings, and clinical guidelines can optimize referrals and interdisciplinary care.