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

## TL;DR

This study explores how patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Finland perceive foot health services, finding that while some value them, many find them hard to access.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into patient perceptions of foot health services for rheumatoid arthritis in Finland, highlighting access and education issues.

## Key findings

- Most users of foot health services were satisfied but felt patient education was insufficient.
- One third of respondents reported never visiting foot health services due to access and system-related issues.
- Patients emphasized the need for improved accessibility and seamless care paths for foot health services.

## 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.