Healthcare professional interview study

This study is about the letters rheumatology healthcare professionals write after an outpatient appointment. These are called clinic letters.

National guidance advises healthcare professionals to write these letters directly to patients, but not everyone does. Instead, some members of rheumatology teams write clinic letters to other healthcare professionals, for example, their patients’ GPs. A copy may also be sent to the patients.

We aim to develop a set of resources to encourage and support members of rheumatology teams to write directly to patients. To help us do this, we need to know more about healthcare professionals’ current practice and the views of people who write clinic letters.

We are asking rheumatology healthcare professionals to take part in an interview. Interviews will last about 60 minutes and will take place online via video call (using the Zoom platform) or via telephone.

We want to hear from people who:

• currently provide healthcare to adult patients attending an NHS/HSC rheumatology outpatient department(s) in the UK;
• as part of routine care, write letters summarising NHS/HSC rheumatology outpatient clinic consultations in the UK (either to the GP or to the patient);
• can speak English;
• have capacity (the ability) to provide consent to take part.

Learn more

• Advert – healthcare professional interview study (PDF)
• Participant information sheet – healthcare professional interview study (PDF)

Take part

This interview study is now closed.

For information for healthcare professionals please visit our co-production workshops webpage.