Patient experiences in multidisciplinary care for persistent somatic symptoms across four European countries: a cross-sectional comparison

Nick Mamo; Aleksandra Kustra-Mulder; Denise J C Hanssen; Angelika Weigel; Lineke Tak; Tim C Olde Hartman; Bernd Löwe; Judith G M Rosmalen

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097593

Patient experiences in multidisciplinary care for persistent somatic symptoms across four European countries: a cross-sectional comparison

Nick Mamo^*
, Aleksandra Kustra-Mulder
, Denise J C Hanssen
, Angelika Weigel
, Lineke Tak
, Tim C Olde Hartman
, Bernd Löwe
, Judith G M Rosmalen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Interdisciplinary Centre Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

35 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore patients with persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders' (PSS/FD) experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care across Europe. A further aim is to compare the experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care of patients to those of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Netherlands.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey.

SETTING: Patients with PSS/FD from across Europe (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland) and HCPs working in the care for PSS/FD across all levels of care in the Netherlands.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures for both patients and HCPs related to experiences of multidisciplinary care, communication between professionals and patients, as well as the main point of contact for patients.

RESULTS: 600 patients responded (Germany: n=198; Italy: n=174; Netherlands: n=137; Poland; n=91), and 152 HCPs responded from the Netherlands. Compared with the other countries, patients from the Netherlands generally received less multidisciplinary care, from fewer disciplines. Regarding most variables related to interprofessional communication, patients in Italy rated their experience significantly better than in most other countries. Generally, patients preferred either their general practitioner (GP) or a medical specialist as their main point of contact, and not mental health professionals. In contrast, HCPs preferred mental health professionals as the main point of patient contact, followed by GPs. In all variables, patients in the Netherlands rated interprofessional communication significantly lower than HCPs in the Netherlands did.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients have different experiences of interdisciplinary communication, also reporting lower-quality communication than HCPs, though differences are seen between countries. Future studies should look at the reasons for this and how this can lead to improved care for PSS/FD.

Original language	English
Article number	e097593
Number of pages	11
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	15
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097593
Publication status	Published - 5-Mar-2025

Keywords

Humans
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Male
Middle Aged
Adult
Netherlands
Europe
Medically Unexplained Symptoms
Patient Care Team
Surveys and Questionnaires
Patient Preference
Interdisciplinary Communication
Italy
Aged
Germany
Health Personnel/psychology
Patient Satisfaction
Poland

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@article{cd0b49d8c326432a855e26d8d92d4b3b,

title = "Patient experiences in multidisciplinary care for persistent somatic symptoms across four European countries: a cross-sectional comparison",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore patients with persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders' (PSS/FD) experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care across Europe. A further aim is to compare the experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care of patients to those of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Netherlands.DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey.SETTING: Patients with PSS/FD from across Europe (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland) and HCPs working in the care for PSS/FD across all levels of care in the Netherlands.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures for both patients and HCPs related to experiences of multidisciplinary care, communication between professionals and patients, as well as the main point of contact for patients.RESULTS: 600 patients responded (Germany: n=198; Italy: n=174; Netherlands: n=137; Poland; n=91), and 152 HCPs responded from the Netherlands. Compared with the other countries, patients from the Netherlands generally received less multidisciplinary care, from fewer disciplines. Regarding most variables related to interprofessional communication, patients in Italy rated their experience significantly better than in most other countries. Generally, patients preferred either their general practitioner (GP) or a medical specialist as their main point of contact, and not mental health professionals. In contrast, HCPs preferred mental health professionals as the main point of patient contact, followed by GPs. In all variables, patients in the Netherlands rated interprofessional communication significantly lower than HCPs in the Netherlands did.CONCLUSIONS: Patients have different experiences of interdisciplinary communication, also reporting lower-quality communication than HCPs, though differences are seen between countries. Future studies should look at the reasons for this and how this can lead to improved care for PSS/FD.",

keywords = "Humans, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Adult, Netherlands, Europe, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Patient Care Team, Surveys and Questionnaires, Patient Preference, Interdisciplinary Communication, Italy, Aged, Germany, Health Personnel/psychology, Patient Satisfaction, Poland",

author = "Nick Mamo and Aleksandra Kustra-Mulder and Hanssen, \{Denise J C\} and Angelika Weigel and Lineke Tak and \{Olde Hartman\}, \{Tim C\} and Bernd L{\"o}we and Rosmalen, \{Judith G M\}",

note = "{\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097593",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

journal = "BMJ Open",

issn = "2044-6055",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Patient experiences in multidisciplinary care for persistent somatic symptoms across four European countries

T2 - a cross-sectional comparison

AU - Mamo, Nick

AU - Kustra-Mulder, Aleksandra

AU - Hanssen, Denise J C

AU - Weigel, Angelika

AU - Tak, Lineke

AU - Olde Hartman, Tim C

AU - Löwe, Bernd

AU - Rosmalen, Judith G M

N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.

PY - 2025/3/5

Y1 - 2025/3/5

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore patients with persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders' (PSS/FD) experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care across Europe. A further aim is to compare the experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care of patients to those of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Netherlands.DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey.SETTING: Patients with PSS/FD from across Europe (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland) and HCPs working in the care for PSS/FD across all levels of care in the Netherlands.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures for both patients and HCPs related to experiences of multidisciplinary care, communication between professionals and patients, as well as the main point of contact for patients.RESULTS: 600 patients responded (Germany: n=198; Italy: n=174; Netherlands: n=137; Poland; n=91), and 152 HCPs responded from the Netherlands. Compared with the other countries, patients from the Netherlands generally received less multidisciplinary care, from fewer disciplines. Regarding most variables related to interprofessional communication, patients in Italy rated their experience significantly better than in most other countries. Generally, patients preferred either their general practitioner (GP) or a medical specialist as their main point of contact, and not mental health professionals. In contrast, HCPs preferred mental health professionals as the main point of patient contact, followed by GPs. In all variables, patients in the Netherlands rated interprofessional communication significantly lower than HCPs in the Netherlands did.CONCLUSIONS: Patients have different experiences of interdisciplinary communication, also reporting lower-quality communication than HCPs, though differences are seen between countries. Future studies should look at the reasons for this and how this can lead to improved care for PSS/FD.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore patients with persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders' (PSS/FD) experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care across Europe. A further aim is to compare the experiences of and preferences for multidisciplinary care of patients to those of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Netherlands.DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey.SETTING: Patients with PSS/FD from across Europe (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland) and HCPs working in the care for PSS/FD across all levels of care in the Netherlands.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures for both patients and HCPs related to experiences of multidisciplinary care, communication between professionals and patients, as well as the main point of contact for patients.RESULTS: 600 patients responded (Germany: n=198; Italy: n=174; Netherlands: n=137; Poland; n=91), and 152 HCPs responded from the Netherlands. Compared with the other countries, patients from the Netherlands generally received less multidisciplinary care, from fewer disciplines. Regarding most variables related to interprofessional communication, patients in Italy rated their experience significantly better than in most other countries. Generally, patients preferred either their general practitioner (GP) or a medical specialist as their main point of contact, and not mental health professionals. In contrast, HCPs preferred mental health professionals as the main point of patient contact, followed by GPs. In all variables, patients in the Netherlands rated interprofessional communication significantly lower than HCPs in the Netherlands did.CONCLUSIONS: Patients have different experiences of interdisciplinary communication, also reporting lower-quality communication than HCPs, though differences are seen between countries. Future studies should look at the reasons for this and how this can lead to improved care for PSS/FD.

KW - Humans

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Adult

KW - Netherlands

KW - Europe

KW - Medically Unexplained Symptoms

KW - Patient Care Team

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Patient Preference

KW - Interdisciplinary Communication

KW - Italy

KW - Aged

KW - Germany

KW - Health Personnel/psychology

KW - Patient Satisfaction

KW - Poland

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097593

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097593

M3 - Article

C2 - 40044197

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 15

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 3

M1 - e097593

ER -

Patient experiences in multidisciplinary care for persistent somatic symptoms across four European countries: a cross-sectional comparison

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Keywords

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