Abstract
"Rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs) affect approximately one-third of the UK population, yet access to timely and equitable care remains inconsistent. National audits have highlighted significant variations in service provision and health outcomes, shaped by individual socio-demographic characteristics and place-based factors. Rural populations, comprising around 20% of the UK, face unique challenges due to geographic remoteness, centralised specialist services, and an ageing demographic. Workforce constraints and service accessibility further exacerbate these disparities, limiting the ability of local health systems to meet the needs of their populations effectively.
The RHEUMAPS study was designed to address key evidence gaps by exploring patient priorities for care, measuring the geographical prevalence of RMDs, and assessing health outcomes across Scotland and Wales using national healthcare data. Specifically, the study examined differences in outcomes between rural and urban populations and the extent to which these disparities could be attributed to socio-economic factors. Additionally, it assessed how historical rural healthcare policies in Scotland and Wales have shaped service delivery and identified opportunities for future policy direction.
Findings from the study revealed that people living with RMDs share common care priorities, including pain and fatigue management, maintaining physical activity, sustaining social connections, and participating in work and daily activities. Access to multidisciplinary, integrated, and locally available care was highly valued, yet many participants expressed dissatisfaction with existing services due to long travel distances, fragmented care pathways, and a lack of accessible information. Structural barriers, such as limited local healthcare provision and travel challenges, disproportionately affected rural communities, further widening health inequalities.
To support data-driven and place-sensitive healthcare planning, the study developed interactive geospatial maps, integrating information on RMD prevalence, socio-demographic factors, and service accessibility. These tools provide timely, actionable insights to inform local, regional, and national decision-making, helping policymakers and healthcare providers design services that better align with patient needs. Additionally, the study highlighted the need for a more integrated approach to rural healthcare policy, moving beyond historically siloed strategies that have addressed health, transport, housing, and workforce issues in isolation.
This report offers critical evidence and resources to support a transition toward sustainable, equitable, and person-centred healthcare for people living with RMDs. By leveraging real-world data and patient insights, the findings underscore the importance of developing adaptable, learning healthcare systems that respond to the evolving needs of diverse populations across urban and rural settings.
The RHEUMAPS study was designed to address key evidence gaps by exploring patient priorities for care, measuring the geographical prevalence of RMDs, and assessing health outcomes across Scotland and Wales using national healthcare data. Specifically, the study examined differences in outcomes between rural and urban populations and the extent to which these disparities could be attributed to socio-economic factors. Additionally, it assessed how historical rural healthcare policies in Scotland and Wales have shaped service delivery and identified opportunities for future policy direction.
Findings from the study revealed that people living with RMDs share common care priorities, including pain and fatigue management, maintaining physical activity, sustaining social connections, and participating in work and daily activities. Access to multidisciplinary, integrated, and locally available care was highly valued, yet many participants expressed dissatisfaction with existing services due to long travel distances, fragmented care pathways, and a lack of accessible information. Structural barriers, such as limited local healthcare provision and travel challenges, disproportionately affected rural communities, further widening health inequalities.
To support data-driven and place-sensitive healthcare planning, the study developed interactive geospatial maps, integrating information on RMD prevalence, socio-demographic factors, and service accessibility. These tools provide timely, actionable insights to inform local, regional, and national decision-making, helping policymakers and healthcare providers design services that better align with patient needs. Additionally, the study highlighted the need for a more integrated approach to rural healthcare policy, moving beyond historically siloed strategies that have addressed health, transport, housing, and workforce issues in isolation.
This report offers critical evidence and resources to support a transition toward sustainable, equitable, and person-centred healthcare for people living with RMDs. By leveraging real-world data and patient insights, the findings underscore the importance of developing adaptable, learning healthcare systems that respond to the evolving needs of diverse populations across urban and rural settings.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | RHEUMAPS Study/University of Aberdeen |
| Number of pages | 178 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2025 |
Publication series
| Name | Technical Report Series 2025/001 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | RHEUMAPS Study/University of Aberdeen |
| No. | 2025/001 |
