A Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK (SRUK) national survey to explore rheumatologists' awareness, approaches to diagnosis...

Patients' outcomes and experiences can be affected by rheumatologist knowledge and awareness of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our survey, directed at UK-based rheumatologists, aimed to expand our understanding of the above points along with their ability to keep up to date with guidelines defining best practice.

Rheumatologists were invited to participate in an online survey, with the results analysed and presented descriptively and graphically by SRUK.

Of the 150 UK rheumatologists surveyed, 2% reported that they had not heard of SSC and 18.7% reported having a limited understanding of the condition. A total of 44% of respondents reported that they were fully versed in the signs and symptoms of SSc. The majority of those surveyed shared the broad view that all aspects of SSc, including services (63.4%), specialist positions (64.7%), research (73.1%) and training and education (70%), are either completely or somewhat underfunded. Most respondents (87.4%) reported that their workload allowed them to 'somewhat' (48.74%) or 'completely' (38.66%) keep up to date with official guidelines. Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK (SRUK) (47.9%), followed by NICE (43.7%), were the most highly used sources of information utilized among those surveyed.

Our survey reveals a serious gap in the awareness and the signs and symptoms of SSc among some UK rheumatologists, in addition to a perception that services, training and education in this area are underfunded. Our findings indicate that there is a role for the provision of further education and training as part of continued professional development.