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Paediatric rheumatology care in Europe: setting children and adolescents into focus
Dirk Foell1, Marija Jelusic2, Erdal Sag3
1Department of Paediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Insights
Paediatric rheumatology care for children with rheumatic diseases faces challenges due to inconsistent training and recognition. Enhanced advocacy is needed for equitable, specialized care for all affected children.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric rheumatology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Delivering high-quality care for children with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases is challenging.
- Paediatric rheumatology integrates rheumatology, immunology, and developmental paediatrics.
- Training pathways and professional recognition for paediatric rheumatology vary significantly across countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine why paediatric rheumatology is not universally recognized as a distinct subspecialty.
- To investigate how inconsistent formal accreditation impacts the field's visibility and representation.
- To advocate for improved international collaboration and patient involvement.
Main Methods:
- Europe-wide expert survey.
- Qualitative analysis of expert opinions.
- Literature review on subspecialty accreditation.
Main Results:
- Paediatric rheumatology lacks universal recognition as a distinct subspecialty.
- Insufficient access to formal accreditation leads to fragmented representation.
- Low visibility hinders the sustainable development of the field.
Conclusions:
- Stronger international advocacy, involving patients and families, is crucial.
- Equitable, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate care requires enhanced support.
- Formal subspecialty accreditation is needed for sustainable growth and improved visibility.
Abstract:
Despite major scientific advances, delivering high-quality care for children with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases remains challenging. The field of paediatric rheumatology lies at the intersection of different disciplines, and requires excellent highly specialised medical expertise based on rapidly deepening knowledge in rheumatology and immunology. At the same time, this field relies on compassionate paediatricians understanding the needs of developing children as a vulnerable population. Training pathways and professional recognition vary widely between countries, and formal subspecialty accreditation is available inconsistently. Based on a Europe-wide expert survey, this Viewpoint examines why paediatric rheumatology is still not universally recognised as a distinct subspecialty and how insufficient access to formal accreditation leads to fragmented representation and low visibility of this discipline. We argue that stronger international advocacy involving patients and families is urgently required to support the sustainable development of the field and to ensure equitable, evidence-based, developmentally and psychologically appropriate care for all affected children.
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