Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient initiated follow-up in rheumatology (PIFU)
IRAS ID
369453
Contact name
Gareth T Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
Recently in rheumatology there has been a move away from routine follow-up visits to patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU). PIFU allows patients to initiate their own follow-up appointments, rather than having them scheduled automatically (e.g., annually). This is more efficient (by reducing unnecessary follow-up visits if patients are managing well, thus making the best use of clinical time), and it also enables patients to have more control over when they receive care.
However, there are some concerns. While many patients may be well, and happy with this approach, others may feel ‘out of sight, out of mind’. They may be reticent to phone for an appointment, even if their health has deteriorated.
This project aims to evaluate the PIFU service in the NHS Grampian Rheumatology Service. Using surveys and analysis of routinely collected health data, we will determine whether there are differences in various health outcomes between patient groups who have / have not accessed care via PIFU. We also plan to interview patients and health professionals in Rheumatology, and in primary care, to find out their experiences, and how they feel about this approach to care.
The study will generate evidence on the impact of PIFU on patient outcomes, service use, and patient and clinician experience across patients on PIFU within the NHS Grampian Rheumatology Service. It will identify areas of effective practice as well as aspects requiring refinement and will provide an evidence-informed framework to support decision-making about the future use and optimisation of PIFU within Rheumatology. The findings will also offer transferable learning for other disease groups and specialties considering similar models of follow-up care.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SC/0216
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion