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. 2023 Aug 4;13:04030. doi: 10.7189/jogh.13.04030

Table 2.

Clustered findings occurrence among identified records

Finding 20
Current state of medical education for approaching rare diseases is inadequate
[5,8,10,13-15,17-19,22,23,25,28,31,34,35,45,49,54,56-59,62,63,66,73-76,78,79,81]
Finding 12
Longitudinal care for patients with rare diseases is fundamental and should be integrated
[1-4,7-11,16,18,21,23,25-29,32,34,36,42,45,47,53,58,60,62,66-70]
Finding 13
Primary health care level can identify some signs and symptoms before any health care level, favouring an early diagnosis
[1,2,4,8,21,23,27,32,35,38-40,42,44,45,47,52,58,61,69-71,80]
Finding 29
There is a need to establish and create specific-disease emergency protocols
[7,16,22,23,34-36,38,46,59,60,62,63,66,69,71,74-76]
Technology
Technology – the use of digital health solutions has been significantly impacting the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up of patients with rare diseases
[12,14,16,19,20,24,29,36,39,46,48,50,51,58,64,65,71,73,74]
Finding 1
Diagnoses of rare diseases is difficult
[18,21,25,35-38,48,52,57,58,72-74]
Finding 32
Patients and families experience an extensive number of consultations until a definitive diagnosis if a misdiagnose is not established priorly
[8,9,18,25,43,45,50,58,63,68]
Finding 17
The feeling of general practitioners to prioritize access to secondary and tertiary levels of care is relevant
[4,7,11,17,23,25,34,42,43,45,53,57]
Finding 15
There is a notable low interest in pharmaceutical industries in identifying new drugs for rare diseases because of their low prevalence
[4,14,15,25,33,35,45,49,58,61,77]
Finding 31
Primary health care system is the gateway for approaching and following up with patients with rare diseases
[8,11,15,26,30,34,39,47,59,69,71]
Finding 23
Healthcare providers usually seek information about rare diseases on websites and in peer-to-peer discussions
[4-6,8,15,22,23,29,53,61]
Finding 27
Continuous educational and training programs are primarily unknown by health care providers
[6,11,40,41,56,61,62,73,75,78]
Finding 30
Translating results from genetic counselling to “patients and parent’s language” should be endorsed and performed
[7,14,26,34,41,52,56,57,74,78]
Finding 36
The care for patients with rare diseases must be multidisciplinary
[11,14,21,30,32,58,60,67,73,75]
Finding 35
The prevalence of rare diseases is globally unknown and controversial
[10,18,25,43,45,50,58,63,68]
Finding 16
Lawmakers and multiple stakeholders are alert and engaged in improving the quality of life of patients with rare diseases
[4,14,19,35,42,46]
Finding 21
Family and advocacy agencies commonly request actions to offer an integrated and person-centred delivery of care
[4,23,32,34,35,42,67,72]
Finding 3
There is a remarkable difference in-between medical specialty
[25,40,50,53,54,58,76,78]
Finding 18
The global impact of rare diseases on patient’s lives is still unknown by health care providers
[4,-6,8,14,37,39,81]
Finding 9
There is a substantial economic impact caused by rare diseases in households, mostly related to expensive medications and diagnosis tests
[23,37,45,49,52,58,72]
Finding 10
Pre-natal and post-natal screening is essential to identify some rare diseases
[16,19,41,49,67,78]
Finding 11
Current health care systems settings do not allow a good experience for patients with rare diseases
[22,30,42,48,72,77]
Finding 33
Patients’ and family’s needs and concerns are not addressed by most health care professionals
[8,25,26,36,45,79]
Finding 25
Physicians fear delaying diagnosis because of lack of experience and believe that they have an active role in managing patients with rare diseases
[5,25,47,53,78]
Finding 7
Knowledge diffusion might help with diseases misunderstanding and lack of knowledge
[16,22,27,34,58]
Finding 19
Current state of medical education for approaching rare diseases is adequate
[4,10,22]
Finding 37
Judicialization is beneficial for patients with rare diseases
[49,55,77]
Finding 14
The complex knowledge needed for the management of rare diseases is incompatible with the primary health care
[2,81]
Finding 22
A critical complaint reported by health care providers is associated with the difficulty to information access about rare diseases
[54,81]
Finding 26
The impact of rare diseases on families stimulates health care providers to improve their knowledge
[5,23]
Finding 28
By anticipating and recognizing available regional interventions, health care providers can increase the delivery of care to patients with rare diseases
[7,30]
Finding 34
Strong medications are commonly prescribed for patients with rare diseases until a definite diagnose
[8,61]
Finding 38
Patients with rare diseases have significantly lower social interaction than patients without rare diseases
[48,79]
Finding 39
“Expert patients” might have a conflicting relationship with physicians during the management of their disorders
[23,29]
Finding 5
Fast identification of a rare disease results in the decrease of impact provoked by the disease and allow fast delivery of medical interventions
[47,19]
Finding 2
Nutritional follow-up of patients with rare diseases is crucial, particularly among patients with inborn errors of metabolism
[38]
Finding 4
The shortage of patients for research, including rare diseases patients, can be overcome with online recruiting platforms
[39]
Finding 6
Domestic (in-house) delivery of medical treatment should be considered in some rare diseases
[11]
Finding 8
Non-pharmacological interventions are effective and should be investigated
[30]
Finding 24
Social health care workers have a slightly increased experience than other health care providers in assessing and managing rare diseases
[5]
Finding 40 The roles of the primary health care level are numerous and should be strengthened [60]