Table 1.
Participant characteristics (self-reported at the time of the initial interview)*
| Age range | Sex (M/F) | Recruited via | Symptom onset to seeing Rx | Seeking medical help for symptoms leading to a diagnosis/RA test | Referral wait time to see a rheumatologist | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alicia | 60s | Female | Unknown | 1 year | 3 months | 6–8 weeks | Uncertain but treated for RA |
| Barbara Anne | 40s | Female | Family doctor's office | 10 years | 1 year | 6 months | Diagnosed |
| Bianca | 30s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 2 years 3 months | 7 months | 2 months | Diagnosed |
| Bonnie | 60s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 40 years | 20 years | No referral | Not diagnosed |
| Charlize | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 4 months | Less than 1 week | 3 months | Diagnosed |
| Cynthia | 60s (estimated) | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 1 year | 5 months | 2 months | Diagnosed |
| Danielle | 40s (estimated) | Female | Rheumatologist office | 8 years | 3 years | 2–3 months | Uncertain but treated for RA |
| Debbie | 50s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 2 years 4 months | 2 years 4 months | 3 months | Diagnosed |
| Dodi | 50s (estimated) | Female | Rheumatologist office | 5–6 months | 2–3 weeks | 10 months | Diagnosed |
| Dorothy | 30s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 1 year 10 months | 2 months | 2 months | Diagnosed |
| Flossie | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 24 years | 10 years | 6 weeks | Diagnosed |
| Jackie | 40s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 8 months | 3 months | 9 months | Uncertain but treated for RA |
| Jane | 60s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 8–9 months | 5 months | 1 month | Diagnosed |
| Jane 2 | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 4 months | 1 month | 6–8 weeks | Diagnosed |
| Jean | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 19 years | 8 years | 2 months | Diagnosed |
| Jessie | 50s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 3–4 months | 3–4 weeks | 6 weeks | Diagnosed |
| Julie | 50s | Female | Physiotherapist office | 3 months | 3–4 weeks | 1 month | Diagnosed |
| June | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 3 months | unknown | 6 weeks | Diagnosed |
| Kerry | 30s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 3 months | No delay | 10 days | Diagnosed |
| Lee | 40s | Female | Family doctor office | 14 years | Unknown | Unknown | No diagnosis (has complex multimorbidities tests ongoing) |
| Laurie | 60s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | At regular rheumatologist regular appointment | Diagnosed |
| Maple | 40s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 2 months | 6–7 weeks | 1 day | Diagnosed |
| Marie | 60s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 3 weeks | 2 weeks | 1 week | Diagnosed |
| Marlain | 50s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 4–5 years | 2–3 years | < 6 months | Diagnosed |
| Martha | 70s | Female | Unknown | 9 years | 6–8 years | 1 year | Diagnosed |
| Nicole | 30s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 1 month | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | Diagnosed |
| Nicolette | 50s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 12 months | 11 months | 1 month | Diagnosed |
| Nora | 50s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 11 months | 1 month | 3 months | Diagnosed |
| Rain | 50s | Male | Arthritis website | 4 years | 11 months | 10 months | Diagnosed |
| Rosie | 60s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 26 years | 26 years | 1 month | Diagnosed |
| Sally | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 1 year | 2 months | 1 month | Diagnosed |
| Sarah | 50s | Female | Arthritis newsletter | 3 years | 16 months | 1 month | Diagnosed |
| Shari | 60s | Female | Unknown | 6 months | unknown | No referral family doctor diagnosis | Diagnosed |
| Sharon | 60s | Female | Family doctor office | 7 years | 2 years | 2 months | Diagnosed |
| Sherry | 40s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 9–10 years | 5 years | 6 months | Diagnosed |
| Smokie Jean | 60s | Female | Rheumatologist | 40 years | 4 years | 3 weeks | Diagnosed |
| Teresa | 50s | Female | Unknown | 11 months | 9 months | 5 months | Diagnosed |
| Yoda | 50s | Female | Rheumatologist office | 3 years 6 months | 1–2 weeks | 6 months | Diagnosed |
*Age estimated by the interviewer when not given by the participant.
RA, rheumatoid arthritis.