Med Sci Monit. 2026 Sep 27;32:e954025. doi: 10.12659/MSM.954025.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, represent a major public health challenge in Europe. Despite international recommendations promoting integrated, primary care-led models, the organization and division of responsibilities between primary and specialist care vary across countries. The aim of this exploratory study was to describe healthcare professionals' perceptions regarding the division of responsibilities between primary and specialist care in CRD management across selected European countries and to identify perceived system-level barriers. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted within the Joint Action on REspiratory Diseases (JARED) project. Data were collected between October and December 2025 from healthcare professionals involved in CRD management. A 2-stage survey design was applied. The final analytical sample included 293 respondents from 10 European countries. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the perceived division of responsibilities and barriers to care. RESULTS Overall, 58% of respondents considered the division of responsibilities between primary and specialist care to be clearly defined. Assessments of the optimality of the current division of responsibilities were similarly distributed, with 44% positive, 43% negative, and 13% undecided. Substantial variation between countries was observed. The most frequently reported barriers were long waiting times for specialist care (41%) and shortages of specialists (35%). Additional challenges included limited consultation time (22%) and inadequate coordination between care levels (20%). Respondents from Poland and Italy more frequently reported specialist care capacity limitations, while respondents from Finland more commonly indicated delays related to primary care access. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate substantial heterogeneity in healthcare professionals' perceptions regarding the organization of CRD care across participating countries. Respondents most frequently identified specialist care capacity limitations and insufficient cooperation between care levels as barriers to optimal care.
PMID:42800884 | DOI:10.12659/MSM.954025