Table 1

Participant characteristics (self-reported at the time of the initial interview)*

Age rangeSex (M/F)Recruited viaSymptom onset to seeing RxSeeking medical help for symptoms leading to a diagnosis/RA testReferral wait time to see a rheumatologistDiagnosis
Alicia60sFemaleUnknown1 year3 months6–8 weeksUncertain but treated for RA
Barbara Anne40sFemaleFamily doctor's office10 years1 year6 monthsDiagnosed
Bianca30sFemaleRheumatologist office2 years 3 months7 months2 monthsDiagnosed
Bonnie60sFemaleArthritis newsletter40 years20 yearsNo referralNot diagnosed
Charlize50sFemaleArthritis newsletter4 monthsLess than 1 week3 monthsDiagnosed
Cynthia60s (estimated)FemaleArthritis newsletter1 year 5 months2 monthsDiagnosed
Danielle40s (estimated)FemaleRheumatologist office8 years3 years2–3 monthsUncertain but treated for RA
Debbie50sFemaleRheumatologist office2 years 4 months2 years 4 months3 monthsDiagnosed
Dodi50s (estimated)FemaleRheumatologist office5–6 months2–3 weeks10 monthsDiagnosed
Dorothy30sFemaleRheumatologist office1 year 10 months2 months2 monthsDiagnosed
Flossie50sFemaleArthritis newsletter24 years10 years6 weeksDiagnosed
Jackie40sFemaleArthritis newsletter8 months3 months9 monthsUncertain but treated for RA
Jane60sFemaleArthritis newsletter8–9 months5 months1 monthDiagnosed
Jane 250sFemaleArthritis newsletter4 months1 month6–8 weeksDiagnosed
Jean50sFemaleArthritis newsletter19 years8 years2 monthsDiagnosed
Jessie50sFemaleRheumatologist office3–4 months3–4 weeks6 weeksDiagnosed
Julie50sFemalePhysiotherapist office3 months3–4 weeks1 monthDiagnosed
June50sFemaleArthritis newsletter3 monthsunknown6 weeksDiagnosed
Kerry30sFemaleArthritis newsletter3 monthsNo delay10 daysDiagnosed
Lee40sFemaleFamily doctor office14 yearsUnknownUnknownNo diagnosis (has complex multimorbidities tests ongoing)
Laurie60sFemaleArthritis newsletter1–2 years1–2 yearsAt regular rheumatologist regular appointmentDiagnosed
Maple40sFemaleArthritis newsletter2 months6–7 weeks1 dayDiagnosed
Marie60sFemaleRheumatologist office3 weeks2 weeks1 weekDiagnosed
Marlain50sFemaleRheumatologist office4–5 years2–3 years< 6 monthsDiagnosed
Martha70sFemaleUnknown9 years6–8 years1 yearDiagnosed
Nicole30sFemaleArthritis newsletter1 month2 weeks2 weeksDiagnosed
Nicolette50sFemaleRheumatologist office12 months11 months1 monthDiagnosed
Nora50sFemaleRheumatologist office11 months1 month3 monthsDiagnosed
Rain50sMaleArthritis website4 years11 months10 monthsDiagnosed
Rosie60sFemaleArthritis newsletter26 years26 years1 monthDiagnosed
Sally50sFemaleArthritis newsletter1 year2 months1 monthDiagnosed
Sarah50sFemaleArthritis newsletter3 years16 months1 monthDiagnosed
Shari60sFemaleUnknown6 monthsunknownNo referral family doctor diagnosisDiagnosed
Sharon60sFemaleFamily doctor office 7 years2 years2 monthsDiagnosed
Sherry40sFemaleRheumatologist office9–10 years5 years6 monthsDiagnosed
Smokie Jean60sFemaleRheumatologist40 years4 years3 weeksDiagnosed
Teresa50sFemaleUnknown11 months9 months5 monthsDiagnosed
Yoda50sFemaleRheumatologist office3 years 6 months1–2 weeks6 monthsDiagnosed

  • *Age estimated by the interviewer when not given by the participant.

  • RA, rheumatoid arthritis.