Australians Living With Chronic Health Condition Urged To Raise Their Voice
Announcement posted by Healthshare 30 Jul 2013
Australians Living With Chronic Health Condition Urged To Raise Their Voice
New online resource to help support those living with rheumatoid arthritis
30 July 2013, Sydney, Australia: Australians living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are being encouraged to openly discuss their overall health, emotional well-being and treatment challenges with their doctor to improve their quality of life.
New research shows more than half of people living with RA feel their lives are controlled by their condition. However, only 56% of patients discuss the impact RA has on their lives with their specialist.1 RA, which affects more than 420,000 Australians,2 can have a debilitating impact on a person’s physical health and can be compounded by mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.1
A new online resource is being launched today to help support Australians living with this chronic health condition find the information they need to improve their overall health. Healthshare’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Topic Page will allow those affected by RA to engage directly with specialists online, in a non-confronting environment.
Healthshare aims to provide a way for those affected by a health problem, including family, friends and carers, to ask questions of qualified healthcare professionals that will help build their knowledge and, as a result, assist them in gaining more control over their condition.
“A visiting patient equipped with an understanding of their condition and treatment options can really improve the quality of a consultation,” said rheumatologist Dr Irwin Lim, who is part of the panel of experts taking part in Healthshare.
“This new, online resource will assist those living with rheumatoid arthritis to improve their knowledge, regardless of their location, so they can make the best possible use of the time they have with their specialist. There are a number of treatment options available to those living with this condition; however an open dialogue between a
specialist and their patient is important for the treatment and management of their arthritis.”
It is free to ask a question and receive an answer from a registered healthcare professional through Healthshare on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Topic Page . For more information or to view the site log on to: http://www.healthshare.com.au/community/health_challenges/rheumatoid-arthritis
For further information and to arrange a media interview contact Carly Shamgar, Communications Manager, Healthshare at cshamgar@healthshare.com.au or on + 61416 065 161.
About Healthshare:
Healthshare is Australia’s leading digital health platform, empowering Australians to make better health choices. Healthshare works by connecting users with local, credible and relevant health practitioners and health information. Visit www.healthshare.com.au.
The Healthshare Rheumatoid Arthritis Page is proudly supported by Roche. For more information about Roche visit www.roche-australia.com.
About Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. In an autoimmune disease, a person’s immune system (which protects against foreign cells, such as bacteria and viruses) attacks the body’s own healthy tissues. In RA, the immune system targets the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. RA usually affects the smaller joints, such as those in the hands and feet, but larger joints may also be affected.
References:
[1] McInnes I.B. et al. Understanding the patient perspective – results of the Rheumatoid Arthritis: Insights, Strategies & Expectations (RAISE) patient needs survey, Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2013
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, A snapshot of RA: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2013). Available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129543377
3 Arthritis Australia & Australian Rheumatology Association. Arthritis information sheet; rheumatoid arthritis. 2012. Available at: http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/images/stories/documents/info_sheets/2012/Rheumatoid_arthritis.pdf (accessed March 2013).