Psoriatic arthritis
More psychological and emotional support needed for people with inflammatory arthritis
People with inflammatory arthritis want more help coping with its social and emotional implications, says research due to be presented at Rheumatology 2014.
A UK research team surveyed 1,200 people about the support currently available and their preferences for the type of services they would like to see in the future.
The results imply there is a gap between the support provided and the support needed. Almost every patient wanted support (97%) and would use psychological support services (96%). But less than a quarter (23%) had been asked about social and emotional issues by a rheumatology professional. Continue reading
Is laughter the best medicine? Cartoons could help people cope with chronic conditions
Cartoons could be a beneficial way of educating patients and empowering them to cope better with long term conditions, says research published in Health Services Research.
“Humour is frequently and naturally used by people with chronic illnesses to help them adjust and understand what is happening to them,” explains Associate Professor Dr Anne Kennedy, who led the study. “Our study has shown that cartoons could provide clarity to patients and be a way to engage with them. It is an untapped resource and could be a potential approach to support self-management.” Continue reading
Parental addictions are associated with arthritis of their adult children
Arthritis in adulthood is linked to parental addictions during childhood, claims a new study published in the International Journal of Population Research.
Scientists from the University of Toronto examined a group of 13,036 adults and found that 20.4% had been diagnosed with arthritis. Investigators found that 14.5% of all respondents reported having at least one parent whose drug or alcohol use caused problems while they were under the age of 18 years and still living at home. Continue reading
New report outlines which buses, trains and trams allow mobility scooter access
The Minimo, from TGA Mobility, is one of the scooters suitable for use on public transport
With more than 300,000 mobility scooters in the UK, more scooters are now allowed on public transport. But knowing which scooter can go on which local bus, train or tram is not so easy.
Now an online search produced by Rica (an independent consumer research charity) can help.
Buses
Scooter users are allowed on the bus if all of the following apply: Continue reading
New drug – apremilast – benefits psoriatic arthritis
A drug called apremilast has a positive impact on people with psoriatic arthritis says a phase III clinical trial published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The study aimed to assess the advantages of apremilast in treating 504 people with active psoriatic arthritis who had already been treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or a biologic therapy.
The volunteers were split into three groups. Some received 20mg apremilast twice a day, others had 30mg apremilast twice a day and the third group received a placebo. Continue reading
