The public neglect of rheumatic diseases: insights from analyses of attendees in a musculoskeletal disease awareness activity

Objectives: To obtain data on the care received by individuals counselled during a public health awareness campaign on painful musculoskeletal conditions (MSC). Methods: Easy non-formal access to rheumatologists/pain specialists was offered using a mobile unit (Rheuma-Bus) at widely accessible sites...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2007-05, Vol.66 (5), p.697-699
Main Authors: Machold, Klaus P, Köller, Marcus D, Pflugbeil, Stephan, Zimmermann, Christof, Wagner, Ernst, Stuby, Ulrike, Aletaha, Daniel, Stamm, Tanja A, Mayrhofer, Franz, Dunky, Attila, Hermann, Josef, Ilias, Wilfried, Smolen, Josef S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Arthritis
Awareness
Biological and medical sciences
Concise Report
Counseling
Disease
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Family physicians
Female
Handicapped accessibility
Health Education
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases
MSC
musculoskeletal conditions
Musculoskeletal diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases - physiopathology
Musculoskeletal Diseases - psychology
Musculoskeletal Diseases - therapy
Osteoporosis
Pain Management
Pain Measurement
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology
Public Health
Rheumatic diseases
Rheumatic Diseases - physiopathology
Rheumatic Diseases - psychology
Rheumatic Diseases - therapy
rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatology
Studies
VAS
visual analogue scale
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Summary:Objectives: To obtain data on the care received by individuals counselled during a public health awareness campaign on painful musculoskeletal conditions (MSC). Methods: Easy non-formal access to rheumatologists/pain specialists was offered using a mobile unit (Rheuma-Bus) at widely accessible sites. Clients were asked to assess their severity of pain using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Age, gender, disease duration, diagnosis if known, current and previous treatment as well as tentative diagnoses assigned and recommendations given to each individual by the counselling physicians were recorded. Results: Average (SD) VAS pain rating was 59 (20.6) mm. Approximately 40% of clients had never consulted a physician for their condition before, but had lower pain scores than those who had seen a physician. Patients with inflammatory MSC had higher pain scores than those with non-inflammatory conditions. More than 2% of the clients had a newly detected inflammatory rheumatic disease. Conclusions: Many individuals having painful MSC seek medical help only when a very high threshold of pain is reached. Even while under treatment, the high mean pain scores suggest neglect of MSC that are not adequately recognised as important contributors to disability and decreased quality of life.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.2006.062422