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Vital People: Arthritis education clinics offered online

The Arthritis Society is helping to improve the lives of people with arthritis by offering education clinics and a newly developed online tool to check symptons.
Victoria Arthritis Society
Victoria Arthritis Society

The Arthritis Society is helping to improve the lives of people with arthritis by offering education clinics and a newly developed online tool to check symptons.

The clinics provide information for some of the six million people in this country — nearly one in five Canadians — suffering from arthritis.

The initiatives are supported by funding from the Victoria Foundation.

At the clinics, which started in June and run until December, people at risk of having arthritis have an opportunity to discuss their symptoms, which typically affect joints and other tissues, with health-care providers.

With the introduction of the interactive symptom checker, people might be able to have more effective conversations when visiting their health-care provider.

“There are more than 100 different types of arthritis,” said Alan Huang, manager of community engagement with the Arthritis Society. “By filling out the survey and showing it to their doctor, a patient may get a earlier diagnosis, which can lead to better outcomes.”

The symptom checker asks questions based on a person’s symptoms, with printable results to present during a visit to one’s doctor.

“We stress that the program is not a clinical tool but a communication tool,” Huang said. “The diagnosis can only be made by a specialist, but the results give a possible indication of the disease. You should always work in conjunction with your health-care provider to arrive at a proper diagnosis.”

The symptom checker gives information about the types of arthritis and associated conditions. “The program is meant to strengthen the bond between patient and doctor,” he said. “Using the information can lead to improved diagnosis, providing appropriate pathways to care.”

While the survey covers some ground, a doctor can ask more clinical, deeper questions, such as delving into a person’s family history that can help determine the likelihood of a person being genetically predisposed to contract the illness.

Only a doctor can refer a patient to take blood tests or X-rays to confirm or determine the severity of the disease.

There is no need for a doctor’s referral to attend the arthritis education clinic, which is typically staffed by registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and social-work counsellors.

The Arthritis Society’s Vancouver Island regional office and the arthritis learning centre are located at 2680 Richmond Rd.

> For more information, go to arthritis.ca