By PPN New Staff 

Research suggests that self-management in patients with rheumatic disease is not as prevalent as it should or could be despite their peers experiencing improvements when implemented. This is due, in part, to many patients lacking awareness and motivation to self-manage their conditions, according to the American College of Rheumatology.

The ACR recently launched a patient education campaign, Self-Management for Patients Living with Rheumatic Conditions. The campaign addressed the current knowledge gap, educates patients about self-management techniques and encourages them to collaborate actively with their rheumatology healthcare team to manage their rheumatic conditions.

Although the campaign does not delve into self-care practices, it focuses on self-management strategies for managing a patient’s rheumatic condition.

“One thing that is important to note is that self-management is often used interchangeably with self-care, but they are different. Self-management is an individual’s day-to-day management of their chronic conditions over the course of an illness,” said Bhakti Shah, MD, a rheumatologist with Crystal Run Healthcare, in Middletown, N.Y., and the campaign’s medical spokesperson. “Self-care consists of those tasks performed by healthy people to prevent illness rather than manage an existing illness.”

The campaign highlights five overarching strategies patients can incorporate in their lives:

1. Stress management. Rheumatic conditions can affect a person's physical and mental health. Patients can create relaxation practices like meditation, self-reflection or journaling.
2. Medication adherence. Patients should partner with a clinician to understand their medications, what aspects of their disease they treat and the importance of continuing the medications.
3. Lifestyle changes. Regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are essential for general well-being and may help improve symptoms.
4. Communicate and collaborate with a healthcare team. Patients should maintain open communication with their rheumatology healthcare team, including the rheumatologist, physical therapist and other specialists.
5. Maintain a support system. Patients should ask family or friends for help when needed, especially during a flare.
   

“During my patient visits, I try to review topics such as medication adherence, physical activity and quality of life, and I remind them that we are a team and collaboration will lead to improved outcomes for them,” Dr. Shah continued. “We hope this campaign will empower patients to take a more proactive role in their treatment journey.”

More than 100 conditions fall under the umbrella of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and lupus are some of the most commonly known conditions. Others include Sjögren’s syndrome, gout, scleroderma and psoriatic arthritis. More than 53.2 million American adults—1 in 4—have been diagnosed with rheumatic disease.

To view the full self-management tool kit, visit www.RDAM.org.