PRESS RELEASE

Embargoed 00.01am Monday 13 June 2016

New survey highlights importance of good dialogue between doctors and patients in

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Basingstoke, UK, 13 June 2016. Over three quarters (77%) of people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) felt comfortable discussing their diagnosis with their healthcare professional, a new survey reveals.[i] But there are still challenges for some people with RA that may impact the extent to which they are able to manage their condition and take control of their lives.

For example, one in five people with RA (20%) did not feel comfortable discussing their diagnosis with their healthcare professional. The main reason for this was that they did not feel that they knew enough about the condition (46%).1

The survey also revealed the challenges people with RA face when talking about their condition with their friends and family, with a significant proportion saying that they are only comfortable discussing their condition with their friends and family to “some extent” (50% and 42% respectively).1 One in seven (14%) are not comfortable at all discussing their RA with their friends1.

Despite this, about half of people with RA (52%) feel they are able to have very effective conversations with their rheumatologist about their symptoms and treatment. [ii] And only a third (32%) of people with RA said that they play an active role in shaping their treatment plan to a great extent1.

Commenting on the findings, Ailsa Bosworth MBE, Chief Executive of NRAS, said:

“We welcome the survey findings launched today which suggest a positive relationship between people with RA and their doctors, yet more needs to be done. There needs to be real shared decision making and care planning between clinicians and patients which will enable patients to set goals that matter to them in the context of their own lives. It’s not a one size fits all exercise and requires behavior change for both health professionals and patients.

At NRAS, we are here to help at every stage of the RA journey. We provide people living with RA with support and resources to help them better self-manage their disease and take back control of their lives.”

Professor Peter Taylor, Professor of Musculoskeletal Services at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, commented:

“As a rheumatologist, I have seen a dramatic improvement in the outlook for people newly presenting with RA over the last 15 years. It is noteworthy that the survey findings launched today highlight the importance of a positive relationship between people living with RA and the healthcare professionals that provide their care.

Yet there is still room for improvement. Swift diagnosis and early treatment are key components to achieving the best possible care. This can be achieved by adequate provision of healthcare professionals who are equipped with the right tools and training to be able to talk to, assess and provide support for the physical and emotional wellbeing of people with RA.”

Greg van Wyk, Senior Medical Director, Lilly UK, said:
“The survey findings highlight the critical relationship between clinician and patient and the importance of maintaining dialogue to help patients better manage their condition and improve outcomes. At Lilly, we are committed to working with stakeholders including charities like NRAS to help patients receive the consistent service and treatment they need.”

The findings, launched to coincide with RA Awareness Week, highlight the importance of further promoting public awareness around RA so people living with the condition can feel comfortable about discussing it with friends, family, colleagues and the healthcare professionals involved in shaping their care.

The survey, published today by leading charity, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), and pharmaceutical company, Lilly, was commissioned ahead of a parliamentary event to mark Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week and aimed at empowering RA patients.

At the parliamentary event, patients, patient group NRAS, and healthcare professionals will acknowledge the progress that has been made in treating and supporting patients diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis while recognizing that all patients should receive consistent levels of care and support.

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Notes to Editors


1. Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, and affects approximately 690,000 people in the UK. If RA is not treated or is inadequately treated, it can cause irreversible damage to joints and lead to disability.

2. AboutEli Lillyand Company
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at: www.lilly.co.uk

3. Survey methodology
ComRes surveyed 590 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers online, recruited through the NRAS member and non-member database as well as outreach on social media, between 13th November and 1st December 2015. Data have been weighted by gender and age to reflect the wider patient population of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full data tables are available at www.comres.co.uk.

UKCPR00205 June 2016

[i] ComRes. Data on file. Survey of patient experiences of rheumatoid arthritis. December 2015.

[ii] ComRes. Data on file. Survey of patient experiences of rheumatoid arthritis. December 2015.