Room 519-A | French Presentations Tuesday, July 12, 2005 Time: 8:30 AM-10:30 AM |
Educating patients and physicians on sexuality and arthritis.
Camerlain, Monique*,1, Turcotte, Angele*,2, Villeneuve, Richard*,3, Alarie, Pierre*,4, Dion, Stephane*,5, 1 University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada2 Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada3 , Montreal, Quebec, Canada4 University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada5 Medical Division, Pfizer Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ABSTRACT- Objective: The purpose of this study is to improve doctor-patient communication on the sexual difficulties related to living with arthritis. Method: In 2004, a review of the litterature on sexuality and arthritis reveals that arthritis affects sexuality in: -Opportunity -Immage -Desire -Competence -Expression Though 40% of patients would wish to be questioned and helped with their sexual difficulties only 15% will mention them spontaneously. A cascade of interactive presentations on "Sexuality and Arthritis" was organised in 2004 in Quebec City for patients (n=55), family physicians (n=15) and rheumatologists (n=7). Comments and suggestions were noted during the discussion periods which confirmed that. -Patients have significant sexual dificulties as they try to cope with arthritis. -Family physicans are not aware of the extent of the problem and fail to question patients on this topic. -There is a lack of rheumatological manpower in Quebec which leaves rheumatologists little time to deal with a question that often makes them uncomfortable. They would support efforts to educate the public and family physicians. -All groups would like quality educational tools for patients on the topic and have suggested involvement by the arthritic society. A patient-educational pamphlet entitled Sexuality and Arthritis was prepared, with the cooperation of l'Association de Medecine Sexuelle du Quebec, the Quebec Division of The Arthritis Society and Pfizer Canada. The content is based on a review of the available litterature and covers physical and psycho-sociological sexual difficulties of living with arthritis. In the pamphlet, the need for communication between the physician, the patient and the partner is stressed and solutions are proposed. A video for family physicians with a parallel scientific content was also produced. This video will be presented across Canada as part of a continuing medical educations (CME) program in rheumatology for physicians and rheumatologists. Possibilities of having the pamphlet and the conference available on the website of The Arthritis Society of Canada are being explored. Conclusion: The success of this study confirms the real need for educational programs on sexuality and arthritis towards patients and health care professionals. To increase the communication between physician-patient, more work needs to be done to increase physicians'awareness on sexual difficulties of patients with arthritis and other chronic diseases. This study also shows how partnership between medical experts and patients associations is key for the succesful developpement and implementation of these programs.
Key words: Education, Sexuality, Rheumatology, CME, Partnership