W. Benjamin Nowell, PhD, explains the clinical significance of the cross-sectional survey evaluating an online wellness program designed for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, as well as next steps for his team. Nowell is Director of Patient-Centered Research at the Global Healthy Living Foundation and an affiliate of CreakyJoints. Data from the study, “Managing Psoriatic Arthritis: Patients’ Views and Attitudes on Using an Online Wellness Program,” was on display at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2022.
“Most importantly, patients need to be aware of the options,” Nowell stressed. “They have to learn about wellness to participate in wellness programs, especially programs that are really geared toward patients living with an autoimmune disease like psoriatic arthritis.”
The program highlighted some of the challenges this patient population faces in both living with PsA and managing their disease. Nowell, who works in patient advocacy, believes it’s important for doctors to educate their patients about available programs and reiterate the importance of sleep, stress management, exercise and nutrition. He stressed that simple changes, such as walking goals and meditative breathing, require little energy and little cost, but are extremely effective.
“It’s important for people to know that these kinds of wellness behaviors and lifestyle changes can have a big impact on their overall health and how well they feel living with the disease,” Nowell continued.
While healthier lifestyle choices are not a substitute for medication, these changes can work with an existing program to improve treatment and help the patient feel better.
Researchers are still recruiting for the survey, which serves as an entry point for patients living with PsA to participate in an online wellness program with a trained e-trainer through Cleveland Clinic’s “Immune Strength” program. The survey revealed that the majority of patients preferred an online health coach to guide them through wellness changes, where they can regularly check in with their coach to keep themselves accountable.
Source: news.google.com