Researchers found increased damage, distress and distrust amongst ‘abandoned’ chronically diseased patients and clinicians from pandemic-related delays and decisions. The new research, from the University of Cambridge, details how the pandemic reduced access to routine and emergency care for rheumatology patients and describes the long-term impacts on their health and medical relationships. ‘The feeling of […]
“Perfect for some but disastrous for others”: Patients and clinicians express concerns over phone and video consultations
A research study of rheumatology patients and clinicians has found that while the majority found phone or video consultations more convenient than face-to-face consultations, they viewed so-called telemedicine as less diagnostically accurate than in-person consultations and as having the potential to increase health inequalities and barriers to accessing appropriate care. A key finding was that […]
Relationships with clinicians and adverse medical experiences affect medication adherence amongst lupus patients
New research highlights the impact of current and past medical interactions – especially adverse experiences – on medication adherence amongst lupus patients and indicates the clinician behaviours that help. People with incurable systemic auto-immune conditions, including lupus, often need lifelong medications to slow or stop the progression of the disease. Despite the fact that the […]
The strength of the wolf is the pack: how a study of lupus patient experiences involved patients
Lupus patient experiences Lupus patients joined a research team at the University of Cambridge to study the experiences of patients with lupus and related diseases. Lupus is a chronic auto-immune condition which can damage many parts of the body, affecting people’s lives deeply, yet can take years to diagnose. The research, called the LISTEN study, […]
‘Inconsistent’ shielding guidance increases fears for vulnerable lupus patients during the pandemic
Patients with lupus – and related systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, (or SARDs) – have experienced the UK’s shielding guidance as inconsistent, and many who felt they should have shielded were not advised to do so, according to new research on the experiences of patients with SARDs during the pandemic. Patients with Lupus and related diseases […]
How COVID-19-related healthcare changes affected patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including lupus
During the 2020 pandemic, patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (including lupus) expressed a strong sense of being endangered from both the virus and the redeployment of medical resources. Decreased physician ability to help and increased patient reticence to seek help, created the ‘perfect storm’ for adverse outcomes, according to a study led by the […]