A call for action to #PrioritizePain!

CAPA President, Linda Wilhelm, is a member of the Canadian Pain Taskforce, established to provide advice and information to Health Canada on an improved approach to prevent and manage chronic pain. The final report of the Taskforce has been tabled with recommendations to improve outcomes for the nearly 8 million Canadians living in pain. You can learn more from Taskforce members Linda Wilhelm and Maria Hudspith at a webinar on June 2. Please read the report and join the #PrioritizePain conversation on social media! 

What have we been up to?

Advocacy for the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – We are concerned about the delayed second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people with autoimmune rheumatic conditions who take immunosuppressing medications. We are supporting research in this area and wrote to the provincial public officers across Canada (Note: We have only posted the Ontario letter on our website). Learn more by reading the letter on our website!  

New pregnancy resources! Together with Mamas Facing Forward, we have updated our pregnancy resources and they are now available on our website. The resources have been revamped and it includes updated advice from other parents living with rheumatic diseases and new information on sexuality and intimacy – visit our website for more information! 

ICYMI webinar on shared decision making – In case you missed it, you can watch our webinar on shared decision making with presentations by Dr. Claire Barber, Dr. Glen Hazelwood and Dr. Karine Toupin April. We also kept the Slido poll open as we want to hear what your perspectives on what shared decision making means to you – take the poll and see what others think about this important topic! 

Questions about biosimilar switching – Many provinces, such as British Columbia and Alberta, have implemented policies for people with rheumatic conditions to switch to biosimilar medications. To help patients manage the change, we have developed a list of questions to ask rheumatologists and other health care providers. Check out this new resource on our website today! 

Get Involved!

Volunteers needed for Arthritis Society consumer panel! The Arthritis Society is looking for people living with arthritis to participate as volunteer members of Online Consumer Panels. These Panels give you the opportunity to share your knowledge, experience and feedback to help the Arthritis Society develop educational resources and activities to improve the quality of life of people impacted by arthritis. Learn more by visiting the CAPA website! 

Test out the JIA Option Map – Are you a teen or young adult living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or a parent / caregiver? Dr. Karine Toupin April, associate professor at the University of Ottawa, wants to hear your thoughts on the JIA Option Map, a new app designed to help youth and parents choose ways to manage pain. Learn more by visiting The Choice Research Lab website! 

COVID-19 patient preference survey – Researchers at the University of Calgary are running a study to understand patient preferences and concerns for COVID-19 vaccinations in people with autoimmune rheumatic conditions. Take the survey and share your perspectives! 

Stay Informed!

Webinar for caregivers – Putting on your lifejacket! Cassie + Friends is excited to bring you the opportunity to learn from “Love and Logic” parenting educator, author and parent of a child with a chronic condition herself, Lisa Greene. At this session, you’ll learn how Lisa equipped herself (and her husband!) with the critical tools needed to rest, recharge, and remember that they, too, need care. Register for the webinar today by visiting the Cassie & Friends website! 

COVID-19 vax survey dashboard – The Global Rheumatology Alliance is currently seeking patient perspectives and attitudes related to COVID-19 vaccines. It’s not too late to take the survey and you can also visit the dashboard to see key highlights of the survey!

Tool for youth working with rheumatic diseases – Youth and young people with rheumatic health conditions such as juvenile arthritis or lupus face unique challenges as they begin their working lives. The Institute for Work and Health (IWH) developed a tool in collaboration with Cassie & Friends to help young people navigate these challenges by identifying potential challenges and offering information and recommendations from trusted resources. Learn more by visiting the IWH website!

Website and social media updates – We are regularly updating our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel with new information. Don’t forget to follow us on these social media channels to keep up to date on the latest arthritis and advocacy information!