World Arthritis Day 2024

In order to mark World Arthritis Day 2024, Dr Aoife Stephenson spoke to Stacey Grealis about living with arthritis and being part of an international research team. Stacey explains the importance in having patients and public voice at the heart of all healthcare, policy, and research.

Stacey and Aoife are part of the MAintAin Activity in Arthritis research study. This study will co-develop a new programme in collaboration with people with arthritis to help them stay active longer-term, after taking part in an exercise programme (for example, the ‘Be Active With Arthritis’ programme delivered by Arthritis Ireland).

There are four stages to this research:

(1) The researchers have looked at the scientific evidence to find the best ways to help people living with arthritis keep up physical activity long term.

(2) After this, they observed some ‘Be Active With Arthritis’ classes and spoke to those who participated in the class, their families/friends, and the physiotherapists, to find out what helps them to remain active, what barriers stand in their way.

(3) The research team then brought all the information from stages 1 and 2 together and developed a draft programme. Next, the researchers asked people living with arthritis and other key stakeholders to attend a workshop where they refined the content of the programme to suit the needs of people with arthritis and to help them to continue to be physically active, well in to the future.

(4) The researchers are now about to begin the 4th and final phase. They will ask people living with arthritis who have completed a physiotherapy led structured exercise class, to try out the new programme and provide their feedback They will also assess how it can be rolled out in the future.

This work is supported by Arthritis Ireland, Health Charities Research Ireland and the Health Research Board.

Visit the MAintAin website here and X page @MAINTAINprog for more information.
If you are interested in getting in touch about this programme of work- please email Dr Aoife Stephenson: aoifestephenson@rcsi.ie