Around 1.7 million Australians live with chronic, inflammatory forms of arthritis. These painful and debilitating conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, gout and juvenile arthritis. These conditions are a leading cause of disease burden and cost the health system around $2.8 billion in 2015. They are also among the most common causes of disability and early retirement due to ill health in Australia.
Yet most people with inflammatory arthritis do not receive adequate education and support to help them deal with the physical and emotional impact of their condition and its often complex management. However, evidence shows that rheumatology nurse care for people with these conditions is effective and cost-effective and results in: better education and improved psychosocial support for patients; reduced delays in access to specialist care; improved care coordination and continuity of care; reduced health system costs in primary and secondary care; and improved patient outcomes and satisfaction with care.
