Experts discuss how rheumatologists must consider the psychosocial aspect of care in the decision-making process for women when addressing their reproductive health needs, in addition to medication safety.
Patients Need Psychosocial Support Now More Than Ever: Q&A with Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW
How are rheumatology professionals affected by the physical distancing and other challenges presented by COVID-19? The Rheumatologist interviewed Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW, senior manager of inflammatory arthritis support and education programs at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, to discuss how the pandemic has changed the way she and her staff maintain continuity of…
Can Rheumatologists Get More Systematic about Psychosocial Care?
A recent position statement by the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) concludes that patients with persistent pain need better access to psychosocial care in all healthcare settings.1 The SBM offers 10 health policy recommendations for improving such access, including removing system-related barriers, providing referral tools, reimbursing for evidence-based psychosocial approaches, prioritizing generalist-level and specialist pain…
Tips for Managing Young Adult Rheumatology Patients
Often, young adults (18–23 years old) with rheumatic illness demonstrate poor adherence to treatment regimens, lack advocacy skills and have inadequate knowledge about diagnosis and treatment.1 Patients presenting at a transition clinic are typically comfortable with having their parents continue to be centrally involved with their care, but this is a time in life when…
Use Behavioral ‘Nudging’ to Tackle Gender, Health Challenges
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation)—Many of the world’s biggest challenges, such as encouraging people to buy life-saving drugs or unpicking deeply rooted sexism, can be tackled by using subtle psychological cues to change the way people behave, according to experts in London. Behavioral economics, also known as “nudging,” is about making people more likely to make…
The Role of the Social Worker in the Management of Rheumatic Disease
Although social work involvement is far more common in the pediatric world of rheumatology, the role social workers play in the clinic can also be beneficial to adult patients.