Released: May 05, 2003

May is National Arthritis Month
State Plan Targets Arthritis Awareness

TOPEKA, Kan. – A statewide committee has put the finishing touches on a plan that aims to improve the quality of life of the more than 686,000 Kansans currently thought to be suffering from chronic joint symptoms or arthritis diagnosed by a physician.

Angela Deines, coordinator of the arthritis program for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), says the plan calls for promoting awareness, education, and self-help programs across the state.

“Historically, arthritis is a fairly misunderstood disease, in terms of its impact on people’s quality of life, and the fact that it is not just a disease of the elderly,” Deines said. “Anyone, at any age, including children, can have arthritis or a related condition.”

“The Kansas Statewide Arthritis Steering Committee has put together this plan to get information not just to people (with arthritis) to help them manage their condition, but also for public health officials and others who can help them.”

Deines said several community-based programs are already in place, including self-help courses and physical activity programs. The new plan, however, will help the statewide committee members develop partnerships with more groups that can reach out to Kansans with arthritis in their own communities.

For example, this spring, Deines presented the plan to Kansas State University Research and Extension agents, who will then distribute information and encourage self-management programs in each of the state’s 105 counties.

Over time, statewide committee members hope increased awareness of arthritis will help people develop better self-management skills, higher levels of physical activity and improved quality of life.

“The committee that developed the plan consists of health professionals, arthritis educators, and several people with an interest in this topic,” Deines said.

KDHE also is promoting the plan with their major partner, the Kansas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. The components of the plan are similar to efforts promoted nationally by the Arthritis Foundation and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Derik Dukes, Director of Development and Health Promotions for the Kansas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, said that organization’s ultimate goal is to have programs in 103 Kansas counties (The Western Missouri/Greater Kansas City chapter of the Arthritis Foundation serves Wyandotte and Johnson counties).

But Dukes added this can only be done by building awareness of the foundation’s programs. Currently, information about self-management programs for arthritis and related conditions can be found at the 11 Kansas Area Agency on Aging offices, senior centers, county health departments, and by calling the Kansas chapter office at 1-800-362-1108, or 316-263-0116.

“It’s a big job, but the fact that we are helping people is rewarding,” Dukes said. “It’s important for people with arthritis to know that they can help themselves by going to support groups and by being involved in exercise programs.”

The information comes at a good time, according to Deines. May is National Arthritis Month, and the statewide committee members are hoping to build awareness of a disease that affects 34 percent of Kansas adults.

“We want people to see that a collaborative effort is being made to address arthritis in Kansas,” Deines said.

For more information, interested persons may contact their local Extension office, or visit the Arthritis Foundation’s Web site at http://www.arthritis.org.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Pat Melgares, News Coordinator
melgares@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News

K-State Research & Extension News