Activities for patient benefit

arc will be directly commissioning research and activities that will directly benefit patients. The first of these will be in:

 

Orthotics: aids and appliances

Arthritis is a disabling disease and there are still several areas of disability that remain unmet, partly due to a lack of research into understanding needs and, in part, due to technological advances such as the need to use computers, mobile phones etc.

 

 

arc has established an expert advisory group to consider what research and other activities should be undertaken in this field.

 

 

 

The group has highlighted 3 areas for immediate action:

  1. Study of both patients and health care providers on the problems associated with the provision of footwear and orthotic devices in relation to rheumatoid arthritis of the feet. This investigation is being undertaken by Dr Maggie McArthur from the University of East Anglia based on in depth interviews which will be followed by a more formal survey which will be done in collaboration with Dr Elaine Thomas from arc National Primary Care Centre at Keele University
  2. A detailed report into the current issues regarding the provision of footwear and related orthotics to such patients in the NHS and equivalent organisations in the other countries of the UK. This report will be designed for the public, those commissioning and providing health care and the media. This report is being commissioned from Dr Tony Redmond, University of Leeds
  3. A survey of the effectiveness of the currently available ‘Futura’ wrist splint with the intention of developing an enhanced device. This survey is being coordinated by Mr Paul Brown, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool and Dr Karyn Ross University of Strathclyde.