Reasons for not participating in scleroderma patient support groups: a comparison of results from the North American and European scleroderma support group surveys.

Conclusions: Improving access to European support groups, providing education about support groups and group leader training may encourage participation. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Rehabilitation professionals might help develop local support groups for people with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) to address the lack of access to these groups for many patients. The need for transportation and limited local accessibility may also be addressed by implementing online systemic sclerosis support groups. Professionals in the field of rehabilitation may work with people with systemic sclerosis and patient organizations to provide education about support groups to improve support group attendance in Europe.
PMID: 31522575 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - September 13, 2019 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Kwakkenbos L, Carboni-Jiménez A, Carrier ME, Pépin M, Peláez S, Malcarne VL, El-Baalbaki G, Thombs BD, Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Support Group Project Advisory Team Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research