P091 Is my arthritis part of who I am or something I have? Age of onset makes a difference

Abstract

Abstract Background/Aims Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions experience a wide range of emotions, and reflect differently upon their diagnosis. This collaborative study between three patient organisations explored how a diagnosis of a rheumatic condition affected a patient’s identity with the disease. Methods Adults in the UK aged 18+ who had any diagnosis of a musculoskeletal or rheumatic condition were invited to complete an online survey. Respondents provided information about their diagnosis, experiences and attitudes across a range of themes and topics. Respondents were asked to indicate how they felt about their condition, scoring between whether they felt their condition was “part of who I am” (score 0) or “something I have” (score 10). Results In total, 532 respondents completed the survey (64% female; 68% White ethnicity). The mean overall score was 6.28 (tending towards “something I have”). There was no difference between male and female respondents, nor between ethnic groups. However, there was a significant difference between patients with a diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis (JA, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) compared to other respondents, with JA patients more likely to consider their arthritis “part of who I am” (5.25 compared to 6.75; p<.05). By age band, older patients (aged 56+) were more likely to consider their arthritis “something I have” compared to younger patients (aged under 25, 26-35 or 36-45 p<.05), with a trend of increasing score based both on age and age at diagnosis. Conclusion A diagnosis of a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease (RMD) has a substantial impact on patients, and can affect their sense of identity. Patients with earlier onset are more likely to consider their arthritis to be a part of who they are, rather than a condition they have. This may impact on motivations and expectations. Further research into this may help identify how to better support patients in relation to how they perceive their condition. Disclosure R.P. Beesley: None. R.M. Beesley: None. K. Middleton: None. A. McBride: None.