P115 Thousands of rheumatoid arthritis & juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients benefit from interactive National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society broadcasts

Abstract

Abstract Background/Aims Pressures on NHS services results in many rheumatology patients missing out on vital information that can support them in understanding and managing their conditions. During the COVID pandemic, NRAS took to social media to host regular live interactive broadcasts to keep people informed on the latest regarding vaccines, staying safe and treatments etc. These proved such a successful way of communicating with people not just across the entire UK but often those from other countries that ‘NRAS Lives’ have become a monthly resource offering covering a multitude of relevant to RA and JIA topics. Methods Originally utilising just Facebook NRAS became aware that this particular platform wasn’t being accessed by all our beneficiaries. At the beginning of 2023 NRAS began to use a new streaming platform ‘StreamYard’ that opened up the opportunity to stream broadcasts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube simultaneously, hence reaching many more people living with RA or JIA and rheumatology health professionals. NRAS Lives are hosted on the last Wednesday of every month with usually a panel of guests presenting on a chosen topic and individuals having the ability to pre-submit questions to be addressed on the night relating to the topic as well as the opportunity to post live questions throughout the broadcast. Results As of September 2023 NRAS has hosted eight interactive educational broadcasts reaching almost 15,000 people. Providing people with inflammatory arthritis the opportunity to hear from key opinion leaders and experts regardless of where they are located in the UK or across the world, or their ability to access such opportunities locally. Topics covered include BSR’s new Pregnancy Guidelines; Foot Health & Orthotics; Mental Health & Wellbeing; Support for young adults with IA; Importance of Exercise; Rheumatology Research for All; Remote Monitoring explained with upcoming topics in 2023 being Stress & RA (uneasy bedfellows) and Men with RA ‘The Men’s Rheum’. All live broadcasts are recorded and then hosted on the NRAS YouTube channel and are being freely accessed for ongoing patient and health professional education. Conclusion With more and more patients being moved onto PIFU pathways as well as NHS resources being severely restricted in their ability to offer face to face patient education or indeed for health professionals to have access to experts from a wide variety of backgrounds, these NRAS Lives are bridging those increasing gaps in knowledge sharing. The NRAS YouTube channel is a developing accessible, free library of information which complements other NRAS and NHS resources for both patients and health professionals. Disclosure C.B. Jacklin: None.