What are the community education programs
For people living with a chronic health condition such as arthritis, the health system can seem impersonal and impractical. An inhibiting factor to patients feeling involved in their own health care is the prevailing medical model that sees the patient as a passive recipient of treatment and advice. The clinical nature of medical care doesn’t take sufficient account of how people live their lives or how they’d like to. The focus is on managing disease, not promoting well-being. Community-based education programs play an important role in promoting the effective self-management of chronic health conditions such as arthritis.
How can it help me
When delivered by a trusted organisation such as Arthritis TAS, there are multiple benefits for participants:
- a better understanding of their disease – the causes and affects
- knowledge about self-managements strategies
- skills and tips on how to implement self-management strategies
- opportunities for peer education and support
- ability to connect with the health-trained facilitator for further referral
- evidence-based and consumer friendly information resources for ongoing reference
- confidence and motivation to initiate beneficial lifestyle change.
The community-based education sessions delivered by Arthritis TAS maintain a focus on Living Well with Arthritis. Each session is adapted to the profile and needs of the audience, whether that be a retirement village, young people facing the challenges of juvenile arthritis, or a local special interest group.