Fostering Confidence in Newly Diagnosed Autoimmune Patients
When a person is newly diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, such as psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis, it’s not uncommon for us to hear from them in our online health communities discussing fear or uncertainty, and seeking connection or support. The myriad of difficult decisions they are making around treatment options may foster a sense of self-doubt, and the newly diagnosed person may feel overwhelmed by decision fatigue. How can the healthcare industry better reach newly diagnosed patients and help build confidence in their own decision making?
Recent survey data from Health Union revealed interesting insights into the attitudes and behaviors of 8,289 people diagnosed with various autoimmune conditions.* Since 2010, our syndicated In America surveys have captured patient-reported health data from tens of thousands of people living with chronic health conditions (and their care partners), so we can better support them in our online communities and connect pharma with critical perspectives it may be missing. In this specific analysis, the data showed that patients diagnosed less than two years ago report being less active in treatment decisions, as well as being less confident in their condition management. Additionally, patients diagnosed less than two years ago were more likely to say they generally do what the doctor tells them without asking questions.**
