A new survey commissioned by GSK Australia and conducted by Decibel Research has found that 80 per cent of people living with mild osteoarthritis feel debilitated by constant pain.
The survey is based on responses from 1,000 people. It was designed to assess the impact of Australia’s most common form of arthritis.
It found that over half (55 per cent) of respondents living with osteoarthritis feel that the related pain is holding them back from taking part in daily activities. Almost one-in-three (30 per cent) feel they are a burden on loved ones and 15 per cent have experienced feelings of isolation as a result of the condition.
According to Jonathan Smithers, the CEO of Arthritis Australia, “It can be difficult to understand the impacts, both physically and emotionally, of arthritis conditions such as osteoarthritis unless you yourself, or a loved one, is living with it. There is no doubt that daily activities become more challenging, and we need to consider how we can help to ensure those living with mild osteoarthritis can access the solutions they need.”
“Accessible design is a key focus at Arthritis Australia, and we want to work closely with industry, governments and other health consumer organisations to ensure we provide better solutions for the needs and abilities of the broader community. This includes not only people with arthritis, but older people and people with other health conditions that reduce their strength and dexterity. Our Easy to Open Certification program is an example of this, where a robust testing process is undertaken with arthritis consumers to ensure the product meets our high accessibility standards.”
Mr Smithers said Voltaren Osteo Gel 12 Hourly’s new easy to open cap is the first therapeutic product that has packaging certified as ‘Easy to Open’ by Arthritis Australia’s Accessible Design Division.
James Meins, the senior marketing manager at GSK Australia, said, “At GSK it’s important to us to spend time listening to our patient communities and understanding their needs. We’re proud to be launching Voltaren Osteo Gel 12 Hourly with a new easy to open cap for those living with mild osteoarthritis, and the certification from Arthritis Australia is a testament to our commitment to our patients”.
