connect with

gout program

Why Gout

Gout is a chronic condition which affects more than 1.2 million Australians. Gout causes severe pain disability and impairment and is linked to comorbidities such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obesity and cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events. Patients admitted to hospital due to gout are highly likely to be re-admitted or attend the emergency department within the following five years.

Gout is highly stigmatised discouraging people from seeking treatment and continuing with treatment. It is known to be under-reported in Māori and Pacific Islander people.

Issues for Consumers

Many consumers are unaware of key factors which lead to gout and how it can be very well controlled.

An over-reliance on diet and lifestyle.
Because there is a misconception that gout attacks are caused by lifestyle choices rather than exacerbated by them, consumers attempt to manage gout through diet and lifestyle interventions without urate-lowering therapy.

Stigma can contribute to a delay in treatment
People affected by gout often feel judged and embarrassed believing lifestyle choices, diet, alcohol usage are the major factors causing gout.

Long term management implications are not always made clear.
People are not always told that they are in it for the long haul and that they need to come back regularly to get their uric acid levels tested until they stabilise.

Issues for Health Professionals

Stigmatisation and misconceptions affects how health professionals manage gout. Many are not aware of how management has changed.

The misconception that gout is largely lifestyle related.
This can lead to disproportionate emphasis on the benefits of lifestyle interventions.

Not managing gout as a chronic condition.
Managing only the acute manifestations of gout can lead to the emergence of long-term complications.

Lack of flare prophylaxis when starting or changing dose of urate-lowering therapy
This can lead to further flares, patient mistrust of treatment efficacy and reticence to continue long-term treatment.

Not treating to target with urate-lowering therapy.
Dosing is frequently not optimised to reach serum uric acid targets, with further flares resulting.

Our Approach

Our design and discovery process led to a range of pragmatic solutions to reconcile the consumer and health professional experiences.

For consumers, the program is improving their understanding of the chronic nature of gout, the benefits of ongoing treatment and the role of lifestyle choices. It will empower people to manage their condition appropriately and in turn, will help to reduce stigma.

For health professionals, the program is providing clarity on what, when and how to prescribe and monitor, and for for how long. The program will increase confidence on how to counsel patients regarding the long-term nature of their condition and the treatment and management required.

All of this is being delivered through a range of solutions and channels such as educational visits, webinars, resources and tools, peer group learning, audits, case studies, consumer videos, training videos and more.

Centrepieces for the program include a treatment decision aid and gout care plan.