State Burden
In 2003, an estimated 492,000 adult Kansans (about 25% of the
population) reported having doctor-diagnosed arthritis. The individuals
at greatest risk for doctor-diagnosed arthritis are 65 years and older
(48%), women (28%), adults with an income less than $25,000 (29%) and
those with less than a high school education (30%). Adult Kansans are
overweight or obese as well as individuals that do not participate in
any physical activity had a higher prevalence of doctor-diagnosed
arthritis compared to those of normal weight or who get some physical
activity. The effects of doctor-diagnosed arthritis on the individual
are apparent when looking at the following statistics:
- 28% of adult individuals reported their general health status to be
fair or poor compared to 9% for those without doctor-diagnosed
arthritis.
- 38% of adult individuals reported limitations in their usual
activities because of arthritis or joint symptoms.
- 14% of adult individuals reported difficulty in performing usual
activities due to pain every day during the past 30 days.
- 31% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis were obese.
- 24% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis reported being
physically inactive.
ACT (Arthritis Community Taskforce)
The members of ACT are dedicated individuals that have an interest in
reducing the impact of arthritis for the people of Kansas. The members
represent organizations that work with both individuals with arthritis,
dealing with the effects of arthritis on a daily basis and those
professionals and organizations who provide services. ACT meets three
times a year to plan strategies to increase the awareness of arthritis,
to increase the knowledge of and participation in self-management
programs and to review data to define the impact of arthritis. ACT
accomplishes this by monitoring progress and updating the state plan
“Arthritis in Kansas," developing burden reports and fact sheets,
sharing successes and planning for future implementation of the
Arthritis Foundation Aquatics, Exercise and Self-Help Programs and the
CDC Health Communications campaign “Physical Activity. The Arthritis
Pain Reliever.”
Key Partners
- Arthritis Foundation, Kansas and Western Missouri/Greater Kansas
City Chapters
- Kansas State University Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation
Resources Department
- University of Kansas Medical Center
- Kansas Department on Aging
- Resource Center for Independent Living
- Kansas AARP
- Kansas Physical Therapy Association
- University of Kansas Department of Gerontology
- Kansas Activity Directors Association
- Johnson County Health Department
- Johnson County Area Agency on Aging
- KU School of Medicine-Wichita, Dept. of Preventive Medicine and
Public Health
- Individuals with arthritis
Intervention and Partnership Highlights
During 2005, the Kansas Arthritis Program reached 147 Arthritis
Foundation Self-Help Program participants, 390 Arthritis Foundation
Exercise Program participants and 2,078 Arthritis Foundation Aquatic
Program participants by
- Partnering with the Department on Aging to recruit and train
Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program leaders through the regional
Area Agencies on Aging and the local health departments. This
partnership resulted in 15 new Arthritis Foundation Self-Help
Program leaders becoming trained in 2005. Those 15 leaders provided
13 courses to clients of the local health departments and the
regional Area Agencies on Aging. The expansion of the Arthritis
Self-Help Program has grown from being offered in two counties to
eight
counties with plans to expand to additional counties in 2006.
- Strengthening the partnership with the Arthritis Foundation chapters
of Western Missouri/Greater Kansas City and the Kansas Chapter by
providing funding and technical assistance for partnership development
in specified areas of the state to expand the evidence-based Arthritis
Foundation programs in underserved areas. This partnership resulted in
- Four Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program leader trainings
with 27 new leaders trained and 4 leaders recertified.
- Five Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program leader trainings with 26
new leaders trained and 15 leaders recertified.
- Increasing awareness of arthritis by conducting the “Physical
Activity. The Arthritis Pain Reliever” campaign.
Program Documents
Contact information
Cindy Winters
Acting Arthritis Program Manager
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Office of Health Promotion
Kansas Arthritis Program
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 230
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1274
Telephone: (785) 296-8150
Fax: (785) 296-8059
E-mail:
cwinters@kdhe.state.ks.us
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Kansas