OBJECTIVES: To obtain data on the care received by individuals counselled during a public health awareness campaign on @entity4512 (MSC). METHODS: Easy non-formal access to rheumatologists/ @entity158 specialists was offered using a mobile unit (Rheuma-Bus) at widely accessible sites. Clients were asked to assess their severity of @entity158 using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Age, gender, disease duration, diagnosis if known, current and previous treatment as well as tentative diagnoses assigned and recommendations given to each individual by the counselling physicians were recorded. RESULTS: Average (SD) VAS @entity158 rating was 59 (20.6) mm. Approximately 40% of clients had never consulted a physician for their condition before, but had lower @entity158 scores than those who had seen a physician. @entity1 with inflammatory MSC had higher @entity158 scores than those with non-inflammatory conditions. More than 2% of the clients had a newly detected inflammatory @entity627 . CONCLUSIONS: Many individuals having @entity158 MSC seek medical help only when a very high threshold of @entity158 is reached. Even while under treatment, the high mean @entity158 scores suggest neglect of MSC that are not adequately recognised as important contributors to disability and decreased quality of life.

The public neglect of XXXX : insights from analyses of attendees in a musculoskeletal disease awareness activity.

@entity4512 :: ('MESH:D059352', 'Disease') :: ['painful musculoskeletal conditions'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients'] @entity627 :: ('MESH:D012216', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatic disease'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain', 'painful']
@entity627 :: (MESH:D012216,Disease) :: ['rheumatic diseases']
