POS1449-PARE REUMAKLUBI – VIRTUAL MEETING PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH RMDS
Authors: E. Säilä
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> During Covid-19 restrictions the ability to meet with others face-to-face diminished and the importance of digital skills heightened. The Finnish Rheumatism Associations member associations activities quieted down, meetings were difficult to host, and many were in need of peer support. We wanted to find a way to keep people living with RMDs connected and find low threshold solution for psychosocial support. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The Finnish Rheumatism Associations aim was to make a simple platform that can bring people together, emphasizing the importance of simplicity as a big part of our target group has difficulties with digital skills. A digital meeting place is also ideal for people with physical, economical, and geographical limitations alike. <h3>Methods:</h3> The Finnish Rheumatism Association conducted questionnaires in social media about what our member associations and people living with RMDs needs and wants were for this platform. From the questionnaire a few things stood out: peer support, accessibility, finding others with same situation, and a new way to spend time. We worked with volunteers from our member associations to develop the platform to the form that would suit their needs the best, asking their opinion of how accessible the website was and what could be improved. After the launch we have gathered data from how the website works and from volunteer support group leaders, who host their meeting on said platform. We are also constantly looking out for what kind of activities our target group would enjoy and what are our members wishes for the platform. <h3>Results:</h3> Reumaklubi website ("Rheumatoid arthritis club", virtual meeting place for people with RMDs) was released in early 2021 with video, sound, and text capabilities, and it is open and free for everyone. Anyone is able to join any available ready-made room without having to register to the website or needing to download anything. On the other hand, private rooms can be made by registering on the website and choosing a password for it. Password protected rooms were designed for member associations' meetings or discussing sensitive topics. Reumaklubi can be accessed through a computer browser or via smartphone. As of now, the website has translations for Finnish and Swedish. Reumaklubi had 1310 visitors in the year 2023. Since a big part of our target audience has difficulties with digital skills, we wanted to emphasize simplicity in the design, but also by giving guided tours of Reumaklubi and by providing clear instructions on how to use the website. Member associations and other groups usually hold meetings in their own password protected rooms, but we have had several open peer support group meetings almost weekly. Since summer of 2021 Vertaisnurkka (peer support corner) has been held every Monday where volunteers who have trained to become peer supporters hold an open group meeting about their chosen topic. Vertaisnurkka support group leaders on the Reumaklubi platform are asked to submit a report after each session. In these reports, leaders share how the sessions went and provide the Finnish Rheumatism Association with any new ideas or general feedback they have about the platform. The feedback from participants in the support groups, as reported by the leaders, has been positive. They express a desire for the groups to continue. Vertaisnurkka support group leaders have reported that in 2023 from 37 reported group meetings 32 times there were one or more people who were seeking out peer support for the first time. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> The existence of easy and free to use group gathering place encourages people to join Reumaklubi. For those living with RMDs, who might have never experienced peer support before, this kind of low threshold activity can push them to be more active in seeking out others or join a member association near them. Weekly marketing in social media informs people of new group topics which keeps Reumaklubi in the minds of our demographic, but most of all reminds people that there is always support around. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> Volunteers and staff members of the Finnish Rheumatism Association have actively contributed to the development of Reumaklubi platform. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>