Women are disproportionately affected by arthritis—but too much about their experiences remains unseen, undocumented and poorly understood.
You can help change that.
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) has launched the National Survey on Women and Arthritis to ensure that the voices and experiences of women living with arthritis are heard by the people who shape healthcare policies, programs and access to treatment.
By sharing your experience, you can help build a clearer picture of how arthritis affects women’s health, work, families, relationships and quality of life – and where meaningful change is needed.
The survey asks about:
- Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment
- Access to rheumatologists and medications
- Treatment delays caused by drug-plan requirements
- The consequences of waiting for appropriate care
- Employment and caregiving responsibilities
- Mental health and body image
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Menopause and other life-stage experiences
We want to know what is working – but we also need to understand where women are being overlooked, encountering barriers or going without the care and support they need.
Your responses will help ACE identify gaps in arthritis care and develop evidence-based recommendations for governments, healthcare decision makers, and public and private drug plans. The findings will also provide important new Canadian evidence about the effects of arthritis on women’s employment, family responsibilities, health and quality of life.
Your experience matters
Whether you were diagnosed recently or have lived with arthritis for many years, your experience can help shape a better future for women with arthritis.
The survey is open to women living with any form of arthritis in Canada. We want to hear from women of different ages, backgrounds and regions – and with different experiences of the healthcare system.
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Participation is anonymous, and ACE does not collect personally identifiable information.
Take the National Survey on Women and Arthritis: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACESurveyWomenandArthritis
When women share their experiences, those experiences become evidence. Evidence can influence decisions. And better decisions can change lives.
Please take the survey – and share it with women with arthritis in your family, workplace and community.
The more women we hear from, the stronger our call for change will be.