Canadians, Even Parents, Unfamiliar with the Risks, Treatments, Symptoms and Complications of
Juvenile Arthritis

Toronto, ON - Canadians appear to be unfamiliar with the risk factors, treatments, symptoms and or complications of juvenile arthritis. In fact, just two in ten (19%) say they are `familiar' (3% very/16% somewhat), while the vast majority (81%) are `not familiar' (34% not at all/'47% not very).

Considering that juvenile arthritis by definition affects children, it is interesting to note that parents of children under the age of 16 are equally as likely (80%) as those who are not (81%) to say they are unfamiliar with it. While levels of familiarity are low across the country, they are particularly low in Quebec (14%), while familiarity is slightly higher in Atlantic Canada (26%) than the national average (19%).

The lack of awareness likely stems from the fact that just three in ten (30%) say they have seen, read or heard (7% a lot/22% some) about juvenile arthritis, making it the least-most heard about condition among many other conditions that affect juveniles, including asthma (72%), cancer (66%), diabetes (54%), HIV/AIDS (46%), epilepsy (46%), cystic fibrosis (44%), heart conditions (44%) and cerebral palsy (44%). Quebecers (80% vs. national average of 70%) in particular have not been hearing about this condition very much, while Atlantic Canadians (40%) are most likely to have.

Canadians appear to be split on a few key facts or myths about the condition. For example, six in ten (60%) believe it is genetic, while four in ten (40%) disagree. Six in ten (60%) also believe that there is no cure for juvenile arthritis, while four in ten (40%) disagree and believe that there is. However, there is a stronger consensus around one particular issue, as most (80%) agree that juvenile arthritis continues into adulthood, while just two in ten (20%) disagree that it does.

There appear to be some fairly common misconceptions about the conditions, as the data reveals that one third (34%) of Canadians believe that the only symptom of juvenile arthritis is painful, achy joints. Those with children under the age of 16 are only slightly less likely to believe this (30% of those with kids under age 16 vs. 36% of those without kids). Furthermore, nearly two in ten (16%) believe that the symptoms are always mild - but parents are just as likely as those without children to believe that this is the case (16% and 16%, respectively).

Only three in ten (29%) agree with the assessment that arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting children, but parents are less likely (25%) to believe this than those without kids (30%). Finally, 15% of all Canadians believe that children with arthritis should not participate in physical activities or sports, with parents and non-parents being equally as likely to think so.

While Canadians in general did a good job at identifying some of the possible complications of juvenile arthritis, such as swelling of the joints (93%) and stunted or uneven growth (74%), fewer believed the following to be possible complications as well: inflammation of internal organs (50%), difficulty with dental care (45%), higher incidence of infection (45%), overactive immune system (44%), inflammation of the eyes (32%) and skin rashes (30%).

Interestingly, with the exception of skin rashes or stunted growth, those with kids under the age of 16 were no more likely to believe that these were possible complications.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Arthritis Society from January 19th to January 21st, 2010. This online survey of 2,021 adult residents of Canada (of which 475 are parents of children under the age of 16) was conducted via the Ipsos Opinions Online Panel, one of Ipsos Reid's national online panels. The results are based on a sample where weighting was employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Pina Pejovic, Ph.D.
Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 572-4418
[email protected]

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