Community awareness of childhood arthritis in the UK

Abstract

Objective: The aim was to measure the level of community awareness in the UK that children and young people can develop arthritis.

Methods: An online survey of a representative quota sample of 2044 adults aged 16-75 years in the UK was conducted between 10 and 13 February 2023 by Ipsos UK, a leading social and market research organization, with participants giving informed consent before taking part. Participants were asked which age band they thought is the earliest that someone can get arthritis. They were also asked whether a series of statements about arthritis were true or false, in addition to a series of demographic questions. Data were weighted to the known population proportions for adults aged 16-75 years in the UK.

Results: Overall, 40% of respondents indicated they believed the earliest that someone could get arthritis was <16 years of age. This was higher amongst respondents with arthritis themselves or if they knew someone with arthritis. Only 19% of respondents were aware that children <5 years of age can get arthritis. This varied by gender and ethnicity (males and minority ethnic groups were less likely to be aware). Minority ethnic groups were also more likely to believe a series of incorrect assumptions to be true.

Conclusion: Awareness that children and young people can get arthritis is low, and it is lower amongst minority ethnic groups. Further research to understand this is important, to enable targeted interventions and awareness-raising resources to be developed and applied as appropriate.

Keywords: awareness; ethnicity; inequality; juvenile idiopathic arthritis.