Question | Rheumatologists responses and quotations |
---|---|
Are your patients having problems with access to their medications, other than hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine, because of the pandemic? | ‘Travel restrictions’ ‘Transportation issues’ ‘Movement restrictions because of lockdown’ |
‘Delay in getting applications approved for biologics by government’ | |
Do you believe rheumatic patients from racial/ethnic minority groups will do worse in the pandemic? | ‘Certain rheumatic conditions tend to cause worse disease in specific ethnicities and I worry about COVID in those patients and them not reaching out when they should’ |
‘Data would suggest so, but this is confounded by socioeconomics best to my knowledge which gets into a different discussion on social determinants of health etc.’ | |
Do you believe rheumatic patients from lower SES will do worse in the pandemic? | ‘Yes, close living quarters or urban areas can increase risk of transmission’ |
‘Lack empowerment to seek care, or distrust of the medical system’ | |
‘I worry they will not seek care out when needed’ | |
‘Less access to self-protection. i.e. masks’ | |
‘Yes, in general they have a more difficult time financially, more single moms, more crowded homes’ | |
‘Higher proportion of multiple comorbid conditions in the lower socioeconomic groups’ | |
‘Due to loss of medical insurance from loss of employment’ | |
Do your concerns for your patients vary depending on their social or SES? | ‘Yes, concerned as these patients are less able to effectively socially distance’ |
‘Patients who live in large groups, or live in transient housing, or experiencing homelessness.. I worry about this a lot actually’ | |
‘Yes, because they are unable to quit their job as they need the money’ | |
‘These patients are less concerned because they don’t understand due to lower health literacy’ | |
‘Patients who cannot restrict their movement/socially distance because of work requirements: childcare providers, janitors, cashiers’ |
SES, socioeconomic status.