Effectively managing your patients' joint pain this self care week

GSK is helping pharmacists to tap into Self Care Week this November, and remind patients how they can adopt a more proactive approach in looking after their health. This includes treating ailments, such as joint pain, over the counter to take pressure off GPs where possible.

Joint pain complaints take up a significant amount of general practice resource with 57 per cent of pain presentations reported relating to joint pain[1], as well as 23 per cent of sufferers feeling as though their pain impacts their quality of life[2].

Many of these complaints and ailments could be addressed with treatment recommendations from a pharmacist with support from Voltarol.

GSK, manufacturer of Voltarol (the market leader in the pain relief topic category[3]), offers support through both its products and resources in hopes to advocate over-the-counter treatments.

The GSK Health Partner portal has a large array of condition led content to help pharmacists, including guidance on the typical signs and symptoms of mechanical joint pain, as well as advice on management for a number of joint pain conditions.

Kavita Datar, senior expert (HCP) marketing manager – OTC at GSK, says: “Our focus on self-care is part of a long-term behavioural shift that we’re driving, as we try to get people to take a proactive interest in their own health first and foremost.

"Pharmacists can play an active role in relieving the strain on the NHS, offering the right advice and range of products to provide consumers with everything they need to manage their joint pain effectively. If patients are able to utilise advice from pharmacists and their teams for information on joint pain, this will help to alleviate pressure on GPs and the wider NHS.

“As joint pain affects more than 10 million people in the UK[4], it is important that pharmacists have the option to choose from a wide variety of pain relief formats to provide a recommendation that is best suited to the patient. By recommending the Voltarol Max Strength Pain Relief 2.32 per cent Gel, pharmacists can provide their patients with effective joint pain relief for up to 12 hours – without having to see a GP. We hope that through our range we can support patients with their pain during Self Care Week and beyond.”

Voltarol Max Strength Pain Relief (2.32 per cent) strikes at the site of pain and inflammation, to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and help speed up the natural healing process.

With those suffering with a loss of movement in their hands, the flip-top lid packaging on Voltarol Max Strength 100g pack means they are able to access the product with just one hand or against a surface, helping pharmacy teams and their patients to manage hand joint pain effectively. Available in more than just a gel form, the Voltarol range includes medicated plaster, non-medicated heat patches and knee braces.

To access our GSK Health Partner website and its information on products, conditions, learning resources and patient support materials please visit this website.

Self Care week this year is being observed between November 15 and November 21.

References:

[1] GSK Health Hub Consumer Pain U&A UK, Feb 2021

[2] GSK Health Hub Consumer Pain U&A UK, Feb 2021

[3] Source ©2021 NielsenIQ data, value and units, Pain Relief, Topical, 12 w/e 09/10/21 in Great Britain and Total Coverage

[4] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arthritis/