title: Living with gout in New Zealand: an exploratory study into people's knowledge about the disease and its treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In New Zealand, gout disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific people who also experience symptoms at an earlier age. Gout occurs predominantly in men and is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and renal disease. The impact on daily social activities, family, and work is enormous, and many people remain inadequately treated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to explore the knowledge and perceptions of people with gout toward the disease and to determine the impact gout has on lifestyle including possible barriers to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty people with gout from the Auckland and Waikato regions of New Zealand were invited to participate in 30-minute semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed using a general inductive thematic approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 85% of participants were aware of dietary triggers of gout, these were not always avoided. Less than 50% knew something about how their medicines worked, and only 33% knew which medicines to use both acutely and chronically. The negative impact of gout episodes was noted through the number participants unable to work or participate in family activities. Healthcare professionals were not always the main source of information, which is an area that could be developed to improve knowledge about gout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were substantial gaps in the knowledge about gout and its causes and management. All healthcare providers could help identify patients with suboptimal knowledge and improve the management of gout.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and †School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. n.martini@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Nataly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Te Karu
authors.forename: Lenati
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aho
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Caylee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.forename: Harjinder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tieu
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult