Teaching the Role of Health Advocate: Reflections on two cross-cultural collaborative advocacy workshops for medical trainees and instructors in Oman

In March 2014, medical educators from Canada and Oman collaborated to shape the foundation of health advocacy training in Oman. Using existing research and innovative tools, two workshops were developed, representing the first formalised approach to health advocacy for medical trainees in Oman. The development and application of the workshops highlighted many unique challenges and opportunities in advocacy training. This article summarises the process of developing and implementing the workshops as well as feedback from the participants and short-term consequences. Furthermore, this article seeks to explore the complexities of designing a cross-cultural curriculum. In particular, it reflects on how the role of health advocate may be perceived differently in various cultural and societal settings. Understanding and adapting to these influences is paramount to creating a successful health advocacy curriculum that is relevant to learners and responsive to the communities in which they work. Keywords: Patient Advocacy; Medical Education; Social Determinants of Health; Health Promotion; Problem-Based Learning; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Canada; Oman

The global challenges and opportunities in the practice of rheumatology: white paper by the World Forum on Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) represent a multitude of degenerative, inflammatory and auto-immune conditions affecting millions of people worldwide. Persons with these diseases may potentially experience severe chronic pain, joint damage, increasing disability and even death. With an increasingly ageing population, the prevalence and burden of RMDs are predicted to increase, placing greater demands on the global practice of rheumatology and related healthcare budgets. Effective treatment of RMDs currently faces a number of challenges in both the developed and developing world, and individual countries may face more specific local challenges. However, limited understanding of the burden of RMDs amongst public health professionals and policy-makers means that these diseases are often not considered a public health priority. The objective of this review is to increase awareness of the RMDs and to identify opportunities to address RMD challenges on both a local and global scale. On 26 September 2014, rheumatology experts from five different continents met at the World Forum on Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WFRMD) to discuss and identify some key challenges for the RMDs community today. The outcomes are presented in this review, focusing on access to rheumatology services, diagnostics and therapies, rheumatology education and training and on clinical trials, as well as investigator-initiated and epidemiological research. The long-term vision of the WFRMD is to increase perception of the RMDs as a major burden to society and to explore potential opportunities to improve global and local RMD care