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Zoë Clark receives prestigious EULAR Award
Zoë Clark, osteopath and member of the iO Council, received an award at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Congress. She was awarded Best Abstract in the PARE (People with Arthritis and Rheumatism in Europe) category. This award recognises her outstanding contributions to the field of axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) through her innovative Supported Self-management Programme, “Your SpAce.”
This year, the EULAR Congress in Vienna brought together over 14,000 healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and individuals with lived experience. Winning this award is an essential recognition of the quality of work conducted at the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS). The “Your SpAce” programme reaches a global audience.
“Training as an osteopath teaches you to view and assess people as whole individuals, which is invaluable when creating resources on supported self-management.”
Zoë Clark, Council Member and Chair of the iO’s Student Committee
Pioneering axial SpA
Developed under Zoë’s leadership, the programme aims to provide essential self-management tools to individuals diagnosed with axial SpA, enhancing their ability to manage symptoms effectively and improve their quality of life. Zoë Clark, Programme Manager at NASS, spearheaded consultations with individuals living with axial SpA and healthcare professionals to co-produce “Your SpAce.”
It consists of short videos offering bite-sized information, practical tips on managing axial SpA, and lived experience videos to bring the advice to life. The abstract presented at EULAR focused on the impact of the first three modules launched in 2023: managing pain, coping with flares, and managing fatigue. Additional modules on making medication decisions and optimising appointments have also been introduced.
“Your SpAce” has an impressive reach and impact: “When writing the abstract, the webpages had been visited over 22,000 times, videos viewed over 11,500 times, and resources downloaded over 1300 times. The feedback indicates that we are successfully reaching our target audience, with 63% of those surveyed having been diagnosed less than five years ago. This recognition by EULAR underscores the significance of our work and its contribution to improving patient outcomes.”
Laying clinical foundations through osteopathy
Her clinical background as an osteopath has been integral to the success of the “Your Space” programme. Zoë’s holistic lens and approach to patient care, focusing on the individual rather than just the condition, has been crucial in developing comprehensive resources for self-management. Her active listening skills, honed through clinical practice, were beneficial during the consultation period, ensuring the programme reflected the needs of those living with axial SpA.
Advancing the profession
The recognition from EULAR highlights the quality of Zoë’s work and opens new avenues for further development and funding. “This award has already helped us promote the programme’s results with international prestigious recognition. We will also highlight the award in our funding applications to co-produce a final Your SpAce module on activity and exercise,” says Zoë.
On receiving the award, Zoë is inspired: “Attending the EULAR Congress and receiving this award was a fantastic experience. I’ve made valuable connections for future collaborations, and it was inspiring to see the range of work being undertaken for people living with rheumatic conditions.”
Zoë Clark’s award-winning work in axial SpA significantly advances osteopathy and the broader healthcare community. The iO congratulates Zoë on her remarkable achievement and looks forward to the continued positive impact of her innovative “Your SpAce” programme.
For more information about Zoë Clark’s research and the “Your SpAce” programme, please visit the abstract here. You can visit “Your SpAce” here.