Pronounced "I Am", as in "I am an advocate for those affected by primary joint diseases with an autoimmune component."
Awareness
IAAM was partly founded because of frustrations many autoimmune arthritis patients feel regarding the overuse and misunderstanding of the full definition of the word "arthritis".
We have been working to encourage the public to "Differentiate Your Arthritis", or to reclaim the word by defining it and differentiating the types. Nothing will change if the world continues to think they are all the same. Understanding is key in bringing awareness. It's that simple.
IAAM focuses on awareness in regards to general public education, as well as how our diseases are represented in the media and in product advertising.
Programs
The Media Awareness Hotline
The Media Awareness Hotline is a place to report false or misleading information published or broadcasted about the Autoimmune Arthritis diseases. Once submitted to the hotline a case file is created and the IAAM Media Awareness Hotline Team begins working to correct the misinformation through education, public posting, meetings with editors, and other avenues as deemed necessary to produce a resolve.
f you see an ad or read an article that you feel is misleading regarding autoimmune arthritis, please REPORT IT HERE!
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To learn more about the Media Awareness Hotline or to file a report, visit our Media Awareness Hotline page.
Advertising Education
IAAM conducted a survey in November 2012 to record the average patient response to Autoimmune Arthritis advertising, particularly commercials. The purpose of the study was to inquire about commercial affect on patients to respond to the treatment advertised and what, if anything, patients would like to see changed in advertising.
IAAM anticipated the findings would prove that patients are not happy with current commercial advertising and, in addition, that they are not talking to their doctors based on the content viewed in the ad. By proving this to be true, IAAM, as the only nonprofit to advocate solely for the Autoimmune Arthritis group of diseases, could then use the data to begin training the companies who manufacture these products, offering assistance in making them more appealing to their target market, i.e. the "Patient".
Since this survey, IAAM CEO, Tiffany Westrich has spoken to several pharmaceutical groups in regards to how they can best utilize our resources to reach the needs of patients. If you would like to book Ms. Westrich for your convention or Pharmaceutical Training meetings, please email Tiffany@IAAMovement.org for more information.
See the Results of the Survey
Biologic Commercial Survey and Report: Analyzing the Patient Perspective on Autoimmune Arthritis Portrayal in the Media
Awareness & Wellness Education through Art & Patient Stories
