In addition to the information in this website, there are lots of other resources that can help you learn to manage JIA.
Books
Huegel, K. (2002). Young People and Chronic Illness: True Stories, Help and Hope. Monarch Books: Toronto.
Kaufman, M. (2005). Easy For You To Say: Q&A's for Teens Living With a Chronic Illness or Disability. Key Porter Books: Toronto.
Kaufman, M., Odette, F. & Silverberg, C. (2003). Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: For all of us who live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain and Illness. Cleis Press.
McDonagh, J. & Patience White, P. (2008). Adolescent Rheumatology. Informa Healthcare: London.
Websites
Cassie + Friends: A Society for Children Affected by Juvenile Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
The Arthritis Society (Canada)
Arthritis and Osteoporosis New South Wales: Kids and Arthritis
Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA)
painHealth – Muskloskeletal Pain Help
Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO)
University of Washington School of Medicine
Teen Health Source (Canada) – sexuality and health information
Tips for assessing the quality of information on the internet
The internet is the top source of information for teenagers. There are many websites about arthritis. However, the quality of information varies from site to site. Talk to your doctor about information you find on the internet. They can help you understand the information you find on these sites.
Here are some tips to help you determine if the site is of good quality. Remember SCREEN!
| S = Source | Is the sponsor of the site credible? Check out their credentials. One way to do this, though it’s not 100% accurate, is by looking at the domain. Is the site: government (.gov), educational (.edu), or nonprofit organizations (.org)? Is the site current? What is the last date it was updated? |
| C = Conflict of interest or bias | Is the site selling or promoting a product or service? |
| R = editorial Review process | Is there an editorial process or seal of approval? |
| E = Evidence-based | Are the claims based on scientific research and is there documentation? |
| E = Extreme claims | Does the site claim “miracles,” “amazing results,” or ”earthshaking breakthroughs?” Any claim that a treatment works for dozens of different problems, or has a 95% or 99% improvement rate, is likely to be misleading and driven by profit. |
| N = Not related | Is the information unrelated to or different from what you were told by your health-care provider? |