Incremental steps make a difference for Lyme patients in Canada
Acknowledging small wins is important for building momentum.
Cox and Levesque (2024) shine a promising light on the right steps toward an effective healthcare system where policymakers, patients, researchers, and the healthcare system are working to advocate for and support Lyme disease patients.
Looking at their strategies, the value of personal knowledge, and the roles of both supporters and opponents, contributes to better understanding successes and challenges in Canada through an incremental approach.
To that end, Lyme disease patient organizations have come together to address a health system that is not meeting the needs of Canadians dealing with complicated illnesses.
An embodied health movement highlights how personal experiences with the disease can motivate patients to challenge restrictive guidelines that limit testing and treatment. These organizations aim to build connections with supportive researchers, doctors, and politicians.
Highlighting this small wins approach demonstrates the steps taken to challenge the healthcare system in response to current Lyme Disease protocols and practices. These crucial small wins include contributions of patient advocates and reviewing treatment and diagnosis through a patient-centred lens. It is important to acknowledge the progress made despite the ongoing and significant challenges with Lyme disease care.
Citation
Cox, M., & Levesque, M. (2024). “Small Wins” for Those with Lyme Disease in Canada: Patients in an Embodied Health Movement. Zoonotic Diseases, 4(1), 22–36. doi:10.3390/zoonoticdis4010004.
