How participation in labour could be a challenge for pituitary or adrenal patients

What should happen if an employee with a pituitary or adrenal disorder is unable to continue fulfilling their job responsibilities?

This question has been posed to patient organizations and AdrenalNET over the past few years. Additionally, how can we assist patients who have lost their jobs due to such disorders? What key information should employers understand when they encounter an employee who can no longer perform their current role?

In 2020, AdrenalNET initiated a Dutch project that involved all relevant stakeholders to explore options, possibilities, and essential information for employers, employees, insurance doctors, caregivers, and others.

The project, named ‘Participatie in Arbeid,’ was launched in the Netherlands in 2020. It focuses on addressing the support needs of patients with pituitary and adrenal disorders —whether they are still working or have had to stop due to their conditions — while also serving as a guide for employers, insurance providers, and occupational health physicians on how to assist these employees.

During several meetings with stakeholders, the core group thoroughly discussed and elaborated on various topics and details, resulting in the following products:

  1. A specialized website on labour issues, providing information to all stakeholders: https://www.werkwijzer.online/
  2. Three informative documents on Cushing’s syndrome, adrenal disorders and pituitary diseases. See: https://www.werkwijzer.online/speciaal-voor/hypofyseaandoeningen/
    Translated in English are:
    20240501 factsheet cushings syndrome UK
    20240501 factsheet pituitary disorders UK
  3. The establishment of a “Buddy Support Group for Work-related Questions” at the patient associations “Bijniervereniging | Dutch Adrenal Support Group” and “Nederlandse Hypofyse stichting’.
  4. Presentations at meetings for Dutch endocrinology (DEM).
  5. Presentations aimed at other relevant stakeholders, such as the UWV and others.

The project was financially supported by ZonMW, Netherlands

Please Note:
The attached fact sheets have been developed for the Dutch situation, including relevant regulations and advice.

Awareness for Pituitary diseases in October


WAPO will raise awareness for four pituitary disorders through infographic posters and social media carrousels in 2024.
The 4 posters focusing on Arginine VasoPressin deficiency, Cushing’s, Adrenal Insufficiency and Acromegaly will be released during October 2024, Pituitary Month.
Please also think of Acromegaly Day on November 1st!
On WAPO’s social media, you will also find carroussels with disease related information

Release dates: 
October 1: Arginine VasoPressin deficiency
2024 WAPO Awareness – Arginine VasoPressin deficiency – Diabetes Insipidus

October 8: Cushing’s Disease – 2024 WAPO Awareness – Cushing’s disease

October 15: Adrenal Insufficiency –
2024 WAPO Awareness – Adrenal Insufficiency – Addison’s Disease

October 22 – Acromegaly – 2024 WAPO Awareness – Acromegaly

Kindly share this message to increase awareness among individuals living with pituitary disorders and their families.

Dreams Survey – Understanding Sleep Quality in Patients with Pituitary Disorders (with a Focus on AVP Deficiency/Diabetes Insipidus)

This anonymous survey is conducted by the research team of Prof. Mirjam Christ-Crain in Basel, Switzerland. The goal is to better understand how pituitary disorders, especially AVP deficiency (also known as Diabetes Insipidus), affect sleep quality. Although treatment options exist, many patients still face sleep difficulties, and we aim to learn more about these challenges.

The survey is designed to help us gain a clearer picture of sleep problems in people with pituitary conditions, enabling us to develop further research in this area. It is completely anonymous, and no personal data will be collected beyond your survey responses. The survey only takes 5-10 minutes to complete, and your answers will be stored and analyzed confidentially. The findings will be shared in medical literature and on patient representative platforms.

Additionally, the survey will explore how sleep quality and sexuality impact overall well-being. A few optional questions about sexuality will be included at the end, which you may choose to skip if you prefer. Your participation, whether you choose to answer all the questions or just some of them, is highly valued and will contribute to a deeper understanding of the quality of life for patients with pituitary disorders.

The survey is available in English and German.

If you are interested to participate in the study, please click here:  https://redcap.dkfbasel.ch/surveys/?s=KNJHNN7WEDCMJYFL

International Hypothalamic-Pituitary Brain Tumors Patient Registry

The Raymond A. Wood Foundation (RAWF), in collaboration with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®), is thrilled to announce the launch of the International Hypothalamic-Pituitary Brain Tumors Patient Registry. The registry provides a unique platform for patients worldwide to unite their voices and share essential information about rare hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumors, to advance research and guide the development of treatments for critical unmet needs of our community.

The web-based and secure registry consists of a series of longitudinal surveys to gather information from patients or caregivers/legal representatives on the natural history of rare hypothalamic-pituitary tumors, including demographics, health challenges, diagnoses, medical history, hunger behavior and other disease-related information.

RAWF is building the registry in stages around research projects. At this time, the registry is focused on craniopharyngioma and will include other hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumors in the future. The current registry study aims to collect data from patients or caregivers to better understand and characterize hunger, appetite and eating environment of individuals with craniopharyngioma, including hypothalamic obesity.

De-identified, aggregated data from the Registry will be shared with academic and industry collaborators conducting research and/or clinical trials on new therapies. Third parties will be granted access to de-identified Registry data according to the guidelines of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Brain Tumors Patient Registry Advisory Board, and an independent IRB providing ethical oversight for Registry activities.

For more information on how to participate or learn more about the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Brain Tumors Patient Registry, visit https://hptumorregistry.iamrare.org or www.rawoodfoundation.org/HPTumorRegistry/.

Thanks in advance for your help in supporting our mission.

 

Survey Arginine VasoPressin Deficiency | Central Diabetes Insipidus | Histiocytosis

 

Your action counts!

You have a fabulous opportunity to help the medical community as well as patient support organizations learn about the experiences, challenges and support needed by people with AVP-Deficiency/Central Diabetes Insipidus (AVP-D/CDI) and Histiocytosis, and those who care for them.

The survey is collaborately set up by 3 patient organizations: ‘Got Arginine VasoPressin Deficieny | Got Central Diabetes Insipidus?’ Facebook group, WAPO and a survey section by the Histiocytosis association. Dr Cihan Atila, Neuroendocrinology University of Basel, Switzerland, supported us through the process.
We look forward to sharing the results in December and early 2025.

The study is active from May 27 till August 23, 2024!
Participate now and be an agent of change!

The survey is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese:  https://feedback.surveylab.com/92c/3421908d/AVP-D/CDI/
Due to the length of the survey, you can open and reopen it later on at the same computer.

You can help by taking the survey or reshare with other people who are challenged by these disorders.
If you have any questions, write to us at: mail@wapo.org, and we will be happy to help you.

Thank you for taking the survey!

‘Got AVP-D | Got CDI?’ facebook group – Histiocytosis association – WAPO

 

This survey was made possible with in-kind support e.g. reviewing through patient organizations, health care professionals and patients. The SurveyLab AI-translations were checked for English, Spanish and Portuguese. Financial support by WAPO.
We thank all parties involved for their support.

Season’s Greetings

We wish you, your family and friends … “lots of joy and peace in the upcoming year!”

the WAPO Board of Directors,
Sandra, Clive, Robert and Muriël

#seasonsgreetings
#happyholidays

Patient Solidarity Day 2023

Patient Solidarity Day takes place each December. Thousands of people across the world rally around one topic relevant to the patient community and show support for the Day by raising awareness on social media and hosting activities to mark the campaign.

This year, on Friday, 8th December 2023 health stakeholders from all over the world will stand together to celebrate Patient Solidarity Day 2023 under the theme ‘Expert patients – the indispensable voice’.

On PSD 2023, we will celebrate the strength, resilience, and knowledge of expert patients who have taken control of their health journeys and contributed to health systems strengthening in various ways.

The empowered expert patient who has taken control of their health journey and is advocating for health systems transformation is an indispensable voice in the healthcare value chain.

We will use the occasion of PSD 2023 to invite the patient community from all over the world to share with us their views of who an expert patient is – what skills and assets make them an expert patient. With this feedback, we want to start shaping collectively and collaboratively a definition of the expert patient that truly translates the views and thoughts of patients worldwide.

Follow and join the buzz on social media – #PSD2023

Stay tuned for more resources to help you call for ‘Expert patients – the indispensable voice’..
Patient Solidarity Day 

October Pituitary Month

In the global Pituitary Month October, WAPO would like to draw attention to the 8 pituitary disorders, which WAPO represents in various ways.
Besides these posters, WAPO also organized a Global Summit in Buenos Aires for the member organizations as well as a webinar in the 2023 Webinar series.
In this webinar will Kirsten Davidse (Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands) speak about ‘Transition of care from young adult care to adult care … We mind your step‘
The webinar can be found in the website Library from October 26th onwards, in free access and in English and Spanish.

 

If any questions on the above, please contact us via mail@wapo.org

Global Cushing’s Quality of Life Survey by CSRF – Invitation to participate

The Cushing’s Support and Research Foundation (CSRF) and the World Alliance of Pituitary Organizations (WAPO) are conducting a global survey to gather patient opinions about quality of life and the journey with Cushing’s. We understand that living with Cushing’s poses numerous challenges, and we deeply appreciate your willingness to share your experiences.

If you are 18 years of age or older and have been diagnosed with Cushing’s, you qualify to participate in this project.  If you do not currently fit this criteria, we will have additional opportunities in the future.

By participating in this survey, you are contributing to a collective effort that aims to enhance understanding, promote better care, and improve the lives of individuals affected by this condition worldwide. Findings will be reported at the World Alliance of Pituitary Organizations Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 7, 2023. Afterwards, a detailed report will be shared with all participating individuals and organizations, and there will be additional opportunities to share over the next year at conferences.

Your voice matters, and we are grateful for your time and input.  To learn more about this project and to take the survey yourself, please visit http://www.csrf.net/2023globalsurvey. The survey is available in English, French, and Spanish.  The survey opens on Monday, August 28, and will remain open until midnight EST on September 11 for this specific collection of data to present.
Afterwards, the survey will be open again.

Learn more about
CSRF at http://www.csrf.net and
WAPO at http://www.wapo.org

WAPO Summit 2023 Program

Registration upon invitation for WAPO Member organizations.
Questions? Send an email to mail@wapo.org