PDF《Support for炉he烫hronic Pelvic Pain》

18 Collaborative Action to?Raise Awareness Approached by the ICA, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in the USA played a valuable role in education and sci- ence by holding scientific symposiums for interstitial cystitis, attended by patients and professionals from around the world, while the German ICA organized sym- posiums which formed an important step in raising awareness in Europe and edu- cating both doctors and patients. The Society of Interstitial Cystitis of Japan (SICJ) and a Japanese patient support group were set up in Japan in

2001 and organized a successful series of the International Consultation on Interstitial Cystitis Japan (ICICJ) in Kyoto, involving patients in these scientific meetings. In the meantime, support groups were on the rise around the globe, giving patients the chance to meet each other, share experiences and organize patient gatherings with expert speakers. This was combined with publication of leaflets and brochures, fact sheets on every imaginable topic and treatment, books, videos and ultimately websites in a variety of languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese........