Donate Now
  • Research Ongoing
Matching arthritis care to patients’ needs
ARC_CurrentReseaerch_RA_MatchingNeeds_425x296
Scientific Study Title:
A Better Match: Transforming rheumatoid arthritis care through tailored follow-up strategies based on disease activity and patient complexity.
Start Date:
  • February 2020
End Date:
  • January 2023
Research Category
Tags
j3f8GwnMDZG3_yFeDobeQbVo7Wlfp9eqBh_7jyg5hzI
Claire Barber
Research Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, PhD, FRCPC
bfUr0WfMJAaRSD2SAVq59ONBaTf_rKAwcm1jvRTcI3M
Cheryl Barnabe
Senior Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, MSc, FRCPC
0af36njrm7zPu1msHdbuEwmHj1k416AKs-35j3WnfRQ
Glen Hazlewood
Research Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Ready to Participate?

Life-changing arthritis research is only possible with your help!
Participate Now

Why do this research?

Reason For Research

There is a crisis in healthcare for Canadians living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Due to a shortage of rheumatologists in Canada, many people with RA must wait a long time to see one. Once they see a rheumatologist most RA patients have follow-up appointments every 3-12 months for 15-20 minutes. Individual patient’s needs are rarely considered when scheduling these appointments, as everyone gets the same amount of time. This study explores a new method of treatment by creating patient care plans that match the needs of the individual patient. The aim is to provide a new solution for sharing resources more effectively while also reducing wait times to see a rheumatologist.

Methodology

Execution of Research

This research will test a new way to help the patients who need more care to get it. We will assign patients who are doing very well to either a care as usual group or a “virtual clinic” group. For the “virtual clinic group”, rheumatology staff will review the patient’s health status online and follow-up by phone. This will reduce the burden of in-person follow-up for patients who are doing well. We will assign patients with higher disease activity and/or medical or health needs to either a care as usual group or a high intensity care group. Patients in the high intensity care group will have longer medical appointments with more members of the healthcare team.

This study will help us determine whether the new model of care is better, or not, than usual care. It will be relevant for changing the delivery of care to hundreds of patients with RA in Calgary, AB.

Who is involved?

Involvement

This study is a pilot study and will be done at the University of Calgary’s rheumatology clinics. Rheumatologists, nurses, and allied health care providers at the clinics will work together to test the new model of care. Two patient partners who have RA are also helping the research team. We will invite patients at the clinics who have RA to be part of the study.

Related Research

Connecting Voices-PLS-715 x 405

Connecting Voices for Equitable Rheumatoid Arthritis Care Access

Read More
New Model of At-Home Follow-Up Care_PLS

A New Model of At-Home Follow-Up Care for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Read More
Research-Stream-AI-Study_425x296

Using Artificial Intelligence to Streamline Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

Read More
2026-Studies-to-Watch-Decision-Aid

Evaluating a Decision Aid for Tapering Biologic Medications in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Read More
VIVA-Study-PLS-image

Virtual Intervention for Vertebral frActure (VIVA): A rehab program for better recovery after spine fractures

Read More
Other-Types-of-Arthritis-10.0-1

Improving quality of arthritis care for Indigenous populations

Read More