Participate in Research
Co-developing a Flexible Care Delivery Model for Arthritis (FlexCAre)
Want to get involved?
If you are interested in participating in the study, enter your information in the form below and we will give you a call to confirm your eligibility.
Overview
We aim to co-design and test a new way of delivering care for inflammatory arthritis called FlexCAre that takes advantage of digital health technology to monitor health and tailor care to each person’s situation. In this new model, patients will determine when they need care, how they receive it (e.g. in-person or virtually), and who they see (e.g. nurse or rheumatologist). We hope this new flexible way of delivering arthritis care will better meet the unique needs of each person and will ensure that all people get the highest quality of care available.
Purpose
The purpose of this part of the study is to hold discussion groups with people living with inflammatory types of arthritis to gather their input into the design of the FlexCAre model.
Specifically, our objectives are: 1) to identify people’s needs and preferences for a new way of delivering arthritis care, and 2) to identify important considerations for the model to be feasible and acceptable.
Who can participate?
We are looking for individuals living with inflammatory types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and auto-immune rheumatic diseases such as lupus, Sjogren’s or scleroderma, who are 19 years or older, with access to a computer and internet.
This study is open and welcoming of everyone who wishes to share their ideas, including Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, interracial and other communities of colour, Two-Spirit, trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse and expansive people, sexual minorities including lesbians, gays, bisexuals and pansexuals, demisexuals and other emergent sexual identities, and people living with a dis/abilit(ies).
We recognize the historic and ongoing harms and deep mistrust caused by medical institutions against many of these communities and actively work to redress those harms and mistrust through this work.
What is required?
Once your eligibility is confirmed and you have completed the consent form you will be asked to fill out a short online survey about your arthritis. You will then attend an online discussion group lasting up to 2 hours, with nine other patients to discuss ideas and provide input into the design of the model. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. You will receive $30 for your participation.
Who are the research leads?
- Diane Lacaille, MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Professor, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Canada
- Susan Bartlett, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill University
Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada
Want to find out more?
If you are interested in finding out more about the study, you may email us at flexcare@arthritisresearch.ca or contact us at 604-207-4035 or 1-833-776-8490.
