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Identifying different health care needs of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A study investigating biopsychosocial factors affecting a person’s health care needs with RA

 

Scientific Study title:

Psychometric evaluation of a measure of care complexity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Principal Investigator:

Claire Barber – MD, PhD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada

Trafford Crump – PhD
Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
Associate Director of the Center for Clinical Effectiveness Research at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery at the Cumming School of Medicine

Start Date:  

October 2022

End Date:

September 2025

Why do this research?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition causing joint pain and swelling and is a leading cause of disability. Other than joints, inflammation from RA can affect people in different ways.  People with RA may experience higher rates of anxiety, depression and lung disease.

People living with the same chronic health conditions may have very different needs.  A more holistic approach for the individual looks at the ‘biopsychosocial’ factors, such as: disease severity; work and home responsibilities; ability to communicate needs, and ability to access health care. Current health care only looks at the condition and may not necessarily look at all these ‘biopsychosocial’ factors that may affect health care needs of the individual.

 

What will be done?

This study will modify an existing tool, the ‘INTERMED Self-Assessment’ (IMSA) tool for individuals with RA. We will determine if this tool is better at identifying a more holistic approach to health care for the individual needs of patients.

 

Who is involved? 

Our study team will interview people with RA and various rheumatology healthcare providers (e.g., rheumatologists, nurses, pharmacists, etc.). We will ask them to share their thoughts about the IMSA tool and see if the tool is understandable and relevant. Changes will be made to the IMSA tool based on the feedback we receive. We will further test the revised survey to make sure it measures patient needs accurately and reliably.

Who is on the research team?

Co-investigators:

Cheryl Barnabe – MD, MSc, FRCPC
Senior Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada
Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

Arthur J.E. Child
Chair in Rheumatology Research

Erika Dempsey

Glen Hazlewood – MD, PhD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada

Alison Hoens
Knowledge Broker and Clinical Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Knowledge Broker, Arthritis Research Canada

Steven Katz

Jacek Kopec – PhD
Arthritis Research Canada Researcher, Professor, UBC School of Population and Public Health

Diane Lacaille – MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Mary Pack Chair in Arthritis Research
Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada
Professor, University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Paul MacMullan

Dianne Mosher

James Rankin

Jason Sutherland

Karen Then

Have questions about this research?

Please feel free to contact us at info@arthritisresearch.ca.  

Funding Agency:

Canadian Institutes of Health Research