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  • What We're Working On
Integrating Shared Decision Making Into Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: A Focus on Indigenous Patients
SHARED-DECISION-MAKING-WITH-INDIGENOUS-PEOPLES_webphoto
Scientific Study Title:
Implementation and Evaluation of Shared Decision-Making Strategies with Indigenous Peoples for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Start Date:
  • 2024
End Date:
  • 2026
Research Category
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Why do this research?

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is complex, with multiple medication options available. How each patient approaches their choice can vary.

If they prefer to delegate the choice to their healthcare provider;

If they have a preference to choose the strategy that will give them the best benefit, or one that minimizes the risk of side effects;

Whether how the medication is taken, as either pills or injections, influences their decision.

Shared Decision Making is a proven method to help patients and health professionals work together to determine health care decisions. Many strategies are used, including decision aids (visuals and written or web content that outline the possibilities) and decision coaching (where a peer helps talk through the choices and pros and cons of each). Shared Decision Making has been proven to increase patient satisfaction with their treatment, allowing them to feel more in control and improve their relationships with their health care provider.

Shared Decision Making for Indigenous patients with rheumatoid arthritis involves the consideration of additional population-specific content and cultural factors, as well as cost coverage information applicable to them. As Shared Decision Making is focused on aligning patient knowledge and preferences for treatment, it may be the best way to support arthritis care for Indigenous patients in harmony with their beliefs. However, the SDM resources have to be adapted for their use, and several Shared Decision making strategies may be combined to arrive at a decision.

The Research Team

Principal Investigator

  • Cheryl Barnabe, MD, MSc, FRCPC , Senior Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada (University of Calgary)

Co-Investigator(s)

  • Glen Hazlewood, MD, PhD, FRCPC , Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada (University of Calgary)
  • Claire Barber, MD, PhD, FRCPC , Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada (University of Calgary)
  • Dianne Mosher, MD (University of Calgary)
  • Karine Toupin-April, MD (University of Ottawa)
  • Chance McDougall, MD (University of Calgary)

Collaborators

  • Siksika Nation, Elbow River Healing Lodge, and Division of Rheumatology, Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (Alberta Health Services)

Research Staff

  • Tessa Linkert (Kleissen)

How Can People Get Involved?

We will be recruiting Indigenous people with rheumatoid arthritis from specific clinics in First Nations and urban Indigenous communities in southern Alberta. Research agreements with these communities are in place to address data ownership, control, access and possession.

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