Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting over 300,000 Canadians, disproportionately affecting women. RA contributes to loss of muscle mass, pain, and fatigue, leading to impaired function and reduced quality of life. Physical activity, in particular strength training, is key for RA management, supported by international guidelines for its benefits in improving muscle mass, function, and fatigue without worsening disease activity. Despite this, less than 15% of individuals with RA engage in strength training. Muslim women, in particular, face disproportionately high rates of physical inactivity due to both disease-related and sociocultural barriers, leaving them at higher risk of missing the benefits of strength training. Yet religiously and culturally tailored strength training interventions for this population are lacking. My research hypothesizes that a culturally sensitive strength training intervention will increase the promotion of strength training among Muslim women with RA. My objectives are to: 1) identify determinants of strength training among Muslim women; 2) explore factors influencing strength training participation among Muslim women with RA in British Columbia; 3) co-adapt an existing strength training prescription tool with patient partners and Islamic scholars to ensure cultural and religious relevance; and 4) pilot the adapted tool with exercise professionals and patients to assess feasibility and acceptability. I will conduct a scoping review of determinants of strength training participation among Muslim women, qualitative interviews with Muslim women with RA guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework, co-adapt interventions with patients and key interest holders through workshops, and test it with exercise professionals and patients. My project will contribute to better understand strength training promotion and contribute to improving an existing strength training tool to better support Muslim women with RA.