Grant: Undergraduate: Mobility, musculoskeletal health and arthritis - ICS

Recent research suggests that up to 38% of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) waited longer than three months to see a family physician for joint symptoms. However, little is known about factors associated with the initiation of medical consults. In the Early RA Help-Seeking Experience (ERAHSE) study, we interviewed 38 people who were recently diagnosed with RA and found that the decision to seek help was influenced by the complex interplay of factors, including: 1.) severity and nature of symptoms; 2.) impact of symptoms on function and participation in social roles; 3.) prior experience with medical professionals; and 4.) knowledge about arthritis and other chronic diseases. During the early phase, people tried different ways to manage their symptoms, such as looking for information, changing their daily activities, adjusting their work environment, and/or using over-the-counter remedies. In some, these 'self-management' activities facilitated the decision to seek information and medical treatment for the early symptoms, but in others, the expectation to self-manage appeared to contribute to a delay in seeking help. The purpose of this undergraduate student project is to understand the role of self-management from the onset of RA symptoms to the first visit to a health professional. Using a narrative approach, the analysis will focus on two areas: 1.) the strategies used by individuals to cope with the early symptoms in the context of their everyday lives; and 2.) how self-management facilitated or hindered the process to seek-help. During the 3-month funding period, the candidate will be mentored by a multidisciplinary team to develop skills in the analysis of qualitative data, manuscript writing and presentation. Furthermore, she will gain first-hand experience in working with patients/consumers in health research and knowledge translation.