Grant: Foundation Grant

<html> <body> <p> <strong>Pursuit of Health Equity in Arthritis Care and Outcomes for Indigenous Populations:</strong> Historical legacies have created disparate chronic disease rates and inequitable health outcomes for Indigenous populations in Canada (also referred to as Aboriginal, inclusive of First Nations, M&eacute;tis and Inuit). Arthritis is the most common chronic disease in Indigenous populations, in part attributable to severe inflammatory arthritis. The overarching goal of my program of research is to characterize and resolve inflammatory arthritis care and outcome disparities in Canada&rsquo;s Indigenous populations. The objectives for my program of research are to:<br> <br> <strong>1.</strong> <strong>Characterize the impact of inflammatory arthritis on mortality, health services use, and societal cost in the Indigenous populations of Canada.</strong> I will resolve knowledge gaps on the relative contribution of inflammatory arthritis to individual and population-level consequences of these conditions in the Indigenous populations.<br> <br> <strong>2.</strong> <strong>Determine Indigenous patient preferences for inflammatory arthritis care and treatment.</strong> A thorough understanding of patient expectations for inflammatory arthritis care models and values for selecting a personalized therapeutic strategy is needed to create a healthcare environment where Indigenous patients are empowered to be active participants in determining their most appropriate course of treatment.<br> <br> <strong>3.</strong> <strong>Develop tools to assist Indigenous patient-provider discussions to align treatment choices, expectations and values in the context of the evidence-base for inflammatory arthritis therapy.</strong> Patient decision aids and decision coaching are strategies that may narrow health equity gaps, and will be tested aspects of effectiveness and decision quality in the program of research.<br> <br> <strong>Improving Inflammatory Arthritis Care and Outcomes:</strong> This program of research reacts to the urgency for multi-jurisdictional initiatives to resolve existing care gaps. It will provide decision makers and communities with the information necessary to plan high quality and comprehensive inflammatory arthritis services. Healthcare providers will gain knowledge on appropriate management approaches for effective service provision. It will empower patients to make informed decisions about treatment options available to secure optimal outcomes.<br> <br> <strong>Core Expertise:</strong> I am a rheumatologist providing inflammatory arthritis care in Indigenous communities, with expertise in health services and clinical research. As a member of the M&eacute;tis community, I commit to undertake meaningful research that is respectful of cultural processes. My Program Experts and Knowledge-Users contribute skills in patient-oriented research methods, Indigenous health, policy and program development, and knowledge translation strategies. We will pursue collaborative and transformative health research initiatives that benefit Indigenous patients and communities, and strengthen care systems in their capacity to provide patient-centered care.<br> <br> <strong>Mentoring and Training Activities:</strong> Training opportunities for emerging clinician-scientists, health sciences trainees and Indigenous community members will be expanded, building upon existing resources from established local and national research networks. This program will produce researchers with skills to negotiate chronic disease research in respect to health inequities in Indigenous populations, with a focus on community-engaged research that impacts healthcare delivery competency and health systems models.</p> </body> </html>