Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are devastating conditions that strike more women than men, often during the childbearing years. Treating rheumatic diseases in expectant mothers during pregnancy is critical as uncontrolled disease activity may harm both the mother and baby. However, the benefits and risks of medication use make treatment decisions difficult. Moreover, my own research to date has added to the current body of evidence showing that women with RA and SLE need information on medication use during pregnancy and that many pregnant women with rheumatic diseases stop taking their medications, even though these medications are known to be safe. Pharmacists are medication experts, trusted members of the healthcare team, and often the first point of access to the health care system for patients. As such, they are ideally positioned to close the information and care gaps for women with rheumatic diseases, particularly in supporting their medication decision-making. I propose to address the gap in pregnancy care among women with rheumatic disease by developing a collaborative care model supported by shared electronic medical records to integrate pharmacists with rheumatology practices. I will then study whether this collaborative care model is feasible, acceptable, and whether it improves care for women with rheumatic diseases.