Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Even though there are effective treatments for gout, the condition is on the rise, and the main reason for this is because people have difficulty adhering to their medications. This research project is a pilot study where rheumatologists (specialist physicians in joint diseases), pharmacist, and dietitian use eHealth technology, namely the shared access of patients' electronic medical records (EMRs), to help patients better manage their gout. In this study, the pharmacist works with rheumatologists to adjust patients' medications, order and interpret lab tests, provide counseling on medications and adherence strategies, and follow patients with monthly phone calls. Shared access to EMRs forms a "virtual gout clinic" and facilitates the exchange of patient information and care team communication. As such, our aim is to evaluate the impact of the virtual gout clinic on: patients' serum uric acid levels, gout flares, functional status, quality of life, and medication adherence after 1 year. We expect to recruit and follow 50 eligible patients.