Inflammatory Arthritis Prevention and Treatment in Indigenous Communities

 

Scientific Study Title:

Indigenous Inflammatory Arthritis Prevention and Treatment approaches for Health Equity (IIA-PATH)

 

Study Start Date:

2025

End Date:

2030

 

Why Do This Research?

Inflammatory forms of arthritis, some of which include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis are chronic, autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory arthritis occurs at a higher rate in Indigenous Peoples compared to the general population, and people from Indigenous communities face increased barriers to accessing care.

Currently, we do not have enough information to know who is at risk of developing inflammatory arthritis. This project will focus on improving our prediction and understanding of inflammatory arthritis risk in people from Indigenous communities by looking at factors like genetics, immune system health, the environment, and social conditions. It will also take a patient-centred approach to help guide and create treatment choices that meet the holistic health needs of Indigenous patients.

What Will Be Done?

This project will have two parts. First, we will focus on screening people from Indigenous communities to understand their risk of inflammatory arthritis. This will focus on addressing genetic, environmental, and social triggers of inflammatory arthritis. We will include people from rural and urban communities, of all ages and genders.

Next, we will focus on understanding how to provide culturally appropriate care for Indigenous people who already have inflammatory arthritis. We will aim to create care plans informed by persons from Indigenous communities that reflect the needs and traditions of Indigenous communities, including:

  • Helping patients make treatment decisions through shared decision-making, where both the doctor and patient work together.
  • Providing support and health system navigation for patients through an Arthritis Liaison resource
  • Offering peer support activities and community programs focused on arthritis wellness, determined by partner communities.

 

Who Is Involved?

This project includes many community collaborators, including:

  • Siksika First Nation (represented by Cheryl Sorenson, Siksika Nation Home Care Team leader and Charlene Brough, Siksika Nation Nursing Advisor and Community Paramedic Team leader)
  • Kainai First Nation (represented by Dr. Terri-Lynn Fox, a person living with rheumatoid arthritis, and Director of the Wellness Program, Blood Tribe Dept. of Health
  • Elbow River Healing Lodge, an urban Indigenous clinic in downtown Calgary (represented by Danene Lenstra, Manager)
  • Otipemisiwak Metis government (represented by Reagan Bartel, Director of Health)

 

How Are Equity, Diversity And Inclusion Addressed Or Taken Into Consideration?

This Team Grant was made possible by existing research relationships with southern Alberta First Nations communities, the Otipemisiwak Metis Government, and an urban Indigenous Clinic in Calgary. All activities in this research are specific to Indigenous community members. We have built our research team to be Indigenous-led, with 3 Indigenous women as co-principal investigators and multiple co-investigators also self-identifying as Indigenous. We will prioritize training of Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students in our research activities and hiring of community members into the research team.

 

How Will Patients Contribute To This Research?

Dr. Terri-Lynn Fox is a co-principal investigator in this research. She brings her expertise as a First Nation woman living with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as being an Assistant Professor at Mount Royal University in Indigenous studies and Director of the Wellness Program for the Kainai Nation. Each participating community will nominate representatives for their own ‘Arthritis Partnership Committee’, which will guide the research initiatives and activities.

 

Research Team

Principal Investigators:

Cheryl Barnabe, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Senior Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada (University of Calgary)

Terri-Lynn Fox (Mount Royal University)

Stephanie Montesanti (University of Alberta)

Liam O’Neil (University of Manitoba)

Pamela Roach (University of Calgary)

 

Co-Investigators:

Claire Barber, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada (University of Calgary)

Hani El-Gabalawy (University of Manitoba)

Glen Hazlewood, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada (University of Calgary)

Diane Lacaille, Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Canada, (University of British Columbia)

Jordi Pardo Pardo (Cochrane Equity Thematic Group)

Karine Toupin-April, MD, (University of Ottawa)

 

Who Funded This Research?

Canadian Institutes of Health Research