2012 Grant Awards

The posters and papers listed below each grant arise from work facilitated through the grant funding.

Increasing access to inflammatory arthritis education in rural communities in Ontario using telemedicine

Principal Investigators: Kennedy, C; Shupak, R  (PDF)
Co-investigators: Flewelling, C; Warmington, K; Papachristos, A; Jones, C; Beaton, D; Lineker, S

Project Summary

Telemedicine-based approaches to healthcare service delivery improve access to care. It was recognised that people with inflammatory arthritis living in rural and remote areas had limited access to patient education and could benefit from the “Prescription for Education (RxEd)” program, an evidence-based inflammatory arthritis education program. The one-day program includes a variety of short presentations and panel discussions by the team, and small group (ACPAC trained, facilitator-led) discussions. The program was adapted to be delivered via interactive videoconferencing.

Findings from this study confirm the feasibility of delivering RxEd to rural and remote communities using telemedicine. Data and feedback from participants and educators has been used to improve future RxEd sessions. Improvements in arthritis self-efficacy and other secondary outcomes (arthritis knowledge, coping efficacy, illness intrusiveness, and effective consumer) were similarly effective in local (in-person) and remote participant groups.

Awards

Best Mobility Poster Award at the Breakfast of our Champions (BOOC): Trauma, Neurosurgery, and Mobility Programs event at St. Michael’s Hospital, November 13, 2015. Kennedy CA, Warmington K, Flewelling C, Shupak R, Papachristos A, Jones C, Beaton D, Lineker S, Linton D, Hogg-Johnson S. Effectiveness of a telemedicine education program for adults with inflammatory arthritis living in rural and remote communities in Ontario.

Guest Presentations

The Arthritis Society, Ontario Division, September 23, 2014. “Exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of a telemedicine education program for adults with inflammatory arthritis”.

Annual Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care Day, November 7, 2014. “Exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of a telemedicine education program for adults with inflammatory arthritis”.

Allied Health Professions Association Annual General Meeting, February 6, 2015. “Exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for the delivery of an interprofessional, ACPAC*-led education program for adults with inflammatory arthritis”.

Oral Presentations

  1. American College of Rheumatology Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, November 14-19, 2014.  Kennedy CA, Warmington K, Flewelling C, Shupak R, Papachristos A, Jones C, Beaton D, Lineker S, Linton D. Increasing Access to Inflammatory Arthritis Education in Rural and Remote Communities using Telemedicine.
  2. e-Health 2015: Making Connections, Toronto, ON. May 31-June 3, 2015. Kennedy CA, Warmington K, Flewelling C (presenter), Shupak R, Papachristos A, Jones C,  Kinach M,  Linton D, Beaton D, Bhide R. Telemedicine for patient education: An interprofessional, Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care (ACPAC) – led program about inflammatory arthritis.

Poster Presentations

Presented at the 2014 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting.

Presented at the 2015 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting and Breakfast of our Champions (BOOC): Trauma, Neurosurgery and Mobility Programs event.

Published Literature

  • Kennedy CA, Warmington K, Flewelling C, Shupak R, Papachristos A, Jones C, Linton D, Beaton DE, Lineker S, Hogg-Johnson S., A prospective comparison of telemedicine versus in-person delivery of an interprofessional education program for adults with inflammatory arthritis. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare (2016)