2014 Grant Awards

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

Collaborative Care Model Involving eHealth to Improve Treatment Adherence and Health Outcomes of Patients with Gout

Principal Investigator:  De Vera, M (PDF)
Co-investigators: Marra, C; Shojania, K; Choi, H; Avina-Zubieta, J; Kydd, Al Baker, M

Project Summary

Gout is a very painful type of arthritis affecting over 1 million Canadians that occurs when too much uric acid builds up in the body leading to repeated inflammation and deformity in the joints. Studies have shown that gout often is not properly managed or patients do not stick to their treatment plan. As a result, patients often do poorly, suffering from repeated gout attacks, and complications that lead to extra hospital visits, higher costs and even death. Our study examines if rheumatologists, pharmacist, and dietitians shared access of electronic medical records (EMR) improves gout care for patients. This research has potential to support patients’ use of treatment, prevent complications associated with gout, and ultimately, improve patients’ health.

Shared access EMR supports remote communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals, placing the patients at the center of care. Our pharmacist is able to conduct medication reviews, discontinue unnecessary medicines, renew prescriptions, monitor serum uric acid (SUA), and titrate medications in communication with the rheumatologists via the EMR. Further, the dietitian is able to educate and counsel patients regarding important dietary concerns.

This is the first study of interdisciplinary collaborative care supported through electronic health technology (eHealth), namely EMR, to improve treatment adherence and health outcomes in patients with gout. At the end of the study, we expect to have a better understanding of whether collaborative care approach supported by shared EMR improves quality of care and outcomes among patients with gout, and how this model can be implemented in rheumatology practice.

Oral Presentations

  1. Virtual Gout Clinic: Role of the pharmacist in collaborative care. Arthritis Research Centre of Canada/University of California San Francisco Research Day, Vancouver, Canada (June 2014)
  2. Collaborative care involving eHealth to improve treatment adherence and health outcomes of patients with gout. Arthritis Research Canada Annual Retreat, Richmond, Canada (June 2015)
  3. Virtual Gout Clinic: EMR-enabled interdisciplinary care. Innovation to Application Conference, Vancouver, Canada (February 2016)
  4. Collaborative care model involving eHealth to improve treatment adherence and health outcomes of patients with gout: an update. CIHR PRECISION team meeting, Vancouver, Canada (April 2016)
  5. Exploring how patients perceive and experience the virtual gout model of care. Arthritis Research Centre of Canada/University of California San Francisco Research Day, San Francisco, USA (April 2016)
  6. Collaborative care involving eHealth to improve treatment adherence and health outcomes of patients with gout. Canadian Pharmacist Association Conference, Calgary, Canada (June 2016)
  7. Exploring how individuals with gout experience and perceive an eHealth supported collaborative care model: A mixed methods study. Arthritis Research Canada Annual Retreat, Richmond, Canada (September 2016)

Poster Presentations

Presented at the 2015 Canadian Association for Population Therapeutics Annual Conference

Presented at the 2017 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting and recognized by the CRA Optimal Care Committee for Quality Improvements and Choosing Wisely.

Presented at the 2018 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting.

Published Literature