2014 Grant Awards

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

Addressing rural and remote access disparities for patients with inflammatory arthritis through telehealth/videoconferencing and innovative inter-professional care models

Principal Investigator:  Taylor-Gjevre, R.
Co-investigators: Bath, B; Trask, C; Nair, B; Penz, E; Stewart, S; Hardy, K; Arendse, R

Project Summary

In summary, based on the data analysis to date for patients who were retained in the study there was no evidence of inferiority of videoconferencing follow up compared to traditional in-clinic follow up in terms of disease activity measures, quality of life or patient satisfaction over the study period of 9-10 months.

There were two major findings which we identified. Firstly for patients who participated in the study and were retained until the end of the study period they did well and there was no evidence of inferiority of follow up strategy arms.

Another major finding was related to challenges around patient recruitment and high dropout rates.  While there were some considerations such as reluctance to complete questionnaires which contributed to these issues and were shared with the research team. There was also a strong message which was received in conversations with patients that they gained auxiliary benefits from their trips to the urban centre which were facilitated by their rheumatology clinic appointment.

Strategies for development of models of care need to be consultative with the people they are being developed to serve. While distance technology may be a distinct improvement and advantage for some patients, there may be loss of opportunities for others which the travelling facilitates/supports. Results from this study will be shared with our provincial division and those involved in planning service delivery strategies.

Oral Presentations

  1. Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Inter-professional Care Delivered by Telehealth/Videoconferencing. Bath, B; Taylor-Gjevre, R; Nair, B; Stewart, S; Arendse, R; Naik, L; Trask, C; Penz, E; Sharma, M; Crockett, K., Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 12-14, 2015.
  2. Addressing Rural and Remote Access Disparities for Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis through Telehealth/Videoconferencing and Innovative Inter-professional Care Models, Regina Taylor Gjevre, Canadian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, February 27-March 2, 2019.

Poster Presentations

Presented at the 2015 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting.

Presented at the 2016 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting.

Presented at the 2018 Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting.

Published Literature

  • Taylor‐Gjevre R, Nair B, Bath B, et al, Addressing rural and remote access disparities for patients with inflammatory arthritis through video‐conferencing and innovative inter‐professional care models, journal Musculoskeletal Care (2017)