“There are still a lot of things that I need”: a qualitative study exploring opportunities to improve the health services of First Nations People with arthritis seen at an on-reserve outreach rheumatology clinic ...

• Main Authors: Loyola-Sanchez, Adalberto, Pelaez-Ballestas, Ingris, Crowshoe, Lynden, Lacaille, Diane, Henderson, Rita, Rame, Ana, Linkert, Tessa, White, Tyler, Barnabe, Cheryl
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central 2020
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0395077; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0395077

Background: Arthritis is a highly prevalent disease and leading cause of disability in the Indigenous population. A novel model of care consisting of a rheumatology outreach clinic in an on-reserve primary healthcare center has provided service to an Indigenous community in Southern Alberta since 2010. Despite quality assessments suggesting this model of care improves accessibility and is effective in meeting treatment targets, substantial improvements in patient-reported outcomes have not been realized. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the experiences of Indigenous persons with arthritis and healthcare providers involved in this model of care to inform the development of health service improvements that enhance patient outcomes. Methods: This was a narrative-based qualitative study involving a purposeful sample of 32 individuals involved in the Indigenous rheumatology model of care. In-depth interviews were conducted to elicit experiences with the existing model of care and to encourage ...