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Behavioural Intervention

Comprehensive Comorbidity Clinic for There is no change to this term.

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Cassandra Schulz
Research Sponsored by Western University, Canada
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Inclusion Criteria: Participants will be patients of the Waterloo Rheumatology Community Clinic, aged 18 to 80 years of age, with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will have a minimum of limited working proficiency in English and no significant cognitive impairment that can inhibit their ability to engage in the study.
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 6 months
Awards & highlights

Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where the immune system attacks the body by mistake, causing inflammation of the joints and other body parts. People with rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of infections, heart problems, and bone issues compared to others. They regularly see rheumatologists, arthritis care physicians, to manage their disease. However, managing these other health problems alongside their main treatment is difficult for rheumatologists due to limited resources. This clinical study is being conducted to see if adding a family doctor to a team of rheumatologists can help. Rheumatologists will complete a case report form about the patient's health and send them to a special family physician clinic. This clinic will focus on improving vaccination against diseases, heart health, and bone strength. They will check if patients need special vaccines to protect them from infections. They will screen for heart disease using blood pressure measurements, and order blood work for high cholesterol and diabetes if needed. They will also review bone health and send people for tests to check their bone density if needed. A change in routines and medications may be recommended after their checkup. Rheumatologists will complete another case report about the patient's health 6 months after their family doctor appointment. The study will assess how these markers of health management improve after this family doctor joins the team. It hopes to prove that this new way of working in the community will give people with rheumatoid arthritis better protection against certain infections, heart problems and weak bones.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for people with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. Participants should be seeing a rheumatologist regularly and need help managing related health issues like infections, heart problems, and bone strength.
What is being tested?
The study tests if adding a family doctor to the patient's healthcare team improves management of comorbidities in rheumatic diseases. It involves special consultations focusing on vaccinations, heart health screenings, and bone density assessments.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial focuses on consultation rather than medication or invasive procedures, there are no direct side effects from interventions being studied. However, changes in routines or medications recommended after checkups could have their own side effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~6 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 6 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Care Gap: Cardiovascular screening
Care Gap: Osteoporosis screening
Care Gap: Pneumococcal vaccination
Secondary study objectives
Care Gap: Comorbidity treatment with medication
Care Gap: vaccine-preventable diseases (herpes zoster, influenza and COVID-19)

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Comprehensive Comorbidity ClinicExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The following investigations and treatments will be offered as associated with a comprehensive comorbidity clinic appointment with the primary care rheumatology family physician: Blood pressure, heart rate, height and weight measurement. Blood work (standard lipid panel, fasting plasma glucose or glycated hemoglobin (A1C), eGFR, and Lipoprotein a, Bone densitometry (if applicable to the patient/participant). Vaccinations will be offered if applicable to the patient/participant according to Health Canada guidelines (Vaccination with Pneu-P-23, Pneu-C-13, herpes zoster and COVID-19 vaccine).

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Canadian Rheumatology Association (CIORA)UNKNOWN
Western University, CanadaLead Sponsor
245 Previous Clinical Trials
57,657 Total Patients Enrolled
Cassandra SchulzPrincipal InvestigatorWestern University
~133 spots leftby Oct 2025