TALK OVER RA – A Global Perspective on Remission and Rheumatoid Arthritis – Canada
Dr. Cheryl Barnabe is a Métis rheumatologist and a Canada Research Chair in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases. She is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. She is a Vice-Chair in the Department of Medicine (Indigenous Health), and the Deputy Director for the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health.
Dr. Barnabe’s research program, ‘Arthritis Care for Indigenous Populations’, has contributed knowledge on the epidemiology of arthritis and contemporary outcomes of inflammatory arthritis conditions for Indigenous people. In response to the identified accentuated disease burden, she co-develops promising health services interventions to bridge the care gaps that exist, and leads delivery of curricular initiatives for rheumatology practitioners to support the provision of culturally safe arthritis care environments. Dr. Barnabe is also conducting research to reduce and resolve arthritis outcome inequities by improving guideline development and their implementation. She is collaborating with partners in primary care, rheumatology, and patients to improve access to ambulatory care services for arthritis concerns to reduce avoidable acute care use.
Learn more about Cheryl Barnabe on Arthritis Research Canada’s website.
Why this idea?
Talk Over RA is a campaign to help those with Rheumatoid arthritis improve their communications with their rheumatologist around remission but that’s a sometimes unclear concept for many, myself included in my early years of diagnosis.
For the 2023 Talk Over RA campaign I have decided to interview as many rheumatologists from around the world on what remission for rheumatoid arthritis is. My aim is to provide a small global perspective on what exactly remission is and if there are difference based on location.
This idea came to me after attending the Canadian, American, and European scientific conferences in person and online for the last 5 years. I really like learning from the experts in their field and from around the globe. I hope you learn something from this project you can use in your journey with rheumatoid arthritis or even other types of inflammatory arthritis, wherever you are in the world.
Canada Connection
I know Dr. Barnabe through my volunteering with the Arthritis Research Canada patient advisory board. She offers an important perspective to rheumatology in Canada and has included many patient voices in her work.
What we go over in this video interview
- What is remission?
- Is there a one size fits all for remission?
- Can you tell by bloodwork someone is in remission?
- Does lifestyle play a role in remission?
- How long does remission typically last? What causes someone to fall out of remission?
- Who has a higher chance of remission – Seropositive or seronegative?
- What comorbidities get in the way of remission?
- Can diet alone put someone into remission?
- Can you still have pain, fatigue or cognitive dysfunction and be in remission?
- Can you stop medication if you reach remission?
- Are remission rates increasing?
- What are some important questions patients can ask their rheumatologist around remission?
- Is remission more common in males or females?
- Is remission more common in younger or older people?
- Early and effective treatment is important for those with RA. For many patients it takes time to find the right medication for us, for those that it takes years to, can we still reach remission?
- Is there anything else you feel is important for patients to know?
Download The Talk Over RA Discussion Guide
TalkOverRA is a platform that aims to empower people living with rheumatoid arthritis to advocate for themselves and their healthcare needs. It provides resources, community support, and tools to help individuals communicate effectively with their doctors and healthcare providers. The campaign emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and provides tips for assertive communication and asking the right questions.
2023 Talk Over RA Content
- Patient Leaders Talk Over RA Video
- Canada – Dr. Cheryl Barnabe
- United States – Dr. Jen Barton
- Brazil – Dr. André Luiz Luquini Pereira
- Talk Over RA 2020 – 2023 Recap
- Talk Over RA – Important Questions To Ask Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Care Team
- Talk Over RA – Understanding Obesity and Remission with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Talk Over RA – What I Learned About Remission and Rheumatoid Arthritis At The 2023 American College of Rheumatology Conference
Be sure to follow the other Talk Over RA Advocates!
- Lene Andersen –@theseatedview
- Julia McNally –@the.ra.yogi
- Michael Kuluva – @michaelkuluva