June is Pride Month – a time dedicated to celebrating 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities and their resilience, advocating for equal rights and a world free from fear, violence or discrimination. According to data from the 2019 to 2021 Canadian Community Health Survey, 1 in 10 youth aged 15 to 24 years reported being 2SLGBTQQIA+. Amongst this population, 3 in 10 considered their mental health to be fair or poor. For youths who also live with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, they may also experience physical disability and mental stress related to missing out on school activities and disease management – impacting their overall health.

In this #ArthritisAtHome, we are sharing the #CRArthritis interview with Dr. Karine Toupin-April, Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences in the University of Ottawa. She discusses about a talk she presented at this year's Annual Scientific meeting called “How are determinants of health inequities related to decision-making in juvenile idiopathic arthritis care? A narrative synthesis.” Her research explores how factors like gender, culture, and socioeconomic status affect decision-making in JIA care and why is it important to consider these determinants when making treatment decisions. In her review of the research literature, her team found few studies directly linking health inequities to decision-making in JIA care. Dr. Toupin-April shares the potential consequences of not addressing these inequities in treatment planning. 

Are you satisfied with how you are receiving arthritis care? What changes would you like to see in your care journey? Please email us at [email protected] and let us know. 

Additional learning resource

• ACE National Survey on Arthritis and Health Inequities
• Facts, stats and impact : 2SLGBTQI+ communities
• The Choice Research Lab
• Tools and resources to facilitate the use of shared decision making (SDM)