Shared decision support for Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis
Official title: Implementation of shared decision making in rheumatoid arthritis: A stepped wedge, cluster-randomized trial
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11238086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a program to help Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis and their clinicians make treatment choices together when methotrexate doesn't work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003260-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis receiving care at participating VA rheumatology clinics, especially those facing a decision about next treatments after methotrexate.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not receive care at participating VA clinics, have other types of arthritis, or are not currently making treatment decisions are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You and your VA clinic would join a phased rollout where clinics switch from usual care to a new shared decision making program in waves. The program combines patient decision tools, clinician training, and clinic workflow changes to support conversations about treatment options after methotrexate failure. Clinics are randomized by cluster so every site eventually gets the program while researchers compare outcomes before and after implementation. The team will measure decision quality, treatment choices, and whether the program reduces racial and ethnic disparities in care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help Veterans get treatment plans that match their goals and reduce disparities in rheumatoid arthritis care.
How similar studies have gone: Shared decision making tools have improved patient knowledge and satisfaction in other conditions, but a multicomponent SDM implementation for RA in the VA is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barton, Jennifer L — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Barton, Jennifer L
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.