Osteoarthritis in Indigenous populations in rural British Columbia: Disparities in prevalence and access to care

Osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative disease of the joints, is highly prevalent among Canadians. Both the direct and indirect costs of osteoarthritis continue to rise in North America, yet the pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated, nor have the differential treatment and diagnosis outcomes in underserved and remote communities. Indigenous and rural patients are among the most overlooked patient subpopulations. The prevalence of osteoarthritis is greater among Indigenous than non-Indigenous Canadians due to a wide range of structural and colonial barriers that limit access to quality care. These barriers are exacerbated for rural Indigenous patients. As a result, several initiatives have been developed to improve chronic disease diagnosis and management within their communities. For example, the First Nations Health Authority's Medical Transportation Benefit program assists with travel to a medical facility outside the community. In addition, efforts are being made to address bias within the health care system, provide more supportive and culturally appropriate care, integrate traditional healing practices into health care, develop a better understanding of the social determinants of poor health outcomes, and use technological advancements to improve access to health care in remote communities.