Improving Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Care Pathway Implementation for Indigenous Communities in Saskatchewan

Led by Drs. Gary Groot and Nathaniel Osgood
University of Saskatchewan

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a leading cause of disability and death in Canada. Indigenous communities experience a disproportionate burden of COPD, shaped by broader social, historical, environmental, and health system factors.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has developed a clinical pathway to support optimal COPD management. However, this pathway has not yet been adapted for implementation in Indigenous communities.

This project will bring together researchers, Saskatchewan Health Authority decision-makers, and people with lived experience to engage participants from three Indigenous communities. Through interviews and system mapping, the team will explore community experiences of COPD care and identify what is needed to support culturally appropriate pathway implementation.

The research team will use what they learn, along with health outcomes data, to build a simulation model that can help describe how different implementation choices may affect outcomes in Indigenous communities.

The goal is to co-develop a practical modelling approach that can guide the Saskatchewan Health Authority in adapting COPD care pathways in ways that are culturally appropriate, community-informed, and responsive to the needs of Indigenous people living with COPD.