Studies
| Study Title: | Autoimmunity, Self, and Society: A Sociological Approach to Chronic Illness in the Wake of Covid-19 |
| Rationale: | During the COVID-19 global pandemic, people with immunocompromised bodies are among the most vulnerable, for having a comparatively higher risk of developing severe symptoms and facing greater uncertainties in social interactions and relationships. Nevertheless, within the chronic illness spectrum, people with autoimmune conditions are still underrepresented in public debates. The research study addresses these issues by examining how people with autoimmune conditions meet everyday life challenges, form social relations, and manage the impacts of social institutions and policies, while also attending to the impact of existing forms of social inequalities on the everyday life of people with chronic illnesses. |
| Study Description: | The research study explores the everyday experiences of living with chronic autoimmune illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic from a sociological lens.
We conduct semi-structured and open-ended interviews in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with people experiencing chronic autoimmune illnesses. Interviews could be held in English, Mandarin, Punjabi, and Urdu. A typical interview is expected to be about 90 minutes. Each participant will be offered a gift card of CAD$ 50 as a token of appreciation. All information collected through interviews will be kept confidential. No identifying information or visual data will be included in the research outputs of this project. The results and information gathered will be used for academic purposes. There is no information sharing with any governmental or non-governmental organization or agency. |
| Starting Date: | 2023-12-06 |
| Ending Date: | 2024-10-05 |
| Who can participate: | 21 years or older from the Greater Toronto Area • having been diagnosed with a form of chronic autoimmune illness (such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus/SLE, Multiple Sclerosis, Morbus Crohn, and Sjögren's Syndrome) |
| Trial Institution: | York University |
| Trial Investigator: | Dr. Michael Nijhawan |
| Contact Information: | Michael Nijhawan nijhawan@yorku.ca |
| Trial Funding: | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada |