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Social Supports For Adolescent And Young Adult Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients: A Scoping Review, Caitlin E. Mungall

Western Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards (WLURAs)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic disorder with negative health consequences for millions of women. The paucity of research regarding interventions targeting the psychosocial symptoms of PCOS for adolescents and young adults (AYAs), susceptible to low self-esteem and depression, warranted this review. This paper provides an overview of research on the social supports currently available for AYAs and identifies areas where further research is required to elucidate their support needs. A scoping review methodology identified 15 studies that met inclusion criteria. Findings revealed that this is an emerging field of research and most included studies originated in North America. …

Social Connectedness, Adolescent Mental Health And Well-Being At The Later Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Exploration, Sarah Abdunnabi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

COVID-19 posed novel challenges by limiting in-person interactions and shifting interactions online. Effects of online and offline social connectedness on adolescent mental health and well-being, and the moderating role of the social determinants of health (SDoH) were explored. Canadian adolescents (n=1,586; M_age=15.3, range 13 to 18 years; surveyed summer 2022) reported their social connectedness, psychological distress, and mental well-being. An ordinal logistic regression was performed to examine the association between social connectedness (online and offline) and dual-factor mental health. Responses to two open-ended survey questions were analyzed. Social disconnection was associated with higher odds of being in a …

Understanding The Information Needs Of Clients And Caregivers Regarding Early Psychosis: A Conventional Content Analysis, Tanvin K. Juneja

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A first episode of psychosis is defined by the first presentation of psychotic symptoms that have gone untreated, characterized by a loss of contact with reality and significant declines in functioning. Low psychosis literacy among clients and caregivers can result in a delay in receiving treatment. This study sought to understand the information needs of clients and caregivers regarding early psychosis. Using a conventional content analysis, we conducted a secondary analysis of 64 transcripts from clients, caregivers, family physicians, and early psychosis intervention clinicians. Clients and caregivers often described having difficulties recognizing symptoms of early psychosis until they became overt …

Disordered Eating Behaviours In Adolescents With And Without A Formal Ed Diagnosis: Comparing Individual And Contextual Factors, Eve G. Chapnik

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explored various psychosocial factors associated with disordered eating in adolescents accessing mental health services across Ontario, Canada. Data were collected using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health (ChYMH) assessment tool and participants were categorized into three groups: individuals with diagnosed eating disorders (ED, n=207), disordered eating without a formal ED diagnosis (sub-ED, n=888), and other treatment-seeking youth (non-ED, n=3285). The ED and sub-ED groups did not differ in many ways, presenting with a similarly greater prevalence of mental health issues, and dysfunctional family and peer relationships, in comparison to non-ED youth. However, the ED …

Antidepressants Versus Placebo For Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Katarina Kopcalic

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and acceptability of antidepressants compared to placebo among adults with a primary diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: Five electronic databases and 2 trial registries were searched to identify studies for inclusion. The risk of bias version 1 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan web. Results were presented using forest plots. Results: 38 studies (12,570 participants) were included. Very low-quality evidence showed a benefit for antidepressants over placebo in the rate of treatment response (RR, 1.39: 95% CI: 1.27, 1.52) and no differences in …

Transforming School-Based Mental Health To Heal The Collective Soul Wound, Andrea L. Holowka

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Pervasive well-being concerns of youth in Alberta are steadily contributing to society’s collective soul wound. In response to this growing need, K-12 systems are faced with increased demands for school-based mental health services. Public Prairie School Division (PPSD) provides student mental health intervention needs through onsite access to school-based teacher counsellors and referrals to centralized psychologists. However, decisions regarding mental health practitioner allocations or practice standards are often left to individuals and generally follow historical practice. This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) problematizes PPSD’s lack of system-wide approaches to mental health interventions that can provide assurance of improved efficacy and equity …

Exploring The Experience Of Disclosing In The Workplace, Jillian Auger

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

An alarming rate of workplace violence/harassment is observed each year, with negative outcomes that affect the organization (i.e., financial loss) and those directly involved (i.e., job loss, financial strain, fear of being blamed, being labeled a ‘troublemaker’). The literature indicates that, for many victim-survivors, there is little hope for positive outcomes following a disclosure of workplace violence/harassment. In fact, some studies show that negative reactions to disclosure can compound and intensify the impact of violence/harassment on psychological functioning. However, minimal research has been devoted to the experiences of victim-survivors regarding the outcomes of a disclosure. Utilizing virtual semi-structured interviews, the …

Establishing The Minimum Clinically Important Difference (Mcid) Of The Quality Of Life In Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (Qolce-55), Mariela Leda

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE-55) is a validated, parent-reported measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with epilepsy (CWE). The QOLCE-55 currently has no minimum clinically important difference (MCID), which is the minimum amount of change required to be considered meaningful to patients. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the MCID for the QOLCE-55 using the Making Mindfulness Matter© in Children with Epilepsy trial data. Parent-child dyads (n=66) completed the QOLCE-55 at baseline (week 0) and follow-up (week 9). MCID values for the QOLCE-55 were calculated using two types of methods: …

Telehealth Experiences In Canadian Veterans: Associations, Strengths And Barriers To Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic., Deanna L Walker, M S Nouri, R A Plouffe, J J W Liu, T Le, C A Forchuk, D Gargala, K St Cyr, A Nazarov, Don Richardson

MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre

INTRODUCTION: Identifying barriers to care in veteran populations is critical, as veterans face increased social isolation, relationship strains and financial insecurities. For Canadian veterans experiencing barriers to accessing healthcare, telehealth may be a promising alternative with comparable effectiveness to in-person services; however, the potential benefits and limitations of telehealth require further examination to determine its long-term utility, and to inform health policy and planning. The goal of the present research was to identify predictors and barriers to telehealth usage in Canadian veterans in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: Data were drawn from baseline data of a longitudinal survey …

Regulatory Implications Of Inadequately Designed Pimavanserin Drug Trials Published With Risk Of Bias On Expedited Regulatory Approval Processes, Benson Law

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The objective of this retrospective critical appraisal study was to determine if the trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for the expedited approval of pimavanserin was of sufficient methodological quality to ascertain its safety and efficacy. After the general metrics of the trials were assessed, the Risk of Bias 2 tool and the PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary tool were employed to evaluate the risk of bias and the design suitability of the trials. This study suggests that the decision to approve pimavanserin for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis failed to meet the threshold of evidence normally …

The Need For Sharps Boxes To Be Offered In The Hospital Setting For People Who Use Substances: Removing Sharps Boxes Puts All Of Us At Risk., Cheryl Forchuk, Michael Silverman, Abraham Rudnick, Jonathan Serrato, Brenna Schmitt, Leanne Scott

Nursing Publications

INTRODUCTION: Substance use can occur in the hospital setting among people with substance use disorder, including intravenous use. However, the provision of sharps boxes is not typically offered in Canadian hospitals. This study set out to explore the current issues due to the lack of harm reduction in the hospital setting.

METHOD: Thirty-one health care professionals participated in virtual one-to-one interviews and focus groups regarding harm reduction in hospital. The issue of sharps box removal was highlighted as a concern. A secondary ethnographic thematic analysis explored this theme in more detail. A scoping review of the literature observed additional considerations. …

How We Debrief: An Interpretive Description Of Social Service Community Workers' Experiences, Andrea C. Krywucky

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The aim of this research was to understand current practices of debriefing being used or not used in community social service organizations and the presumed frameworks or evidence justifying these practices in London, Ontario. The geographical area under concern has seen an increasing poverty gap, lack of affordable housing, toxic drug crisis, with mental health issues being exasperated by the pandemic. Social service agencies are overwhelmed with caseloads, creating an increase in need of care for frontline workers, as they are the first point of contact for many. This research utilized an interpretive description methodology to explore workers’ experiences and …