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Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Daughters/ Daughters-In-Law Providing Primary Informal Care To Their Mothers/ Mothers-In-Law With Dementia, Sarah Macfarlane

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Objective

As the senior population in Canada rises, more middle aged residents of Canada will find themselves taking on a caregiving role, often times for a parent with dementia. This research examines the lived experiences of daughters/daughters-in-law providing primary informal care to their mothers/mothers-in-law with dementia in order to understand the motivations, effects, and transitions within caregiving relationships.

Methods

Phenomenology was the theoretical orientation used to guide this research and captured individuals’ lived experiences. Background questionnaires were administered initially, followed by one-on-one semi-structured interviews which were transcribed verbatim upon completion for data analysis. Field notes, member checks, and triangulation …

What Lies Past Remission: The Perceived Late Effects Of Pediatric Cancer, Monica L. Molinaro

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Pediatric cancer survival rates are increasing (Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation, 2011) and with this, so are the late effects of pediatric cancer (Oeffinger et al., 2006). This research examines the lived experiences of the perceived long-term effects of pediatric cancer on adult survivors and their primary support persons in order to understand the multifaceted nature of the illness on adults, and how it affects others close to them.

Methods

The theoretical orientation used to guide the research was phenomenology in order to present an accurate depiction of all the participants’ lived experiences. Specifically, background questionnaires were administered and one-on-one …

The Role Of Oxidative Stress In The Mechanisms Of Ammonia-Induced Brain Swelling And Tolerance In The Goldfish (Carassius Auratus), David F. Jones Lisser Mr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Toxic build-ups of ammonia can cause potentially fatal brain swelling in mammals, but such swelling is reversible in the anoxia- and ammonia-tolerant goldfish (Carassius auratus). The mechanisms of ammonia-induced brain swelling and tolerance remain elusive, but several studies have suggested a role for reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may damage proteins and lipids in the plasma membrane of astrocytes in the brain. As a result, osmotic gradients across cell membranes may be altered leading to water uptake by astrocytes and swelling. While a role for ROS has been proposed in mammals, no studies have addressed this question in …

Space-Time Modelling Of Emerging Infectious Diseases: Assessing Leptospirosis Risk In Sri Lanka, Cameron C F Plouffe

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this research, models were developed to analyze leptospirosis incidence in Sri Lanka and its relation to rainfall. Before any leptospirosis risk models were developed, rainfall data were evaluated from an agro-ecological monitoring network for producing maps of total monthly rainfall in Sri Lanka. Four spatial interpolation techniques were compared: inverse distance weighting, thin-plate splines, ordinary kriging, and Bayesian kriging. Error metrics were used to validate interpolations against independent data. Satellite data were used to assess the spatial pattern of rainfall. Results indicated that Bayesian kriging and splines performed best in low and high rainfall, respectively. Rainfall maps generated from …

Factors Influencing Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Rural Ontario Paramedics, Tonya A. Leduc

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction. Influenza vaccination rates have traditionally been very low among healthcare workers (HCWs) however; very few studies have examined vaccination rates andmotivators among paramedics.

Objectives. The Health Belief Model (HBM) (Rosenstock,1974) was used as a guideline in this study to better understand the motivators and barriers to flu vaccination among rural Ontario paramedics. This group represents a considerable proportion of the HCW community, yet it has been virtually omitted from previous research.

Methods. Through the use of self-report questionnaires, and using the HBM as a guideline, a graphical representation of the decision-making process regarding flu vaccination was generated. The sample …

Japanese Encephalitis: Assessing Disease Risk Due To Landscape Factors At Multiple Scales, Julia E. Metelka

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease and is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. In many Asian countries, the geographical distribution of JE is dependent on a variety of human-environment interactions that can be conceptualized as a complex social-ecological system. The JE transmission cycle is influenced by a few primary human-landscape factors; the abundance and the spatial configuration of rice paddy fields (which provide habitat for the vector), the distribution of pig farms (which position the virus' amplifying host), and the location of a susceptible human population. Our models integrate population dynamics, landscape characteristics, and weather variables that …

Professional Learning And Knowledge Transfer To Practice In Unregulated Care Provider Training In Resident-Centred Care, Sarah Pottier

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Ongoing training for unregulated care providers (UCPs) in Ontario is required to meet the care needs of the aging population. Inconsistencies in standards and options for formal training for UCPs as well as the evolving complex needs of the aging population are factors contributing to needing training programs for UCPs in the workforce. This thesis examined the delivery and transfer of professional learning for UCP training in resident centred care. Increasing resident-centred care behaviours and knowledge were the primary aims of the training. One 128-bed long-term care home in southwestern Ontario volunteered to participate in this study while providing the …

Examining Quality Indicator Rates For Older Home Care Clients With Dual Sensory Impairment (Dsi) And Exploring The Heterogeneity Within Dsi., Jacob G S Davidson, Dawn M. Guthrie

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Older adults with impairments in both hearing and vision, called dual sensory impairment (DSI), are at an increased risk of negative health outcomes such as impaired communication and difficulties with mobility. It is unknown whether DSI is associated with potential quality of care issues. This study used a set of home care quality indicators (HCQIs) to examine potential quality issues in older clients (65+) with DSI. Further, it looked to explore how HCQI rates differed based on the geographic region of care and whether the client’s level of hearing and vision impairment was related to certain HCQIs. The HCQIs were …

Social Problems, Biomedical Answers? How Causes Of Social Problems Affect Choice Of Solutions, Bianca C. Dreyer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

With rapid advances in behavioural genetics, scientists are identifying an increasing array of genetic influences on human behaviour. Public misconceptions about the function of genes often lead to the oversimplification of the role of genes in behaviour (Dar-Nimrod & Heine, 2011). To date, no study has systematically investigated whether simply learning about genetic causes of behaviour affects people’s preferred solutions to problematic behaviours. The present research program includes three studies that were designed to examine the psychological effects of exposure to genetic etiology for problematic behaviour, in particular aggression, and investigated how this information influences endorsement of solutions, rating of …

The Effects Of External Focus Of Attention Exercise Rehabilitation On Dual Task Walking In Parkinson's Disease, Eric N. Beck

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parkinson’s disease impairs control of well-learned movements, and therefore, individuals with Parkinson’s disease are forced to walk with greater conscious control. This causes difficulties while walking and completing a secondary task simultaneously (dual tasking), in that distractions from conscious control of walking increase the risk of falls and injury. Although, attention-based exercise may be a potential avenue to decrease the demands associated with walking in Parkinson’s disease. For example, an external focus of attention (on manipulated objects) has been found to recruit the networks that are important for walking with little conscious control (automatic control networks). In contrast, an internal …

The Influence Of Hip Mobility And Fatigue On Spinal Flexion And Muscle Activation In Rugby Scrum Performance, Joshua D. Clayton

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Rugby scrumming is a means of restarting play following a minor rule infringement that can occur up to 28 times per game. The scrum poses a significant injury risk, with more days missed due to injury per event than any other rugby activity. Rugby players also have a significantly higher rate of spine injury than the general population, perhaps due to flexion in combination with high compression forces, which has been cited as the main mechanism of injury. Flexion of the spine has also been associated with poor hip mobility and quadriceps fatigue in other athletic tasks and may …

Experiences Of Victimization And Health Care Access Among Non-Metropolitan Lgbtq+ Individuals, Ashley-Ann Marcotte

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals report substantial rates of violence, discrimination, and negative life events due to homophobia and transphobia and these experiences impact access to health care services and programs (Bauer et al, 2009; Grant, Mottet, Tanis, Harrison, & Keisling, 2010) These experiences result in LGBTQ+ communities needing services, programs, and social supports to provide safer spaces. Although it is well recognized that health care services are not a major determinant of health outcomes and yet use more than 60% of health spending (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2014; Muzyka, Hodgson, & Prada, 2012). As such, …

The Effects Of A Lateral Ankle Sprain On Balance And Jumping Performance In Varsity Athletes, Jennifer Childs

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a lateral ankle sprain(s) on balance and jumping performance in varsity athletes. Clinicians often use subjective balance and jumping tasks during the rehabilitation process as criteria for returning an athlete to sport. There is a high recurrence rate of lateral ankle sprains with ongoing reports of mechanical and/or functional ankle instability often leading to chronic ankle instability. Perhaps including objective kinetic and kinematic measurements in the course of rehabilitating an ankle sprain injury may provide further information regarding the recovery process of the athlete.

Participants in this study …