Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Views Of Evidence In Public Health Practice And Decision Making In Ontario, Sara Masood

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Perceptions of evidence by public health managers, practitioners and policy makers is one of the key determinants of evidence uptake. Therefore, understanding views of evidence in both practice and policy decision making is important to bridge the evidence-practice and policy gap in public health. Objectives & Methods: Two studies are presented in this thesis. The first is a systematic review synthesizing studies exploring the use of research evidence in public health decision making between 2010-2016. The second study is a qualitative descriptive study examining understandings about evidence in Ontario public health units by comparing perspectives from managers and frontline …

Disability And Return To Work Following Musculoskeletal Injury, Qiyun Shi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries, damage or disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system including muscles, ligaments, nerves, tendons, bones or cartilage etc. MSDs are highly prevalent and associated with sickness absence, reduced work efficiency, job changes and earlier retirement.. They also affect daily activity and social functioning. Although many MSDs are accompanied by minor symptoms and settled spontaneously, approximately 10% of the workforce with MSDs have difficulty resuming their original work or exit the workforce permanently. Return to work after MSDs is complex, and is influenced by many factors including physical, psychological, economic and social factors.

Although there are extensive studies …

Visualizing And Interacting With Social Determinants Of Health, Moutasem Zakkar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the use of information visualization to represent specific social determinants of health, and to examine the benefits of such representation for health policymaking. Methods: The study developed a prototype for a visualization tool (www.healthvisualization.ca), which represents the conceptual framework for the social determinants of health (CSDH) and new ways to represent related health equity indicators. This tool was used by study participants. The experience of these participants and the usability of the tool were evaluated using qualitative semi-structured interviews. Results: Visualizing the CSDH framework helps to present the social …

The Globalization Of Healthcare: International Agreements & Ontario Academic Health Science Centres, Andrew D. Scarffe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Health systems are beginning to recognize the tremendous opportunity that globalization and international activities present for Academic Health Science Centres. This study explored the nature of international agreements within Ontario Academic Health Science Centres (OAHSC) and presents the exploratory findings to begin to develop an academically defensible body of literature on the topic. This study employed a constructivist grounded theory qualitative methodology, interviewing 14 participants who hold leadership positions within OAHSCs that actively participate in, or interface with, institutions that participate in international agreements (IAs). A conceptual framework is proposed that highlights the: (1) drivers, (2) barriers, (3) international activities, …

Predictors Of Engagement In Community-Based Therapy For Youths With Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Hailey S. Saunders

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP) aims to identify and treat youths with mood and anxiety disorders. This research sought to identify factors associated with engagement in FEMAP, based on extensive data collected by FEMAP researchers. A logistic regression model was built from candidate variables using purposeful selection. Of the 366 participants offered treatment, 87% engaged in FEMAP. Quantity of alcohol consumed per occasion, gender, and anxiety sensitivity were found to be significant predictors of engagement. Gender and anxiety sensitivity interacted with each other such that at low anxiety sensitivity levels, the odds of engaging in FEMAP for …