Public Health Commons^™

Improving Developing Countries’ Health Information Systems Capacity For Infectious Disease Pandemic Responses: A Case Study Of The Ebola Virus Disease And The Coronavirus Disease Pandemics, Uche Ikenyei

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

There is increasing evidence to demonstrate that current information system theoretical models meant to assess the success of the health information systems (HIS) lack the applicable theoretical underpinning suitable for developing countries. This stems partly from a theory-evidence gap where theoretical models developed in the West are applied in developing country contexts but lack tailoring to localized, contextual realities. Therefore, this study addresses this gap by enhancing the DeLeon and McLean's information system success model with six contextual factors peculiar to the infectious disease HISs in a developing country context.

This study took place in two developing countries, Liberia and …

Falls Screening In Community- Dwelling Older Adults, Hadi Kooshiar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Falls screening can prevent falls and their consequences. The two studies of this thesis aimed to identify the accuracy of falls screening tools and explore patient preferences and empirical validity of the self-rated Falls Risk Questionnaire (FRQ). The first study, Systematic Literature Review, found the Toulouse-St. Louis University Mini Falls Assessment and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale Hindi version emerged as accurate tools for predicting falls in the target population. The second study determined most of respondents, 36%, had no preference between Activities Specific Balance Confidence 6 items (ABC-6) or FRQ. The Bland & Altman approach revealed a degree of …

The Development, Short-Term Efficacy, And Pilot Implementation Of An E-Learning Course In Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviour For Pre-Service Early Childhood Educators, Brianne Bruijns

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to develop an e-Learning course in physical activity and sedentary behaviour and test its short-term efficacy and implementation among pre- and in-service early childhood educators (ECEs). The Delphi approach was adopted for Study 1, wherein a panel of international experts in physical activity and sedentary behaviour suggested topics for the course and, together with a panel of ECE experts, rated their importance. Study 2 employed a pre-post design to explore the changes in pre- and in-service ECEs’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour-related knowledge, self-efficacy, behavioural intention, and perceived behavioural control following course completion. …

Reddit And Nursing During Covid-19: A Summative Content Analysis, Julia C. Savin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to explore what self-identified nurses discussed on the nursing SubReddit during the Covid-19 pandemic between March 2020 to May 2020.

Methods: The Hsieh and Shannon (2005) summative content analysis with emergent categorical development was used to categorize the naturalistic data.

Findings: Through analysis, six content categories were identified from the nursing SubReddit: (a) employers’ approaches to the pandemic; (b) emergency preparedness in response to the pandemic; (c) shared experiences; (d) nursing students and new graduate nurses; (e) coping; and, (f) gratitude to nurses.

Implications: (a) Leadership that is communication-focused will improve the quality …

Examining Public Health Risk Communication Via Social Media By Provincial And Local Health Authorities In Ontario During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Marc Resendes

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Risk communication campaigns are essential during public health crises to inform the public about ways to mitigate, alleviate and manage potential risks. The purpose of this study was to describe risk communication on social media by Ontarian health authorities amid COVID-19, in addition to examining the strategies that guided their social media use. This was completed through (a) a narrative review of risk communication literature; (b) a qualitative content analysis of select health authority Twitter messaging following three major COVID-19 milestones; and (c) key informant interviews with those coordinating social media responses to COVID-19. Information giving and news updates were …

Community Health Workers And Trainers Perspectives On Education And Practice: A Qualitative Case Study In The Context Of Maternal And Child Health In Rwanda, Damilola Toki

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Achieving global health-care goals hinges on a health workforce that is available, competent, and productive. Chronic health worker shortages impede the abilities of health systems to provide equitable services, especially in low-resource settings.

Global consensus on bridging health workforce gaps calls for alternatives such as using community health workers (CHWs) to achieve health-care aims. CHWs are laypeople who are closely connected with communities and provide frontline health services. Although CHWs are an integral part of workforces in many countries, with potential to inform global health systems, CHW programs continue to operate on the fringe and are fraught with challenges.

This …

Health Care Utilization By Immigrants With Multimorbidity: A Population Based Cross-Sectional Study Of The 2015-2016 Canadian Community Health Survey (Cchs), Chinmoy Talukder

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Immigrants face unique healthcare barriers, which can negatively impact their health and health service use. Those with multimorbidity face a particular challenge as multimorbidity is associated with increased need for healthcare. The purpose of this study was to compare healthcare utilization, as measured by number of visits to family physicians and specialists, between immigrants and Canadian-born populations with multimorbidity, stratified by sex and for specific chronic diseases. A cross-sectional analysis using 2015-2016 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) was conducted. After adjusting for relevant covariates, no statistically significant differences in visits to family physicians or specialists were observed between immigrants and …

The Impact Of Interruptions In Gender-Affirming Medical Care During Covid-19 On Anxiety And Depression Among Trans And Non-Binary People In Canada: A Longitudinal Study, Sara Todorovic

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background. Transgender and non-binary (TGNB) populations experience disproportionally high levels of anxiety and depression; it is imperative we investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the mental health of TGNB communities. Methods. Among a Canadian sample of TGNB persons aged >=15 years, we used multiple linear regression to examine whether interruptions in gender-affirming care were associated with anxiety and depression, and whether that effect was modified by pre-pandemic mental health. Results. Anxiety and depression levels were high both pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. Approximately a quarter of TGNB persons experienced interruptions in hormonal care. After adjusting for confounders, there …

The Role And Importance Of Social Support During Recovery Following Distal Radius Fracture, Ogheneruona Mi Idoghor Ikpen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis explored how social support changes with time and differs across genders within 1-year post distal radius fracture (DRF). It also examines the effect of social support on the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of DRF patients at 3 months post-fracture. In this cohort study, patient-reported social support (emotional/informational, tangible, affectionate and positive social interaction) was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) social support survey, and HRQoL was measured using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Social support significantly decreased at 3 months in comparison to baseline, 6 months and 1 year (with …

An Epidemic Amidst A Pandemic: A Critical Policy Analysis Of Supervised Consumption Sites, Vanisa Ezukuse

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study's primary purpose is to critically appraise current federal and provincial policies regarding supervised consumption sites (SCS), noting intended and unintended consequences; and how these policies could impact SCS users. This study's secondary goal is to compare current policies related to SCS in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec to provide critical insight and suggestions for ongoing policy development. Carol Bacchi’s (2009) “What is the Problem Represented to Be?” framework was applied to the Canadian policy document with a focus on SCS. Four themes are proposed: Public Health versus Criminality, Presumptions versus Assumptions, Policy Unaccountability, and Policy Duality. It …

Exploring Experiences Of Parents Of A Child With Medical Complexity: A Case Study Approach, Vanessa Rocchese

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parents of children with medical complexity (CMC) have the unique experience of also being their child’s health care provider (HCP). This cross-sectional, qualitative single-case study sought to 1) examine experiences of parental caregivers of CMC whilst navigating healthcare and social systems; and 2) examine influences of urban/rural settings on parental caregiver experiences. An online demographic survey and semi-structured telephone interviews were utilized with two families, one urban (n=1) and one rural (n=2). A thematic analysis was undertaken using both intersectionality and the Conceptual Model of Health-Related Quality of Life-(HRQoL) as frameworks to explore findings. This study revealed that challenges in …

The Conundrum Of Low Covid-19 Mortality Burden In Sub-Saharan Africa: Myth Or Reality?, Janica Adams, Mary J. Mackenzie, Adeladza Kofi Amegah, Alex Ezeh, Muktar A. Gadanya, Akinyinka Omigbodun, Ahmed M. Sarki, Paul Thistle, Abdhalah K. Ziraba, Saverio Stranges, Michael Silverman

Global Health Equity Publications

Key Messages

• Evidence suggests the demographic age structure of sub-Saharan Africa is the leading factor of the low morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 compared to other regions of the world.

• Widespread social mitigation strategies, such as lockdowns, have resulted in severe economic and societal consequences in terms of food security, adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence, and disruptions in treating other diseases.

• It is imperative to weigh the risks and benefits of social mitigation strategies for future waves.

Environmental Scan Of Primary Care Needs In The Last Decade (2010-2020), Ravninder Bahniwal

Family Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Adolescent Girls Physical Activity Engagement And Body Image Development, Vanessa Coulbeck

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This summer I looked more into adolescent girls’ physical activity engagement and its’ relationship to weight-based teasing. This topic intrigued me because from my own sport experiences, I saw first-hand how compared to boys, adolescent girls dis-engage from sport and exercise at a disproportionately higher rate and are at higher risk for body shame and self-objectification. This gender inequity in sport and physical activity is first observed in adolescence and tracks well into adulthood. The purpose of this summer's research activities examined how self-compassion and weight-related teasing relate to self-conscious emotions and sport and physical activity participation.

The Parallel Pandemic: A Systematic Review On The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Eating Disorders And Ocd In Children And Adolescents, Nasong A. Luginaah

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

In January 2021, Covid-19 had already been diagnosed in over 100 million individuals¹. Due to the high degree of infectivity, many countries all over the globe attempted to counter the virus by instituting nation-wide lockdowns. The effects of the lockdowns resulting from the Covid-19 Pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents have drawn a lot of public health attention with many calling for an increased in the understanding of the potential effects the youth of today may have to endure. Two specific mental health illnesses have seemingly worsened are OCD and eating disorders.

Using Qualitative Methods To Examine Influences On Active School Travel And Children’S Health, Sheena Ye

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Over the last year, three major tools were developed to examine key influences on AST and children’s health and well-being. These tools included two pilot surveys - one for parents and one for children from grades four to eight located in South Western Ontario. The third tool was a comprehensive travel diary for the child survey takers to fill out after completing their initial children’s pilot survey. Over the last four months, these tools were tested in order to collect feedback from volunteers recruited in South Western Ontario. The goal of the pilot testing of these tools was to determine …

The Right To Repair: (Re)Building A Better Future, Jumana Labib

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The goal of this research project was to take a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach to research and examine the Right to Repair movement’s progress, current repair practices, impediments, and imperatives, and the various large-scale implications (environmental, economic, social, etc.) stemming from diminished consumer freedom as a result of increased corporate greed and lack of governmental regulations with regards to repair and the environment. This poster exhibits the highlights of my general research project on the Right to Repair movement over the course of this four month internship, and aims to disseminate information about the movement to the wider public in an …

Scaling-Up, Justine A. Dryburgh

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Research outputs for Justine Dryburgh's USRI 2021.

Investigating The Statistical And Policy Frameworks Used To Gauge Potential Pharmacotherapy Recalls: A Scoping Review, Benson Law

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Paramount attention is often afforded to pharmacotherapies being brought to market. The anticipation from companies, their shareholders, and the patients poised to benefit are met with stiff statistical and methodological requirements set forth by Health Canada’s Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB). Once a pharmacotherapy has been approved by the HPFB, however, the onus to monitor these drugs falls largely on the shoulders of Health Canada, the manufacturers, and to a lesser degree, the Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN). This scoping review identified existing pharmacovigilance frameworks recommendations from SCOPUS, PubMed and EMBASE and compared the guidelines employed by Health …

Interdisciplinary Development Initiative (Idi) Entitled “Emerging Team Initiative To Reduce Inequities In Maternal And Child Lifestyle Health, Rozhan Momen

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Interdisciplinary Development Initiative (IDI) entitled “Emerging team initiative to reduce inequities in maternal and child lifestyle health"; an environmental scan of the faculty of health sciences and other western faculties, Brescia university college and research institutes as well as community agencies with similar interests.

Mental Health And Paramedics, Anna Ding

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Paramedics on the front lines of Ontario’s COVID-19 pandemic response play an imperative role in patient care and infection management. They take measures to limit risks of contamination to themselves, other patients and providers while delivering this essential healthcare service but are often less recognized for their efforts. From 21 interviews conducted between April to June 2020, a secondary analysis on specific mental health concerns and stressors was completed. Preliminary findings include several pandemic related stressors and long-term occupational health and safety risks. This leads to further discussion on moral distress, and the possible risks of burnout. For public health, …

Understanding The Impact Of Covid-19 On Physical And Mental Fatigue In Youth With Cerebral Palsy, Nathan Wc Yang Mr.

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This explorative study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and social distancing on mental and physical fatigue and life role participation of youth with CP. Quantitative data included results from the Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment (FISSA), Child & Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP) and the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY).

Integrating Residents As Partners In Long-Term Care (Ltc) Research, Ruthie Zhuang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This research poster summarizes patient-engagement throughout the study "COVID-19: Implementation of virtual P.I.E.C.E.S for LTC resident care planning with family to build and sustain team collaboration and workforce resilience". It describes two implementation frameworks (CFIR and PRISM) as well as two patient-engagement tools (PEIRS and PPEET) in relation to the study. Lastly, it offers preliminary insights into the current landscape of patient-engagement in research.

Is Tik-Tok Body Positive?, Grace N. Solylo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Quantifying Timely Access To Surgery: A Global Modelling Study, Joo-Hyun Jeong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery proposed six core indicators to track access to safe, timely, and affordable surgery. We identified published data for countries reporting Indicator 1 (Access to timely essential surgery), defined as a country’s proportion of population living within two hours from the nearest surgery-capable facility, and conducted geospatial analyses to estimate this metric in other countries. In the primary analysis using this data, linear regression models were run to project this indicator for all countries globally according to their Human Development Index; followed by secondary analyses using broader definitions for surgical access, then by sensitivity analyses …

The Impact Of A Dedicated Pediatric Ambulance On Interfacility Transport Dispatch Times: Findings From The Canadian Pediatric Transport Network Database, Tiffany Liu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: This retrospective cohort study evaluates the impact of a dedicated ambulance on dispatch times of pediatric transports to the London Health Sciences Centre using the Canadian Pediatric Transport Network (CPTN) database.

Methods: After assessing the data quality of the CPTN database, we used multiple linear regressions to examine differences in dispatch times before and after June 2019, when a dedicated ambulance was introduced.

Results: We found that additional measures are needed to improve data quality in the CPTN database. A dedicated ambulance improved ambulance return times but not dispatch times.

Conclusion: Ongoing quality assessment is necessary to improve the …

Residential Greenness And Substance Use, Evan R. Wiley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

INTRODUCTION: Research has identified positive associations between green space and health and green space and mental health. Substance use outcomes, however, have received considerably less attention.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between residential greenness and patterns of substance use among transitional aged youth (age 15-25) in Canada.

METHODS: This study utilized three waves (2016-2018) of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) as well as residential greenness data from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Consortium (CANUE). Multivariable regression was used to explore variation in the pattern of substance use between greenness quartiles. The sample included 14,070 …

Increasing Access To Essential Surgery In Resource Restricted Settings: An Economic Analysis, Anne Zhao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Globally, 5 billion people lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical, obstetric, and anaesthetic care. Increasing access to surgery saves lives, promotes economic growth, and drives equitable global development. Essential surgery includes caesarean section, laparotomy, and open fracture treatment, otherwise known as the Bellwether procedures. Thesis objectives included conducting a systematic review examining cost-effectiveness of undergoing or increasing access to Bellwether procedures in resource restricted settings and performing an economic evaluation of increasing access to caesarean section for obstructed labour compared to existing care in the South African Development Community region. Our systematic review found that Bellwether procedures were …

The Contribution Of Memorial University Medical Graduates To The Family Physician Workforce In Newfoundland And Labrador, Emily M. Volpe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Recruiting and retaining family physicians (FP) in rural communities has been an ongoing issue in Canada and other developed nations. The objective of this thesis was to analyze the long-term contribution that Memorial University medical graduate FP make to the physician workforce in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). We found that 47% of our sample ever worked in NL, 15% ever worked in rural NL and 58% who ever worked in NL stayed for at least 10 years. Being from NL was a predictor of working in NL for at least 5 years and 10 years, respectively. Doing at least some …

Social Media Use, Social Connectedness, And Physical Distancing Among University Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Olivia Holmes

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The overall purpose of this cross-sectional, survey-based study was to examine university students’ social media use, perceptions of in-person and online social connectedness, and feelings about physical distancing during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. University students’ (N = 1,588; M_age = 22.4, SD = 5.1; 80.6% female) survey responses revealed high levels of in-person (M_item = 4.4, SD = 0.8) and online (M_item = 3.8, SD = 0.7) connectedness. Students who reported greater perceptions of connectedness were those whose social media use: (a) had “increased greatly” since the start …