Exploring Mental Health, Physical Health, And Affective Commitment In Acute Care Oncology Nurses In Ontario, Lesley M. Smith

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

With reports of a steady increase in cancer risk as the present population ages (Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer Statistics, 2017; Statistics Canada, 2017), and little knowledge of a definitive cure, ensuring cancer sufferers and their families are adequately supported is increasingly essential. Oncology nurses must therefore be the focus of current and future research, as their front-line presence in the lives of those afflicted, is quite substantial. Further, oncology nurses report the most physical symptoms and second highest levels of emotional distress among cancer care health professionals (Jones, Wells, Gao, Cassidy, & Davie, 2013; Kash et al., …

Timely Access To Maternal, Neonatal And Child Healthcare For Rural Communities In Rwanda: The Role Of Community Health Workers, Jean Bosco Bigirimana

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

Introduction: In Rwanda, although there has been some progress in health care delivery as expressed in the reduction in maternal and child mortality, rates are still high and geographically variable. Improving equitable access to quality healthcare services for maternal, neonatal and child healthcare (MNCH), community-based maternal, neonatal and child healthcare (CBMNCH) depends upon using “community health workers” (CHWs). Yet CHWs program faces difficulties that upset delivery of the quality of the comprehensive package of services. Unfortunately, little is known about CHWs` performance and job satisfaction in the provision of CBMNCH.

Goal: The study aimed to provide insight into …

Healthy And Happy: Creating And Evaluating A Catalyst To Improve The Health Of University Students Via An Online Training System, Gillian E. Mandich

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Increasingly, university students are facing unique, significant physical and mental health challenges. Additionally, they are spending more and more of their time online and are using online platforms to access mental health resources; consequently, there is a timely opportunity to explore the potential of online happiness interventions, specifically with video, to improve happiness among university students. Evidence suggests that improved happiness relates to improved physical health, mental health, and academic outcomes.

The purpose of this research was to test if an online happiness intervention, using videos to boost happiness, can increase self-reported happiness among university students. The primary outcome was …

Probiotic Yoghourt For Health, Nutrition And Women's Empowerment In Kenya: A Community-Based Approach, Ellena Andoniou

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The dissertation aims to examine the impacts of probiotic yoghourt on health, nutrition and women’s empowerment within the context of HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Mixed methods that combine quantiative and qualitative approaches are used to understand the effects of probiotic yoghourt on the health, nutrition and quality of life for men and women. Results of the quantiative analysis (n=227) demonstrated that the probiotic yoghourt confers a variety of health benefits – physiological (fewer urogenital conditions and digestive problems; reduced dependence on medical treatment), and psychological (perceived improvements with bodily appearance, felt an increased meaningfulness with life). Results of the qualitative analysis …

Social Connectedness, Social Support And The Health Of Older Adults: A Comparison Of Immigrant And Native-Born Canadians, Natalie Iciaszczyk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Considerable research exists on the influence of social relationships for health in old age. However, few studies have compared the associations of social connectedness and social support with the health of older adults. Using data from the CCHS-Healthy Aging, this study examines how these constructs are related to the self-reported health status of immigrant and native-born adults aged 65+. Results show that social connectedness and social support are differently associated with health in later life; whereas connectedness is linked to better health, social support is negatively related with health once levels of social connectedness are considered. Furthermore, these associations hold …

Uprootedness And Health Of Women Temporary Agricultural Workers: A Critical Ethnography, Kathryn Ann Edmunds

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In recent years, increased global mobility for work, gendered approaches to migration, and the vulnerabilities of women in temporary and precarious work have received increased attention. However, there is limited evidence regarding the health of women temporary foreign workers in Canadian agriculture. The purposes of this critical ethnography using feminist and intersectional perspectives were to: 1) explore and describe women temporary agricultural workers’ experiences and meanings of health in the context of prolonged and repeated uprootedness from their homes and families, 2) to critically examine how the intersections of current gendered, global, political and economic conditions shaped their everyday lives …

The Sixties Scoop Among Aboriginal Veterans: A Critical Narrative Study, Munira Abdulwasi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explored the experience of Aboriginal Veterans adopted and/or fostered during the Sixties Scoop using critical narrative inquiry. The objectives were to: 1) understand the lived experience of Aboriginal veterans adopted and/or fostered during the Sixties Scoop, 2) explore any health needs expressed by Aboriginal veterans adopted and/or fostered during the Sixties Scoop, and 3) provide recommendations for the implementation of health services and programs to assist this group of Aboriginal veterans with their health needs. Eight individual interviews were conducted with participants in Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using …

University Students' Perceptions Of The Relationship Between Bus Pass Ownership And Physical Activity Levels, Hieu Ly

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between university students’: (a) perceptions of having a discounted bus pass and transit-related physical activity; (b) perceptions of having a discounted bus pass and weekly physical activity levels; and (c) transit-related physical activity and weekly physical activity levels. A sample of 545 undergraduate students completed an online survey. The analysis of three correlations and three t-tests illustrated significant relationships between students’ perceptions of the discounted bus pass and their transit-related physical activity, and males’ and females’ weekly physical activity levels. Three major themes emerged from the open-ended responses, which …

Settlement Experiences Of Professional Immigrant Women In Canada, Usa, Uk And Australia, Naila Meraj

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Highly skilled professionals are often forced to accept jobs below their educational levels after they immigrate and may experience a downward shift both in their career and in their quality of life. This has particular implications for highly skilled immigrant women who strive to maintain their professional identities and balance the demands of family and work. Using a scoping review methodology, this thesis explored the settlement experiences of professional immigrant women in Canada, USA, UK and Australia and how these influence their health and well being. Close readings of the peer-reviewed literature revealed seven themes that relate to the experience …

Older Woman Workers: Met And Unmet Needs For Health And Wellbeing In The Workplace, Gillian Gorfine

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Older women workers report experiencing occupational injustices however the literature focuses on barriers faced rather than understanding the needs-based strategies empowering women as they age at work. This study engaged women aged 55 and older in a participatory action research project defining and examining strategies for older women workers’ health and wellbeing. In Phase 1, a key informant advisory group (N = 4) defined the problem and guided the design of an open answer survey conducted with 72 older women in work. Three categories emerged informing the fundamental, instrumental, and contextual needs of older women workers. Meeting fundamental needs may …

Integrating Spirituality And Medical Education: What Students And Teachers Have To Say - A Qualitative Study, Sharon N. Hatcher

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Aims

This thesis explored the perceptions of medical students and teachers with regards to spirituality, its role in health care, and its integration into medical education.

Methods

Two studies were conducted using qualitative descriptive thematic analysis: the first using focus groups with students; and the second depth interviews with teachers. Both studies were carried out in Francophone Canada.

Findings

Teachers spoke of a concept of spirituality evolving as a journey, while students reported sudden turning-points. Both regarded spirituality as important to patient care. Students were struggling with their future physician role and their commitment to rationality, whereas …

Understanding First Nations Young Adults' Health Literacy, Ebony Rempel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Relative to non-First Nations, Inuit, and Metis (FNIM) Canadians, FNIM people have poorer health status. A qualitative investigation of the health literacy skill and the health information (HI) needs of young FNIM adults was conducted. Eight single mothers living on-reserve were interviewed. Data analysis generated four main themes along with the subthemes of: (1) Traditional Health (TH), (i) TH Culture Excised, and (ii) Wanting to Know More about TH; (2) HI Needs of First Nations young Mothers; (3) Access to HI, (i) Asking the Doctor / Telehealth (ii) other Female Family and Friends; (4) Online Accessibility, (i) HI Online, (ii) …

“We Should Be Listening To Our Elders”: Evaluation Of Transfer Of Indigenous Knowledge Between Anishinabe Youth And Elders, Kassandra Kulmann

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Indigenous knowledge (IK) (knowledge held by Indigenous peoples regarding local environments, ways of life and culture) can potentially improve health and environment conditions. This thesis examines IK transfer between Anishinabe Elders and youth. A knowledge translation intervention was applied to address community concerns regarding decline of IK transfer between Elders and youth.

Youth were hired to participate in a summer school and interview Elders regarding environment and health issues. Qualitative interviews were conducted with youth before and after their internships to evaluate their experiences and IK uptake. The summer school and internships were effective for facilitating IK transfer between Elders …