Congratulations to the Recipients of NL SUPPORT’s Fall 2023 Graduate Student Fellowships!
To build learning, capacity development, and sustainability in patient-oriented research (POR) and evaluation in Newfoundland and Labrador, NL SUPPORT and Quality of Care NL aim to provide fellowship funding to graduate students (master’s and doctoral) conducting POR on a biannual basis.
Applications for Spring 2024 are currently open until May 24, 2024! Learn more at https://nlsupport.ca/funding-opportunities/.
Applications are reviewed by panels of our staff, Memorial University faculty, and patient partners to determine whether each student’s research, experience, career goals, and proposed POR project fits within our mandate.
In Fall 2023, a new funding round was launched for graduate students. In this round, graduate students from varying disciplines, including science, pharmacy, human kinetics and recreation, and medicine, were awarded funding. Read more about their projects below!
How Childhood Adversity Impacts Couple’s Coping, Growth, and Intimacy
Courtney Loveless, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Memorial University (Supervisor — Dr. Christopher Quinn-Nilas)
It is well know that happiness in romantic relationships positively impacts health and well-being. Intimacy through physical touch (e.g., holding hands, hugging) and sexual relations are important parts of healthy romantic relationships. Adult survivors of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction — often experience reduced intimacy in romantic relationships which can affect their ability to obtain these positive relational benefits. This is particularly of concern for vulnerable populations (e.g., 2SLGBTQIA+, low socioeconomic status, etc.) which experience higher rates of ACEs. To help improve the health and well-being of survivors of ACEs, Dr. Quinn-Nilas’s research team is conducting a study to understand the role of supportive romantic partners in promoting healthy intimacy for survivors of ACEs in their adult romantic relationships. Their research team includes individuals with lived/living experience of ACEs and their partners as patient partners. These patient partners will form the team’s Lived Experience Panel. The Panel will be fully engaged throughout the study and will shape the direction and design of the study. For example, the Lived Experience Panel will aid in the development of survey questions by identifying priorities related to intimacy and touch within their relationships. The survey will be used to the capture difficulties ACEs survivors — within the broader community — experience related to intimacy and touch. The results of this study will address real concerns regarding intimacy and touch faced by people living with ACEs and generate knowledge about what partners can do to help ACEs survivors.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Intranasal Oxytocin on Pain and Function Among Individuals Who Experience Chronic Pain: A Multisite, Placebo-Controlled, Blinded, Sequential, Within-subjects Crossover Trial
Emily Marriott, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Memorial University (Supervisor — Dr. Joshua Rash)
Did you know that chronic pain is common among adults in Canada? Despite this, available pharmacological treatments for pain management provide only modest improvement in pain and minimal improvement in physical and emotional functioning. To address this issue, Dr. Rash’s research team is examining the use of oxytocin — a chemical produced by the brain which has an important role in human reproduction and behaviour — nasal spray for pain management which will be tested using a clinical trial. This trial was developed with patient partners as Co-Applicants and continues to be conducted with their guidance. For example, interviews with participants who complete the trial were incorporated at the suggestion of patient partners in an effort to understand patient experiences throughout the trial and inform improvements to procedures where possible. These interviews also give the research team a better understanding of patients’ views of the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of administering oxytocin nasal spray to manage their chronic pain. This information will help to identify barriers which will be used to inform changes in the study design, as well as key information regarding the oxytocin nasal spray and/or trial participation that patients deem important to share with stakeholders. The results of this study may lead to advancements in evidence-based treatment for chronic pain management and individualized patient care, thus benefiting individuals and their families who are affected by chronic pain.
Implementing Measurement-Based Mental Health and Addictions Care through a Digital Platform in Newfoundland and Labrador: Provider’s Perspectives
Kaitlyn Lem, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Memorial University (Supervisor — Dr. Joshua Rash)
Mental health is an important part of our overall health and well-being. Various studies have shown that individuals seeking and receiving mental health and addictions care want personalized treatment and continuous monitoring incorporated into their care plans. To address this, the Mental Health Commission of Canada recommends health care professionals use Measurement-Based Care (MBC) when delivering mental health and addictions care. MBC is a framework of care that provides a means for providers and patients to collaborate on care planning. To move towards including MBC in routine mental health and addictions care in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Dr. Rash’s research team is evaluating the process of implementing MBC through a digital platform in NL. This study will be the first of its kind across Canada, generating new information on how to successfully include MBC within routine mental health and addictions care. Individuals from Lifewise NL — an organization offering mental health services by peer supporters with lived and living experience — and health care providers will be engaged as patient partners throughout the project. Patient partners will help interpret findings and inform the project’s decision-making processes through biweekly group consultations. The results from this study will be used to provide health care decision-makers and professionals with information on how to incorporate MBC into the health care system, as well as clinical practice. The addition of MBC to mental health and addictions care is predicted to improve mental health outcomes through the delivery of more effective, personalized treatment.
A Process Evaluation of Family Care Teams in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Primary Health Care System
Sadhana Banjade, Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University (Supervisor — Dr. Maisam Najafizada)
In 2022, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services began launching Family Care Teams (FCTs) following the recommendation of Health Accord NL. FCTs are designed to enhance primary health care services through the use of interdisciplinary teams. These teams may include family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, as well as other allied health professionals. To determine if FCTs are meeting the primary health care needs of patients in NL, Dr. Najafizada’s research team is conducting a study to evaluate the implementation of FCTs. Specifically, the research team will examine FCT composition, roles, and responsibilities, as well as determine how well FCTs have been established and integrated into the primary health care system. The research team also includes a Patient and Public Advisory Committee which consists of patients and members of the public who will inform the data collection and analysis and knowledge sharing processes. This Committee will also be involved in decision making, such as the identification and development of recommendations that will improve patient experience and satisfaction with health care services. Overall, this study will provide insights into the impacts FCTs have on health outcomes, care accessibility, and patient satisfaction. This new knowledge will likely result in improved health outcomes and better coordination of patient care, thereby strengthening NL’s primary health care services.
Examining Patient Acceptability of a Community Pharmacy-Based Blood Pressure Screening Program
Sharon Makedenge, School of Pharmacy, Memorial University (Supervisor — Dr. Tiffany Lee)
It is commonly known that high blood pressure — referred to as hypertension — is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke and is a leading cause of death globally. Newfoundland and Labrador has a high rate of mortality due to heart disease and stroke. The Heart and Stroke Foundation has called on provincial and territorial governments to increase the accessibility of community-based screening for hypertension by engaging pharmacists and paramedics in care. However, the acceptability of these services by patients and providers has not yet been evaluated. To address this issue, Dr. Lee’s research team has partnered with Hypertension Canada and the May Measurement Month (MMM) Organization to examine patient acceptability of a community pharmacy-based blood pressure screening program — referred to as the Pharmacy MMM Project. Two citizen partners, Garreth Kippenhuck and Lisa Piercey, will be active members of the research team, serving as co-investigators with an equal vote in project decisions. Citizen partners will aid with questionnaire design, assist with developing an interview guide, inform the recruitment strategy, engage in the interpretation of findings, provide input on effective knowledge sharing activities, and assist with report and manuscript writing. Information from this study will be used to inform the development of a national blood pressure screening program in community pharmacies. Furthermore, these findings will refine care processes and health care provider training programs, creating a feedback cycle for learning and improvement.
The Maternal Brain: A Patient-Oriented Approach to Improve Maternal Care through Physical Activity Promotion
Zohreh Zeidy, School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University (Supervisor — Dr. Katie Wadden)
The maternal brain undergoes remarkable adaptations to adjust to the demands of parenthood. This adaptation process is known as ‘maternal brain plasticity’ and is thought to support improvements in maternal health outcomes, such as postpartum mental health. However, these changes within the maternal brain can increase a mother’s susceptibility to health conditions, such as postpartum depression. The experience of postpartum depression has historically been stigmatized among women and gender-diverse persons and continues to be met with challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Exercise has been shown to increase the release of oxytocin — a chemical made by the brain which produces the feeling of happiness — and may play a role in promoting positive maternal health. To better understand this relationship, Dr. Wadden’s research team will examine the effect of exercise on maternal plasticity and postpartum depression. Patient partners will be active members of the research team, where their expertise will be used to improve recruitment methods, interventional protocols, and knowledge translation activities pertaining to postpartum physical activity and maternal brain plasticity research. Engaging with patient partners will help researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders better understand the barriers to care for women and gender-diverse persons following childbirth. The identification of these postpartum challenges can lead to the development of meaningful change in the care and treatment of maternal mental health.
To learn more about our funding opportunities and how to apply (deadline: May 24, 2024), please visit https://nlsupport.ca/funding-opportunities/.
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