Publications (59) View all
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Article: Computerisation in General Practice: Lessons for Canada from the UK and Australia.
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ABSTRACT: In 2000 Shaw and Kidd published an article on the lessons that could be learned from the UK in general practice computerization. Over a decade later many of these lessons remain yet to be learned. Hence Shaw & Bainbridge felt that it was time to revisit these issues and review progress made against each in both the UK and Australia in an effort to help Canada learn the lessons as it follows behind both countries. Nine lessons are identified, reviewed and discussed in the hope that Canada will choose to take note and leapfrog these jurisdictions by learning from history, rather than being doomed to repeat it.Studies in health technology and informatics 01/2013; 183:28-36. -
Article: Geographical Information Systems and Health: Current State and Future Directions
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ABSTRACT: ThispaperprovidesanintroductiontoGeographicalInformationSystems(GIS)andhowtheycanbeused.ItreviewsthecurrentstateofGISuseinhealthcarebeforeidentifyingthebarrierstomorepervasiveuseofGISinhealth.Finally,itmakesrecommendationsforthedirectionofhealthGISresearchoverthenextdecadeandconcludeswithacalltoactiontohealthinformaticsresearcherstostopignoringatoolandmethodologythathassuchimmensepotentialforimprovingthehealthofourcommunities.This-mons-Commercial(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/)which-commercial,distribution,and-tion,provided.ⓒsuchtechnologiesinunderstandinghealthserviceaccess,utilizationanddemandremainstobeexplored[2,3].Whenusedtothefullextentofitscapability,GIScan"in-formandeducate(professionalsandthepublic);empowerdecisionmakingatalllevels;helpinplanningandtweakingclinicallyandcost-effectiveactions,inpredictingoutcomesbeforemakinganyfinancialcommitmentsandascribingpri-oritiesinaclimateoffiniteresources;changepractices;andcontinuallymonitorandanalyzechanges,aswellassentinelevents[4]."Yet,despitetheincrediblepotentialbenefitsofapplyingGIStechnologies,theiruseinhealthserviceplan-ningandprovisionremainsgreatlyunderutilized.TheaimofthispaperistoprovideanintroductiontoGISandhowitcanbeused,toreviewthecurrentstateofGISuseinhealthcare,toidentifythebarrierstomorepervasiveuseofGISinhealthandtomakerecommendationsforthedirectionofhealthGISresearchoverthenextdecade.II.HistoryTheconceptofconsideringspatialdatawhenseekingtoun-derstandtheprevalenceandincidenceofdiseaseisintrinsictothefieldsofepidemiologyandpublichealth.ThemostHealthcare Informatics Research. 07/2012; 18(2-pISSN 2093-3681; eISSN 2093-369X):88-96. -
Article: Family-centred care: a qualitative study of Chinese and South Asian immigrant parents' experiences of care in paediatric oncology.
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ABSTRACT: Background Over the past two decades, there is increasing emphasis being placed upon providing family-centred care (FCC) in paediatric oncology settings. However, there is a lack of knowledge of FCC in paediatric oncology from the perspectives of immigrant parents. The purpose of this paper is to describe Chinese and South Asian immigrant parents' experiences of FCC in paediatric oncology settings in Canada. Methods This study adopted a constructivist grounded theory approach. Fifty first generation Chinese and South Asian parents of children with cancer who were at least 6 months post-diagnosis were recruited from six Canadian paediatric oncology centres. Interviews were conducted in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Urdu, Punjabi or Hindi, and transcribed into English. Analysis involved line-by-line, focused and theoretical coding, and the use of the constant comparison method. Results Findings indicated that overall parents were highly satisfied with the care and services they received, and their experiences were reflective of the key elements of FCC. However, there were some areas of concern identified by participants: parents not perceiving themselves as a member of the medical team; inconsistency in the quality and co-ordination of services among healthcare providers; disrespectful and mechanical manner of a few healthcare providers; and parents' discomfort with healthcare providers communicating sensitive health-related information directly with their child. Conclusions In order to successfully provide family-centred services to immigrant parents of children with cancer, better communication of the elements of FCC between healthcare staff and families is needed to negotiate a clear role for the parents as partners of the healthcare team. Moreover, a better understanding of how family relationships are structured in immigrant families will assist healthcare providers to balance the best interests of the child with that of the family as a unit.Child Care Health and Development 11/2011; · 1.20 Impact Factor -
Article: Understanding the health impact of caregiving: a qualitative study of immigrant parents and single parents of children with cancer.
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ABSTRACT: Research looking at the health of parents of children with cancer typically uses outcome measures focused on symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Our team builds on this literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the health impact of caregiving. Interviews were conducted with 79 Canadian parents of children with cancer at least 6 months post-diagnosis. Line-by-line coding was used to establish categories and themes. Constant comparison was used to examine relationships within and across codes and categories. Interviewing continued until no new themes emerged. Parents described health concerns as including sleep disturbance, daytime fatigue, anxiety, depression, social isolation, and changes in social roles. Parents described the positive impacts of caregiving as including gaining a greater appreciation for child and family and developing compassion, empathy, patience, inner strength, and new perspectives on life. Parents of children with cancer can experience a range of health problems due to the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and the intensive and often prolonged nature of treatment and aftercare. Given the central role parents play as caregivers, it is crucial to understand the health impact of caregiving so that supportive interventions can be implemented as necessary.Quality of Life Research 11/2011; 21(9):1595-605. · 2.30 Impact Factor -
Article: Identification by families of pediatric adverse events and near misses overlooked by health care providers.
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ABSTRACT: Identifying adverse events and near misses is essential to improving safety in the health care system. Patients are capable of reliably identifying and reporting adverse events. The effect of a patient safety reporting system used by families of pediatric inpatients on reporting of adverse events by health care providers has not previously been investigated. Between Nov. 1, 2008, and Nov. 30, 2009, families of children discharged from a single ward of British Columbia's Children's Hospital were asked to respond to a questionnaire about adverse events and near misses during the hospital stay. Rates of reporting by health care providers for this period were compared with rates for the previous year. Family reports for specific incidents were matched with reports by health care providers to determine overlap. A total of 544 familes responded to the questionnaire. The estimated absolute increase in reports by health care providers per 100 admissions was 0.5% (95% confidence interval -1.8% to 2.7%). A total of 321 events were identified in 201 of the 544 family reports. Of these, 153 (48%) were determined to represent legitimate patient safety concerns. Only 8 (2.5%) of the adverse events reported by families were also reported by health care providers. The introduction of a family-based system for reporting adverse events involving pediatric inpatients, administered at the time of discharge, did not change rates of reporting of adverse events and near misses by health care providers. Most reports submitted by families were not duplicated in the reporting system for health care providers, which suggests that families and staff members view safety-related events differently. However, almost half of the family reports represented legitimate patient safety concerns. Families appeared capable of providing valuable information for improving the safety of pediatric inpatients.Canadian Medical Association Journal 11/2011; 184(1):29-34. · 8.22 Impact Factor
