Heather L Gainforth

University of British Columbia - Okanagan | UBC Okanagan · School of Health and Exercise Sciences

Given the positive influence of action planning on physical activity, persuasive messages could be designed to promote action planning. The purpose of this paper was to test action planning messages in two studies. Participants were allocated to one of two message groups, reading either a physical activity only or physical activity plus action plan...

Background Knowledge mobilization (KM) has been described as putting research in the hands of research users. Network analysis is an empirical approach that has potential for examining the complex process of knowledge mobilization within community-based organizations (CBOs). Yet, conducting a network analysis in a CBO presents challenges. Purpose T...

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Background Diffusion of innovations theory has been widely used to explain knowledge mobilization of research findings. This theory posits that individuals who are more interpersonally connected within an organization may be more likely to adopt an innovation (e.g., research evidence) than individuals who are less interconnected. Research examining...

New evidence-based physical activity and sedentary behavior guidelines for Canadians were launched in 2011. As a consequence, service organizations that promote physical activity directly to the public needed to change their promotion materials to reflect the new guidelines. Little is known about the rate at which service organizations adopt and in...

Introduction: Community-based spinal cord injury (SCI) organizations deliver peer mentorship programs in rehabilitation settings. Little is known on how these programs are delivered through the collaboration between community-based SCI organizations and rehabilitation institutions. This study aimed to identify barriers, facilitators, and collaborat...

Background Health, fitness and lifestyle professionals can play important roles in promoting physical activity in groups at risk of developing an inactive lifestyle, such as people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Tailored counselling is a promising tool to promote and improve physical activity levels. To support professionals to effectively have a c...

Background and Aims Involving research users in collaborative research approaches may increase the relevance and utility of research findings. Our primary objectives were to (i) identify and describe characteristics of Canadian federally and provincially funded health research projects that included research users and were funded between 2011 and 2...

Research partnerships, while promising for ensuring translation of relevant and useable findings, are challenging and need support. This study aimed to apply behavior change theory to understand and support researchers' adoption of a research partnership approach and the Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Guiding Principles for conducting and d...

Introduction Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a partnered approach to research that aims to ensure research findings are applied in practice and policy. IKT can be used during diffusion and dissemination of research findings. However, there is a lack of understanding how an IKT approach can support the diffusion and dissemination of resear...

Unlabelled: Rationale Persons with physical disabilities report higher cigarette smoking rates and a lower likelihood of accessing health services (e.g., smoking cessation services). Explicit and systematic application of behaviour change theory may be a promising approach to addressing these inequities and developing impactful smoking cessation i...

Women who experience physical intimate partner violence (IPV) are at high risk of suffering a brain injury (BI) due to head impacts and/or strangulation. Currently, most staff at women's shelters tend not to be aware of IPV-caused BIs. The objective of this study was to address this by developing a new online module within the Concussion Awareness...

Community-based physical activity opportunities have been shown to help adults with physical disabilities improve their participation in daily activities and reduce social isolation. Despite the known benefits, substantial barriers and challenges inhibit accessibility to these physical activity opportunities. To facilitate the co-construction of st...

Objectives: This project used a systematic and integrated knowledge translation (IKT) approach to co-create theory- and evidence-based best practices for physical activity counseling for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Guided by the IKT Guiding Principles, we meaningfully engaged research users throughout this project. A systemati...

Background Physical activity (PA) counselling research has mainly focused on identifying which behavior change techniques (BCTs) are delivered by a counsellor. Less is known about how BCTs are received by clients. State Space Grids (SSG) is a dynamic system method that can be used to study counsellor-client interactions by examining frequencies, du...

Background and objective There has been growing emphasis on increasing impacts of academic health research by integrating research findings in healthcare. The concept of knowledge translation (KT) has been widely adopted in Canada to guide this work, although lack of recognition in tenure and promotion (T&P) structures have been identified as barri...

Introduction Knowledge mobilization, specifically dissemination, and research partnerships are helpful for ensuring research is translated to practice. However, empirical data reporting on the processes and outcomes of a partnership approach to dissemination are limited. Sharing and promoting the Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Guiding Princ...

Study design: Qualitative study. Objective: Use an integrated knowledge translation (IKT) and theory-based approach, to (1) explore factors influencing smoking cessation behaviour among people with SCI, and (2) explore the preferred intervention and implementation options for smoking cessation interventions for persons with SCI. Setting: Commu...

Objectives This project used a systematic and integrated knowledge translation (IKT) approach to co-create theory- and evidence-based best practices for physical activity counseling for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Guided by the IKT Guiding Principles, we meaningfully engaged research users throughout this project. A systematic app...

Background Physical activity (PA) counselling research has mainly focused on identifying which behavior change techniques (BCTs) are delivered by a counsellor. Less is known about how BCTs are received by clients. State Space Grids (SSG) is a dynamic system method that can be used to study counsellor-client interactions by examining frequencies, du...

Diet behaviour is influenced by the interplay of the physical and social environment as well as macro-level and individual factors. In this study, we focus on diet behaviour at an individual level and describe the design of a behaviour change artefact to support diet behaviour change in persons with type 2 diabetes. This artefact was designed using...

Purpose: This study aimed to: (1) develop a coding manual to characterize topics discussed and conversation techniques used during peer mentorship conversations between people with spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) assess the reliability of the manual; and (3) apply the manual to characterize conversations. Materials/methods: The study was conducted...

Study design: Scoping review. Objective: To identify and provide systematic overviews of partnership principles and strategies identified from health research about spinal cord injury (SCI) and related health conditions. Methods: Four health electronic databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched from inception to March 2019. We...

Purpose: To explore sexuality after spinal cord injury (SCI) from the perspectives of individuals with SCI and their romantic partners. Methods: A sample of 8 Canadian adults with SCI (6 men, 2 women) and their partners participated in this study (N = 16). Semi-structured dyadic and individual interviews were conducted, discussions surrounding s...

Background: Improvement to autonomic processes such as bladder, bowel and sexual function are prioritised by individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Bowel care is associated with high levels of dissatisfaction and decreased quality of life. Despite dissatisfaction, 71% of individuals have not changed their bowel care routine for at least 5 year...

A generic qualitative design. To obtain a deeper understanding of the outcomes of spinal cord injury (SCI) peer mentorship programs delivered by community-based organizations. Peer mentorship programs of community-based SCI organizations We interviewed 36 individuals who shared their experiences of SCI peer mentorship from the perspective of a peer...

Purpose To establish consensus regarding principles that should be used to guide spinal cord injury (SCI) research partnerships between researchers and research users. Materials and methods A three-round Delphi consensus exercise was carried out with researchers and/or research users involved in one or more SCI research partnerships. Participants...

Study design: The study used a generic qualitative design. Objectives: This article set out to garner knowledge of peer mentorship programs delivered by SCI community-based organizations by interviewing people who are directly and in-directly involved with these programs. Setting: Four provincial community-based SCI organizations across Canada...

Objectives To examine how the quality of spinal cord injury peer mentorship relationships and mentor-mentee behaviors are impacted by interaction modality. Methods Using a within-subjects, repeated measures, experimental design, peer mentors (n=8) completed two mentoring sessions with a standardized mentee in a telephone and a video chat condition...

Background: Research partnership approaches are becoming popular within spinal cord injury (SCI) health research system, providing opportunities to explore experiences of and learn from SCI research partnership champions. This study aimed to explore and describe SCI researchers' and research users' (RU') experiences with and reasons for conducting...

Background Individuals living with a physical disability have reported difficulty in meeting their healthy living and leisure needs which could be a result of poor accessibility. Objective This qualitative study aimed to understand the relative accessibility of physical activity from the perspective of individuals living with a physical disability...

Objective First, to examine whether participants reported changes in 1) LTPA, participation and social inclusion variables and 2) well-being outcomes prior and after joining a community-based LTPA program for adults with disabilities. Second, to explore the longitudinal relationship between LTPA and the other aforementioned outcomes. Design A doub...

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) typically involves pharmacological methods and adjunct behavioural modifications, focused on changing diet and physical activity (PA) behaviours. Changing diet and physical activity behaviours is complex and any behavioural intervention in T2D, to be successful, must use an appropriate suite of behaviour change te...

Background: Conducting and/or disseminating research in partnership with potential research users is a popular approach to conducting useful and relevant research. Despite calls for guidance to support these research partnerships, evidence-based tools and resources remain limited. Aims and objectives: This study aimed to explore principles and rela...

Purpose/Objective: The purpose of the present study was to develop an understanding of successful aging (SA) meanings and influences that is informed by the lived experiences of people aging with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: This study was conducted in partnership with three Canadian provincial SCI organizations using an integrated...

Objective To address a gap between spinal cord injury (SCI) research and practice by rigorously and systematically co-developing integrated knowledge translation (IKT) guiding principles for conducting and disseminating SCI research in partnership with research users. Design The process was guided by the internationally accepted The Appraisal of G...

Study design: Knowledge translation study. Objectives: Use the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to (1) identify barriers and facilitators to participation in daily activities and social roles among people aging with spinal cord injury (SCI); and, (2) systematically co-develop participation-focused intervention...

Background: Conducting research in partnership with stakeholders (e.g. policy-makers, practitioners, organisations, patients) is a promising and popular approach to improving the implementation of research findings in policy and practice. This study aimed to identify the principles, strategies, outcomes and impacts reported in different types of r...

There is little guidance on which behavior change theories should be taught in undergraduate courses addressing health behavior change. Delphi consensus methods provide a formal, systematic, and reproducible method for establishing consensus among experts. Objective. Use a Delphi methodology to establish consensus regarding behavior change theories...

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are novel in how they integrate the guideline recommendations for the full continuum of movement behaviours, from sleep to vigorous physical activity. Research suggests that the integrated guidelines strategy is perceived favourably, and this study is the first to compare this strategy...

Background In April 2016, the Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) hosted an innovative, 2-day conference called Praxis 2016. RHI aimed to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to develop solutions for overcoming the challenges of translating spinal cord injury (SCI) research into practice. To understand the impact of Praxis, RHI funded an independ...

This article reported on the reach, effectiveness, and maintenance dimensions of a RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) analysis to evaluate Praxis 2016, a conference aimed to develop solutions to overcome challenges to translating research into practice in the spinal cord injury (SCI) community. Reach indicators...

Behavior change techniques (BCTs) are used to target theoretical mechanisms of action predicted to bring about behavior change. Reporting BCTs and connecting them to mechanisms of action is critical to understanding intervention processes of change. This article identifies the BCTs associated with an exercise intervention for individuals at risk of...

Background Research partnership approaches, in which researchers and stakeholders work together collaboratively on a research project, are an important component of research, knowledge translation, and implementation. Despite their growing use, a comprehensive understanding of the principles, strategies, outcomes, and impacts of different types of...

Background Conducting and/or disseminating research together with community stakeholders (e.g. policy-makers, practitioners, community organisations, patients) is a promising approach to generating relevant and impactful research. However, creating strong and successful partnerships between researchers and stakeholders is complex. Thus far, an in-d...

Objective: Mobile applications (apps) are increasingly being utilized in health behavior change interventions. To determine the presence of underlying behavior change mechanisms, apps for physical activity have been coded for behavior change techniques (BCTs). However, apps for sedentary behavior have yet to be assessed for BCTs. Thus, the purpose...

Abstract Background Childhood overweight and obesity is a major public health concern. Community-based interventions have the potential to reach caregivers and children. However, the overall health impact of these programs is rarely comprehensively assessed. This study evaluated a physical activity and healthy eating family program (Healthy Togethe...

Objective: Dietary behavior is closely connected to type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify behavior change techniques (BCTs) and specific components of dietary interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes associated with changes in HbA1c and body weight. Research design and methods: The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Em...

Background In British Columbia Canada, a Daily Physical Activity (DPA) policy was mandated that requires elementary school teachers to provide students with opportunities to achieve 30 min of physical activity during the school day. However, the implementation of school-based physical activity policies is influenced by many factors. A theoretical e...