A Critical Analysis of the Delivery of a Psychosocial Workshop for Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema

Secondary lymphedema is a chronic condition that can develop after the treatment of cancer and can often lead to negative psychological and social impairments. When dealing with chronic illness, hoping and coping are interdependent. Previous research has assessed the outcomes of workshops designed to enhance hope but has not examined the workshop itself to determine how those outcomes were achieved. This study deconstructs the Living Hopefully with Lymphedema workshop to identify (1) what aspects of the workshop facilitated or interfered with therapeutic progress, (2) key aspects of facilitation that contributed to the functioning of the workshop, and (3) how participants responded to the workshop. Two three-day workshops were attended by a total of 19 participants. All sessions were audio taped and the recordings analyzed. Theoretical coding revealed a central theme focused on the importance of a safe environment within the workshop. Facilitators and participants worked together to co-create, maintain, and protect a safe space in which to engage in therapy. Findings are discussed in relation to key aspects of facilitation and the participants’ response to the workshops. Recommendations for future workshop development are presented

Factors Influencing Family Medicine Resident Retention and Newly Graduated Physicians’ First Practice Location

The New Brunswick Medical Society states that New Brunswick has a shortage of physicians. This study examines retention of newly graduated family physicians from the Dalhousie University family medicine residency sites in New Brunswick from 2005– 2014, and factors influencing physicians’ choices of first practice locations. Approximately half of respondents remained in New Brunswick to establish their first practice. The majority who left New Brunswick to establish their first practice have not returned, whereas most who remained still practice in New Brunswick. Choice of first practice location was influenced by a combination of personal and professional factors. Reasons for leaving New Brunswick were predominantly personal.La Société médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick affirme qu’il y a une pénurie de médecins. La présente étude porte sur la rétention des médecins de famille nouvellement diplômés du Département de médecine familiale de l’Université Dalhousie qui ont choisi de faire leur résidence au Nouveau-Brunswick de 2005 à 2014 et sur les facteurs qui ont influencé les choix des médecins quant à l’emplacement de leur premier cabinet. Environ la moitié des répondants sont restés au Nouveau-Brunswick pour ouvrir leur premier cabinet. La plupart de ceux qui ont quitté le Nouveau-Brunswick pour ouvrir leur premier cabinet n’y sont pas revenus, alors que la plupart de ceux qui y sont restés exercent toujours leur profession au Nouveau-Brunswick. Le choix de l’emplacement du premier cabinet a été influencé par un ensemble de facteurs personnels et professionnels. Les raisons pour lesquelles les nouveaux médecins quittaient le Nouveau-Brunswick étaient surtout de nature personnelle

The influence of gender and other patient characteristics on health care-seeking behaviour: a QUALICOPC study

Abstract Background Canadians’ health care-seeking behaviour for physical and mental health issues was examined using the international Quality and Cost of Primary Care (QUALICOPC) survey that was conducted in 2013 in Canada. Method This study used the cross-sectional Patient Experiences Survey collected from 7260 patients in 759 practices across 10 Canadian provinces as part of the QUALICOPC study. A Responsive Care Scale (RCS) was constructed to reflect the degree of health care-seeking behaviour across 11 health conditions. Using several patient characteristics as independent variables, four multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results Patients’ self-reports indicated that there were gender differences in health care-seeking behaviour, with women reporting they visited their primary care provider to a greater extent than did men for both physical and mental health concerns. Overall, patients were less likely to seek care for mental health concerns in comparison to physical health concerns. For both women and men, the results of the regressions indicated that age, illness prevention, trust in physicians and chronic conditions were important factors when explaining health care-seeking behaviours for mental health concerns. Conclusion This study confirms the gender differences in health care-seeking behaviour advances previous research by exploring in detail the variables predicting differences in health care-seeking behaviour for men and women. The variables were better predictors of health care-seeking behaviour in response to mental health concerns than physical health concerns, likely reflecting greater variation among those seeking mental health care. This study has implications for those working to improve barriers to health care access by identifying those more likely to engage in health care-seeking behaviours and the variables predicting health care-seeking. Consequently, those who are not accessing primary care can be targeted and policies can be developed and put in place to promote their health care-seeking behavior

Experiences of an Exercise Program: Perspectives from Breast Cancer Survivors

Few studies have examined how breast cancer survivors experience an individually tailored group exercise program designed to help mitigate physical and psychosocial challenges and improve health outcomes. This research used qualitative interviews to provide insight into what motivates breast cancer survivors to join an exercise program, what they hope to gain from exercise programs, the barriers they experience to participation, and their overall satisfaction with the program. Thirty-three breast cancer survivors from Atlantic Canada completed semi-structured, qualitative interviews following the completion of a twelve-week supervised exercise program, and thematic analysis was applied to transcripts of the interviews. Our findings suggest of the participants generally enrolled in the program, in hopes of increasing energy levels and muscular strength, most reported increases in both outcomes by the end of the program, and obstacles to participation included fatigue, poor physical health, and access challenges