Building A Research Team: The Struggle to Link the Community and the Academy

When a research team of community and academic members was formed to study issues of family violence in immigrant communities, the team found that although in theory the "academy" is encouraged to work with the "community", in reality structural barriers make this cooperation difficult.Lors de la formation d'une équipe de recherche composée de membres de la communauté et d'universitaires qui s'est créée afin d'étudier la question de la violence familiale dans des communautés d'immigrés, l'équipe a découvert que bien qu'en théorie on encourage les universitaires à travailler avec la communauté, en pratique des obstacles de structure compliquent cette coopération

"But Where Are You From, Originally?" Immigrant Women and Integration in the Maritimes

This paper examines the process of integration as a complex, multi-faceted and gendered phenomenon that is substantially different for men than for women. We explore how volunteer community involvement provides immigrant women with a safe opportunity to explore, train and get acquainted with Canadian society, as this involvement serves as a means and a vehicle for immigrant women to break the isolation, make friends, enact citizenship through their activism for social change and even, sometimes, find employment. We also discuss reduced funding and its profoundly negative impact on the integration process of immigrant women into Canadian society.Cet article examine le processus d'integration en tant que phenomene complexe, a plusieurs facettes et faisant l'equilibre entre les sexes qui est considerablement different pour les hommes et pour les femmes. Nous explorons comment l'engagement volontaire de la communaute fournit aux immigrantes une occasion oil elles peuvent en toute securite explorer, apprendre, et se familiariser avec la societe canadienne, etant donne que cet engagement sert de moyen et de vehicule aux immigrantes de briser l'isolation, de se faire des amis, de promulguer la citoyennete par leur activisme pour le changement social et meme parfois pour se trouver un emploi. Nous discutons aussi des compressions budgetaires et de leur impact profondement negatif dans le processus d'integration des immigrantes dans la societe canadienne

Feminist Understandings of Embodiment and Disability: A "Material-Discursive" Approach to Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a disability related to breast cancer treatment which may significantly affect women's everyday lives. We used a "material discursive" lens to analyze women's accounts of BCRL. Themes which emerged are: 1) moving beyond breast loss; 2) implications of disability; and 3) beyond limitations.Le lymphoedème relié au cancer du sein (LRCS) est une invalidité reliée au traitement du cancer qui peut affecter de manière significative la vie quotidienne des femmes. Nous nous sommes servies d'une lentille de "matériel discursif" pour analyser les comptes-rendus des femmes sur le LRCS. Les thèmes qui en sont découlés sont: 1) aller au delà de la perte; 2) lesrépercussions de l'invalidité; et 3) au -delà des limites

Harnessing the Power of Administrative Data to Create a Provincial-Level Child Heath Profile and Birth Cohort in New Brunswick (NB) and Prince Edward Island (PEI)

Introduction Early-life prevention of chronic diseases is crucial to a healthy adulthood. However, evidence is often lacking to assess the effectiveness of early intervention programs, partly because of failure to make use of existing data. This project aims to capitalize on existing administrative data in two provinces to address this gap. Objectives and Approach To identify and evaluate selected administrative databases (AD) from NB and PEI to create an intra-provincial Child Health Profile (CHP) and establish the foundation for a population-based birth cohort database in each province using existing administrative data. Integrated knowledge translation (iKT) was implemented to facilitate the continuous involvement of knowledge users and stakeholders, including provincial government managers/decision-makers, data custodians, health practitioners, parents and community organizations. Consultations were held to identify the AD of interest and develop a roadmap for the CHP. For each dataset, a list and description of data and analytical variables was produced and data access requested. Results Not all AD identified are equally complete and accessible to researchers. Data access, preparation and linkage are challenging but feasible. This process was facilitated by iKT, which also contributes to capacity building. Several AD, mainly healthcare AD, including the Healthy Toddler Assessment and NutriSTEP, are currently accessible. An analytic framework was developed for pulling the data together and planning their analyses to produce the CHP. Based on the data currently accessible, the first CHP will focus on data at birth and at 18 months. Other databases (e.g., preschooler assessments) may be included subsequently. Work is underway to create workable datasets from which the CHP and roadmap for the birth cohort are being developed. This approach is scalable and can be extended to other jurisdictions. Conclusion/Implications Select AD in NB and PEI are rich resources for establishing a comprehensive CHP and population-based birth cohort database in each province. These new tools will enable various stakeholders to monitor and report on child health over the long term, and to evaluate current practices and future health interventions

Monthly Incidence Rates of Abusive Encounters for Canadian Family Physicians by Patients and Their Families

Objective. The goal of this study was to examine the monthly incidence rates of abusive encounters for family physicians in Canada. Methods. A 7-page cross-sectional survey. Results. Of the entire study sample (N = 720), 29% of the physicians reported having experienced an abusive event in the last month by a patient or patient family member. Abusive incidents were classified as minor, major, or severe. Of the physician participants who reported having been abused, all reported having experienced a minor event, 26% a major, and 8% a severe event. Of the physicians who experienced an abusive event, 55% were not aware of any policies to protect them, 76% did not seek help, and 64% did not report the abusive event. Conclusion. Family physicians are subjected to significant amounts of abuse in their day-to-day practices. Few physicians are aware of workplace policies that could protect them, and fewer report abusive encounters. Physicians would benefit from increased awareness of institutional policies that can protect them against abusive patients and their families and from the development of a national policy

Challenges and Facilitating Factors in Accessing Administrative Data for Research: Insights from the Children's Health Profile and Trajectory Initiative in NB and PEI

Introduction Administrative health data (AHD) are typically not analyzed to produce evidence on the effectiveness and limitations of primary prevention programs and strategies. The value of AHD for answering research questions is generally recognized, but the challenges in accessing and using these data for research are not always know and documented. Objectives and Approach To identify and advise on the facilitating factors and challenges of accessing select AHD in New Brunswick (NB) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) for the purpose of creating an intra-provincial Child Health Profile (CHP) and population-based birth cohort database, using existing AHD not been previously linked. This research is a cross-jurisdictional collaboration between NB and PEI with an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach that adheres to each province’s unique data policies, data procedures, and data governance. The collaboration involves people in various roles: provincial government managers, policy-makers, data custodians, health practitioners, citizens, community organizations, in addition to academic researchers. Results Access to select AHD required considerable preparation, cross province coordination, and ongoing discussions over many months. Key facilitators were the NB Institute for Research, Data and Training, a newly established data repository that holds provincial AHD in NB, and the provincial health authority in PEI. In NB, the existence of well-documented protocols and support from designated personnel (including trained data analysts) were assets facilitating data access through the data repository. In PEI, REB approval was obtained more rapidly but challenges occurred in subsequent stages of data access directly through the health authority. This research supports the empowerment of stakeholders such as Public Health and researchers who are trying to leverage ‘big data’ resources to address research and practice questions regarding children’s health. Conclusion/Implications Accessing AHD for the project was facilitated by the existence of well-documented protocols and other specialized resources that help streamline the process of data sharing while ensuring data privacy and security. Continued relationship-building among stakeholders is needed to facilitate and maximize the use of existing AHD in NB and PEI