Examining the impact of health research facilitated by small peer-reviewed research operating grants in a women's and children's health centre

Abstract Background There has been limited research on the impact of research funding for small, institutional grants. The IWK Health Centre, a children and women's hospital in Maritime Canada, provides small amounts (up to $15,000) of research funding for staff and trainees at all levels of experience through its Research Operating Grants. These grants are rigorously peer-reviewed. To evaluate the impact of these grants, an assessment was completed of several different areas of impact. Findings An online questionnaire was sent to 64 Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators from Research Operating Grants awarded from 2004 to 2006. The questionnaire was designed to assess five areas of potential impact: (1) research, (2) policy, (3) practice, (4) society and (5) personal. Research impact reported by participants included publications (72%), presentations (82%) and knowledge transfer beyond the traditional formats (51%). Practice impact was reported by 67% of participants, policy impact by 15% and societal impact by 18%. All participants reported personal impact. Conclusions Small research grants yield similar impacts to relatively large research grants. Regardless of the total amount of research funds awarded, rigorously peer-reviewed research projects have the potential for significant impact at the level of knowledge transfer and changes in clinical practice and policy. Additional findings in the present research indicate that small awards have the potential to have significant impact on the individual grant holder across a variety of capacity building variables. These personal impacts are particularly noteworthy in the context of developing the research programs of novice researchers.</p

Challenges to immunization: the experiences of homeless youth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Homelessness is a critical social issue, both a product of, and contributing to, poor mental and physical health. Over 150,000 young Canadians live on the streets. Homeless youth experience a high incidence of infectious diseases, many of which are vaccine preventable. Early departure from school and limited access to public health services makes them a particularly vulnerable high-risk group. This study explores challenges to obtaining essential vaccines experienced by homeless youth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative research study to explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences surrounding immunization of hard-to-reach homeless youth was designed. Participants were recruited for focus groups from Phoenix House and Shelter, a non-profit, community-based organization assisting homeless youth in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. An experienced facilitator guided the recorded discussions. Transcripts of audiotapes were analyzed using a constant comparative method until data revealed a set of exemplars and themes that best captured participants’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences surrounding immunization and infectious diseases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Important themes emerged from our analysis. Considerable variability in knowledge about immunization and vaccine preventable diseases was found. The homeless youth in the study had limited awareness of meningitis in contrast to a greater knowledge about sexually transmitted infections and influenza, gained during the H1N1/09 public health campaign. They recognized their poverty as a risk for contracting infectious diseases, along with their inability to always employ known strategies to prevent infectious diseases, due to circumstances. They showed considerable insight into the detrimental effects of poor hygiene, sleeping locations and risk behaviour. Interviewed homeless youth regarded themselves as good compliers of health professional advice and offered valuable suggestions to improve immunization in their population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To provide effective public health interventions, it is necessary to consider the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of hard to reach, high risk groups. Our study shows that homeless youth are interested and capable in discussing immunization. Active targeting of homeless youth for public health immunization programs is needed. Working collaboratively with non-profit organizations that assist homeless youth provides an opportunity to increase their knowledge of infectious risks and to improve immunization strategies in this vulnerable group.</p

Pain self-management in adolescents: a psychosocial approach to understanding the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors

Objective: Adolescents independently self-medicate for a variety of recurrent pain types (e.g. muscle pain, headache, back pain and menstrual pain). Over-the-counter analgesic use is high among this age group and some research suggests that use is sometimes inappropriate and knowledge is poor. To date, no known research has specifically addressed how adolescents acquire attitudes about pain and pain management and how attitudes affect pain management practices. Two qualitative studies and one quantitative study were designed to address these questions. -- Participants: Study 1 participants were 24 junior high school students from Halifax, Nova Scotia (11 male: M = 13.45 yrs, SD = .93, range= 12-15 yrs; 13 female: M= 13.31 yrs, SD = .85, range 12- 15 yrs). Study 2 participants were 20 parent-adolescent dyads, from St. John's Newfoundland, composed of 20 mothers (M = 42.72 yrs, SD = 5.42, range 29-52 yrs), 10 male adolescents (M = 13.6 yrs, SD = 1.43, range 12- 16 yrs) and 10 female adolescents (M = 13.4 yrs, SD = 1.07, range 12- 15 yrs). Study 3 participants were also recruited in St. John's Newfoundland and consisted of 139 adolescents (50 male, M = 14.24 yrs, SD = .89 yrs, range = 13- 16 years; 89 female, M = 13.83 yrs, SD = .99 yrs, range = 12 - 16 years,) and their parents (6 male, M = 46 yrs, SD = 2.61, range = 41-48 yrs; 133 female, M = 41.85 yrs, SD = 3.26 years, range = 34-50 yrs). -- Method: Qualitative methods were used in both studies 1 and 2. Study 1 employed focus groups in order to determine pain and pain management issues relevant to adolescents, with a focus on peer influences. Study 2 employed semi-structured face-to-face interviews with parent-child dyads in order to determine the parental influences on pain and pain management attitudes and practices. Study 3 employed a survey method delivered via telephone. Adolescent-parent dyads were recruited for studies 2 and 3 in order to assess direct links in attitude and practice, providing evidence for the intergenerational transmission of pain-related attitudes and behaviors. -- Main Outcome Measures: Demographic data were collected from all participants in all three studies (e.g. age, grade, pain type, frequency, intensity, treatment choice) using the Pain Incident Questionnaire. These data were subject to descriptive data analysis. For studies 1 and 2, primary outcome measures were the textual data from focus group and interview sessions. Qualitative content analysis was used to reduce textual data to the central themes that emerged most prominently from focus group and interview sessions. For study 3, the Pain Management Questionnaire was developed to assess pain occurrences (type, frequency and intensity), attitudes toward over-the-counter medications and knowledge about over-the-counter medications. An additional focus of Study 3 was to develop and assess a measurement tool assessing attitudes toward over-the-counter medications. -- Results: Pain complaints reported by adolescents were mainly headache, muscle/joint ache, menstrual pain, sprains and short-term pain associated with acute episodes such as falls or bumps. For adolescents, peers were influential in the expression of pain; gender differences in children's socialization of appropriate pain responses are discussed. In the qualitative studies, mothers were particularly influential in transmitting information about pain and pain management through verbal communications and their own pain and pain management behaviors. Mothers emerged as essential facilitators of their children's independent pain management. The intergenerational transmission of information about pain and pain management strategies was apparent in textual data, but less clear in quantitative data. -- Conclusions: The findings from these studies provide a fuller understanding of the adolescent recurrent pain experience. How adolescents learn about, and develop attitudes toward pain, pain, pain behaviors and pain management strategies are presented in a socio-communications model that stresses the influence of peers and mothers. Contributions to the current pain literature as well as study limitations and future directions are discussed