School survey results Slave Lake, AB 2012 technical report

The objective of the school survey was to examine the impacts of the fire on children, and particularly the manifestation of post-traumatic stress and coping difficulties, and to explore changes in these characteristics through time. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by reliving a psychologically traumatic situation, long after any physical danger involved has passed, through flashbacks and nightmares. Other psychiatric, social, or behavioural disorders may also manifest as a result of such trauma. The research team provided input into the questionnaire design over the months of August 2011 to November 2011. Where possible, previously tested and robust survey items were incorporated into the body of the questionnaire. In this case, we included two well-known and robust screening instruments: one to screen for post traumatic stress, and the other to identify strengths and difficulties

Being a woman: Perspectives of Low German-Speaking Mennonite women

Sherpa Romeo green journal. Permission to archive accepted author manuscriptUnderstanding the beliefs and knowledge related to women’s sexuality is important when working with unique religious groups in order to provide culturally appropriate care. An exploratory, descriptive qualitative study generated knowledge, beliefs and practices related to menstruation, ovulation and family planning among Low German-speaking Mennonite women (n = 38). There is a pervasive silence that surrounds sexuality among this group with limited understanding of the physiological changes they experience. Honoring religious principles and family and community expectations through acceptable female behavior is essential. Adherence to religious principles varies by family but is not shared with the group to avoid disfavor

Childbearing practices in Kanadier Mennonite Women

© Canadian Nurses Association. Reproduced with permission. Further reproduction is prohibited.Cross-cultural nursing practices call for attention to be paid to the unique beliefs and practices of the groups with which nurses come in contact. The Kanadier Mennonites are a conservative religious group who live in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted with this group in southern Alberta to generate information about their health and illness beliefs. This article focuses on their knowledge, beliefs and practices in relation to childbearing interviews were conducted with 45 women, the majority of whom were married and had been born in Mexico. Among the sample there had been a range of one to 16 pregnancies. The participants noted that childbearing Is not a topic openly discussed with others. Women learn about childbearing from their mothers and other women but also from physicians and books. During pregnancy there are particular activities to be avoided including the use of strong cleaning fluids and hand milking of cows. Foods such as milk need to be ingested to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Prenatal care was not emphasized in Mexico nor has it become a customary practice in Canada but deliveries in hospital are the norm in both these countries. During the postpartum the women receive support from their immediate and extended family in order to recuperate. Nurses need to explore individual Kanadier Mennonite beliefs regarding childbearing and work with this group in developing acceptable health promotion programs to help ensure healthy pregnancy outcomes. The blending of nursing practice knowledge in a non-intrusive manner with a group of people with differing belief systems is a necessary and achievable goal.Ye

Household survey results Slave lake, AB 2012 : technical report

Results of a household survey that was conducted to assess the following variables within a larger population within the Slave Lake area postwildfire: 1. What were the evacuation experiences of the Slave Lake area residents? 2. What were the impacts of the wildfires on the families and children that experienced it? 3. What were the impacts of the wildfires on the community’s social relations

Families and children : responses to wildfires, links to community resiliency

The May 2011 Slave Lake wildfires were unprecedented event in recent provincial and national history. They provide dramatic examples of the general increase in the number and intensity of wildfires specifically and natural disasters in general. It is prudent, therefore, to learn as much as we can from those who have experienced this event in order to improve our understanding and responses to such disasters

The 1999 Mallard fire: Lessons learned

La Ronge is located in northern Saskatchewan on the shore of Lac La Ronge. It is adjacent to the Lac La Ronge Indian band and the northern village of Air Ronge. La Ronge is the largest community in northern Saskatchewan with over 2700 people residing in the town, 2000 people on the adjacent First Nations lands of the Lac la Ronge Indian band, and approximately 1000 people residing in the bordering Métis settlement of Air Ronge. La Ronge acts as the service centre for almost all of Northern Saskatchewan. Firefighters battled the Mallard Fire that caused the evacuation of the entire community of La Ronge on May 27, 1999. The fire, which was started by lightning, stretched over a distance of 8 kilometres and it took one week, 248 firefighters, and several water bombers to extinguish it. The damage included the destruction of 8 homes in Eagle Point, 1 trailer on Riese Drive and 1 bush home. Some commer-cial buildings were also destroyed within the town boundaries; however, no injuries were reported

Non-operative management of posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction: design of a randomized clinical trial [NCT00279630]

BACKGROUND: Posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is a common cause of foot pain and dysfunction in adults. Clinical observations strongly suggest that the condition is progressive. There are currently no controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness of exercise, orthoses, or orthoses and exercise on Stage I or IIA PTTD. Our study will explore the effectiveness of an eccentric versus concentric strengthening intervention to results obtained with the use of orthoses alone. Findings from this study will guide the development of more efficacious PTTD intervention programs and contribute to enhanced function and quality of life in persons with posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction. METHODS/DESIGN: This paper presents the rationale and design for a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment regime for the non-operative management of Stage I or IIA PTTD. DISCUSSION: We have presented the rationale and design for an RCT evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment regimen for the non-operative management of Stage I or IIA PTTD. The results of this trial will be presented as soon as they are available

Early life exposure to dietary and inhalant allergens

Increasing evidence points to early life, including fetal life, as being a critical time period during which the infant's allergic fate may be determined. However, initial antigen priming in utero necessitates fetal exposure to maternally derived allergen. This article reviews our current knowledge regarding materno-fetal allergen transfer in vivo and reflects on mechanisms by which this exposure might exert immunomodulatory influences on the developing immune system