2019 Showcase of Health Research by SJCG.CAHR

2019 SHOWCASE

OF HEALTH RESEARCH

Conference Program

February 8, 2019

Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre Thunder Bay, ON

Showcase of Health Research

Since 2006, the Centre for Applied Health Research at St. Joseph’s Care Group has hosted what has become the premier annual venue for the dissemination of research relevant to the health of Northwestern Ontarians.

The Centre for Applied Health Research is pleased to host the 2019 Showcase of Health Research.

This event is made possible through the generous support of the Leadership Team at St. Joseph’s Care Group.

Introduction

Paper Presentations

8:30am Registration and Poster Set-up

9:00am Welcome & Opening Remarks

Michel Bédard, Scientific Director,Centre for Applied Health Research, St. Joseph’s Care Group

Tracy Buckler, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group

9:15am Identifying Physiological Load Experienced by Career Firefighters During a 24-Hour Shift: A Proof of Concept Study

Kathryn Sinden, Regan Bolduc -- Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association

9:35am Cannabis and Pregnancy: Getting Ahead of Policy

Lyne Soramaki, Sophia Wenzel, Rachael Shaffer, Alannah Dart Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Lakehead University

9:55am Improving Indigenous Healthcare Access Through Interprofessional Collaboration

Justine Jecker, Brian Dunn Lakehead University

10:15am Walking, Health, and Social Relations: Exploring the Socio-Ecological Impact of a Free, Community-Based, Indoor Walking Initiative in Thunder Bay

Kassandra Fernandes, Helle Moeller, Kevin Gardam Lakehead University

10:35am Poster Presentations and Nutritional Break

11:05am

Effectiveness of Single Session Therapy through a WalkIn Counselling Clinic and Outpatient Mental Health Services (First Connection)

Amy Killen, Fred Schmidt, Liesha Vannieuwenhuizen, Abi Sprakes, Angela Hill Children's Centre Thunder Bay, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Counselling Centre

11:25am Preliminary Activities of the Thunder Bay Situation Table

Deborah Scharf, Anna Kone-Pefoyo, Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan, Mariah Maddock, Sharon Pitawanakwat Lakehead University, Canadian Mental Health Association

11:45am A Simple Algorithm to Predict Fear of Falling in Primary Care Older Patients

Afshin Vafaei, Fernando Gomez, Juliana Barbosa Lakehead University, Universidad de Caldas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

12:05pm

The Effect of Sociodemographic and Health System

Contextual Factors on the Association Between Multimorbidity and Colorectal Cancer Survival

Andrea Fortin, Anna Kone, Lindsay Galway Lakehead University

12:25pm Poster Presentations and Lunch

*Presenter in Purple

Poster Presentations

1 An Unwelcome Guest: The Prevalence of High Residential Radon in Two Thunder Bay District Communities

Erica Sawula, Lee Sieswerda, Robin Cooper Thunder Bay District Health Unit

2 The Wellbeing of First Nations Children: A New Measure

Alexandra Drawson, Elaine Toombs, Jay Blain, Tina Bobinski, John Dixon, Jason Dulude, Natalie Paavola, et al. St. Joseph's Care Group, Lakehead University, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

3 Social Work Intervention for Women Experiencing Early Pregnancy Loss in the Emergency Department

Ashley Palmer, Jodie Murphy-Oikonen -- Lakehead University

4 Listening to Mothers' Voices: Substance Involvement and Local Service Needs

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio, Lisa Bishop, Jasmine Cotnam, Roxanne Turuba Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Women’s College Research Institute

5 Arts-Based Perspectives on Compassion and Patient Care Experiences

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio, Michelle Spadoni, Brian Nieminen Lakehead University

6 Paving the Way: Lessons Learned while Establishing the NorthBEAT Collaborative

Chiachen Cheng, Carole Lem, Shevaun Nadin, Heather Zachozy, Doug Eddington Centre for Applied Health Research: NorthBEAT, Lakehead Univeristy

7 Building Leadership Capacity to Navigate Change at St. Joseph's Care Group

Lisa Beckwick St. Joseph's Care Group

Improving Communication Amongst Community Providers in Thunder Bay

Hilary Mettam, Beverley Kelley, Karen Roberts, Marlene Benvenuto -- St. Joseph's Care Group, Northwest LHIN, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

9 Building Capacity for Patient-Oriented Research in Northwestern Ontario

Niki Kiepek, Stacey Freemantle, Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio, Kristine Quaid, Mandy Byerley-Vita, Mark Lavallee-Demers, Danielle Lesschaeve, et al. Dalhousie University, St. Joseph’s Care Group, Lakehead University

10 Caring for Carers: Exploring the Experiences of Health, Supports, and Services among Caregivers of Children with Disabilities Living in Northwestern Ontario

Jonathon Racine, Erin Pearson, Laura Deschamps Lakehead Univsersity

11 Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who are Frail: Development of an International Consensus Statement

Victoria Barabash, Eve Deck, Lynn Martin, Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz Queen's University, Lakehead University

Development of the Job Accommodation Scale for Mental Health

Through Concept Mapping and Structural Equation Modeling Joshua Armstrong, Marc Corbière, Chris Viel, Karen Harlos, William S. Shaw, Margaret Cernigoj, Vicki L. Kristman Enhancing the Prevention of Injury & Disability at Work (EPID@Work) Research Institute, Lakehead University, Université du Québec à Montréal, University of Winnipeg, University of Conneticut, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Poster Presentations (cont.)

Factors Associated with Supervisor Support of Job Accommodations for Mental Health Disorders in the Workplace

Vicki Kristman, Joshua Armstrong, Marc Corbière, William Shaw, Karen Harlos, Chris Viel, Margaret Cernigoj Lakehead University, Université du Québec à Montréal, University of Conneticut, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Job Accommodation Scale for Mental Health (JAS-MH): Assessing Construct Validity Using Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Job Demand Ratings

M. Grace Herring, Joshua J. Armstrong, Vicki Kristman Lakehead University

Lack of Association between Sex and Disclosure of a Need for Workplace Accommodations for Mental Health Disorders

Nyasha Makuto, Vicki Kristman Lakehead University

Identifying Critical Incident Exposure among Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Firefighters: Implications for Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Disorder

Sara T. Sayed, Regan Bolduc, Kathryn E. Sinden Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association

Assessing the Links between Materialism and Using Alcohol to Cope with Depression

Ishaq Malik, Elaine Toombs, Kara Boles, Aislin Mushquash, Christopher Mushquash, Daniel McGrath Lakehead University, University of Calgary

Impact of Depression on the Survival of Cancer Patients With and Without Other Chronic Diseases

Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan, Anna Kone Pefoyo, Deborah Scharf Lakehead University

Evaluation of a Combined Mental Health and Addictions Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Program

Kara Boles, Aislin Mushquash Lakehead University

Meaning Self-Efficacy: Preliminary Scale Development

Hillary Jones, Christiana Goetz, Mirella Stroink Lakehead University

21 Associations between Authenticity of Social Roles and Psychological Resilience

Christiana J. G. Fidler, Mirella Stroink Lakehead Univeristy

22 The Influence of Different Social Sources on the Presentation of Empathy, Resilience, and Psychological Strengths in Youth

Tiffany Leung, Edward Rawana, Rupert Klein -- Lakehead University

An Evaluation of Mental Health Care Learning Needs of Primary Care Providers in Northwestern Ontario

Hillary Bohler, Supuneet Bismil, John M. Haggarty Northern Ontario School of Medicine

24 Rock and a Hard Place: Nurses' Experiences of Ethical Decision Making (EDM) in Acute Care Settings in Northern Ontario

Manal M. Alzghoul, Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio Lakehead University

Perspective of Private Health Care Providers in India in Adopting Key Strategies of the India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI)

Mandavi Kashyap, Ashish Krishna, Gaurav Kumar, Sadhana

Bhagwat, Abhishek Kunwar, Chakshu Joshi, Suyash Shrivastava , et al. gck Consulting & hme Enterprises ltd, World Health Organization

Effectiveness of a New Evidence-Based Triage Toolkit for Transient Ischemic Attack and Mild Non-Disabling Stroke in Northwestern Ontario, Canada

Margaret Sweet, Elaine Edwards, Sharon Jaspers, Shalyn Littlefield, Sacha Dubois Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Poster Presentations (cont.)

Driving Safety and Opinions in the Community of Thunder Bay

Shauna Fossum, Carlina Marchese, Shayna Cummings, Hillary Maxwell, Bruce Weaver, Michel Bédard Lakehead University, St. Joseph’s Care Group

Bikeability and Cyclist Safety in Thunder Bay

Joanna Carastathis, Lindsay Galway, Adam Krupper, Erica Sawula, Anish Yadav Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Lakehead Univeristy, City of Thunder Bay

Investigating Barriers and Facilitators to Bikeability and Perceptions of Cyclist Safety in a Northern Community

Eve Deck, Lindsay Galway, Joanna Carastathis, Adam Krupper Lakehead University, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, City of Thunder Bay

Innovative Training Approaches Enhance Fitness among Young Adults with an Intellectual Global Delay

Eryk Przysucha, Tyler McDougall Lakehead University

Evaluation of a 6 Week Interprofessional Chronic Pain Management Program for Improving Clients' Kinesiophobia and Health-Related Physical Fitness

Andrew Koscielniak, Victoria Ewen, Mary Donaghy, Matt Schmidt- St. Joseph's Care Group, Lakehead University

Exploring the Feasibility of a Kinesiology Student-Teacher Partnership via a Tailored Physical-Education Based Program

Delivered in Northwestern Ontario Public Schools

Rebecca Kennedy, Erin Pearson Lakehead University

Mitigation of Linear Impact to the Head by Using Lining Inserts in Hockey Helmets

Meilan Liu, Carlos Zerpa, Kyle McGillivray Lakehead University

The Comparison of Neck Strength between Healthy and Concussed Adolescent Athletes on Measures of Linear Acceleration across Helmet Impact Locations using a Surrogate Headform

Jasmine Ferdousi, Carlos Zerpa Lakehead University

35 Validating a New Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Self-Report Scale

Helen Otterman, Vicki Kristman, David McKee Lakehead University

The Effect of Taping on the Foot to Determine Centre of Pressure and Sway while Balancing on a Stable versus Foam Surface over an AMTI Force Platform

Kaitlynn Gilmor, Paolo Sanzo Lakehead University

37 The Effect of Taping on Electromyographic Activity of the Peroneus Longus and Tibialis Anterior Muscles during the Modified-Y Star Excursion Balance Test

Alyssa Poulin, Paolo Sanzo Lakehead University

Changing Coupling Between the Arms and Legs with Slow Walking Speeds Alters Neural Control

Taryn Klarner Lakehead University

Association of Modifiable Risk Factors with Bone Mineral Density among Women with Distal Radius Fracture: A Cross-Sectional Study

Neha Dewan, Joy MacDermid, Ruby Grewal, Karen Beattie Lakehead University, Western University, McMaster University

Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches to Fibromyalgia

Management: Quantification of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Function and Evaluation of Radial Shockwave Therapy

Martina Agostino, Paolo Sanzo, Bryan MacLeod, Wesley Fidler, Simon Lees Lakehead University, St. Joseph’s Care Group, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

*Presenter in Purple

Speaker #1

Identifying Physiological Load Experienced by Career Firefighters

During a 24-Hour Shift: A Proof of Concept Study

Kathryn Sinden

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Regan Bolduc

Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association

Background/Objectives: Firefighters experience high injury and illness rates associated with high, intermittent loads during firefighting. Identifying physiological response to work demands informs injury prevention strategies. Wearable technology enables measurement of real-time physiological load during work tasks. The study objective was to identify feasibility of a wearable, physiological status monitor (Zephyr) to measure career firefighters' physiological response during firefighting tasks over one 24-hour shift.

Methods: Firefighters (age: M=34.5 yrs, SD=8.1 yrs; years of service: M=5.4, SD=4.7; n=10, 2=female) from Thunder Bay Fire Rescue wore the Zephyr for 1x24 hour shift. Physiological metrics of interest (heart rate-HR, breath rate-BR and heart rate variability-HRV) were partitioned into firefighting task classifications per firefighters' documentation of shift activity. Sampling rate was 1Hz; individual and group means, standard deviation, maximum and minimum were calculated for each metric.

Results: Firefighting tasks were classified into station duties, fire, fire-false alarm, rescue/medical and public relations. Variability in call type across shifts was observed. Highest HR (M=96.7bpm, SD =14.9bpm), BR (M=21.9bpm, SD=7bpm) and lowest HRV (M=64.4ms, SD=39.4ms) were experienced during fire calls (30%). High HR (M=77.3bpm, SD=15.1bpm) and BR (M=18.8bpm, SD=4.5bpm) and highest HRV (M=100.1ms, SD=41.8ms) were experienced during rescue/medical calls (40%). Lowest physiological response was associated with false alarm fire calls (60%) (HR: M=68.6bpm, SD=10.1bpm), station duties (100%) (HR: M=69.7bpm, SD=9.1bpm) and public relations (HR: M=69.3bpm SD=9.1bpm).

Conclusion: Unique insights into firefighters' on-shift physiological response were elicited suggesting feasibility of this approach. Fire calls were associated with higher physiological load and fatigue; rescue/medical and false alarm calls were associated with similar physiological loads.

Speaker #2

Cannabis and Pregnancy: Getting Ahead of Policy

Lyne Soramaki

Family Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Sophia Wenzel

Family and School Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Rachael Shaffer

Master of Public Health Student, Lakehead University

Alannah Dart

Bachelor of Science Nursing Student, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: The legalization of cannabis may lead the public to perceive cannabis use as safe. Questions among public health professionals, service providers and primary health care providers (PHCPs) have arisen on how best to navigate the prevention of cannabis-related harms during times of preconception and pregnancy. This research project was conducted to provide insight about current gaps, barriers, needs and promising practices to inform programming strategies and interventions for women during preconception and pregnancy to prevent/reduce cannabis-exposed pregnancies.

Methods: We conducted an environmental scan surveying Ontario public health units, local service providers and PHCPs who provide services to women during preconception and pregnancy. This, along with a literature review, explored prelegalization gaps, barriers, needs and promising practices for strategies and interventions to prevent/reduce cannabis-exposed pregnancies. Inductive thematic analysis was performed with results from the environmental scan being compared with themes from the literature review.

Results: Findings from the environmental scan were congruent with findings from the literature review. Both identified 7 themes important to consider to prevent cannabis-exposed pregnancies: surveillance, attitudes/beliefs, raising awareness, education for PHCP, screening/interventions, policy/regulations, and research. Literature supported the integration of social determinants of health into all themes. A multi-pronged approach to reducing/preventing cannabisexposed pregnancies is warranted.

Conclusion: With potential perceptions about cannabis being safe to use during pregnancy, an understanding of the perceptions, attitudes and beliefs regarding risks of cannabis use during pregnancy will be important for local health care providers to inform effective prevention strategies and interventions.

Speaker #3

Improving Indigenous Healthcare Access Through Interprofessional Collaboration

Justine Jecker

PhD Educational Leadership, Lakehead University

Brian Dunn

Geography, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: In Northern Ontario, interprofessional collaboration is needed to improve access to healthcare services for Indigenous persons (Duckett, 2009; Dunn, 2016; Health Canada, 2005, 2007, 2015). The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015) identified 94 Calls to Action, four of which guided the design of this community action research project (#18: acknowledge previous health policy is responsible for Indigenous health, #19: identify appropriate health services, #22: recognize the value of traditional health practices; #23: provide competency training for health professionals).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the introduction of six interprofessional competencies (CIHC, 2010) to healthcare teams servicing northern First Nation communities enhances: 1) interprofessional collaboration and 2) Indigenous healthcare access.

Methods: A two-eyed seeing approach (Martin, 2012), supported an interprofessional collaboration (IPC) training intervention involving 30 participants. A convergent parallel mixed methods design, including a post-post test design survey and second order narratives, supported the generation of community action-oriented goals.

Results: A statistically significant difference in each of the six interprofessional competency domains was found following the training. Qualitative analysis demonstrates that access to healthcare services does improve following collaboration training. The mixed analysis demonstrates that sustainable community resources focused on healthcare access were developed as a result of the action-oriented goals.

Conclusion: Northern First Nation communities can benefit directly and indirectly from interprofessional competency training for the purpose of improving access to healthcare services. By incorporating Indigenous-focused research methods within a community action research framework, Calls to Action can be enacted.

Speaker #4

Walking, Health, and Social Relations: Exploring the SocioEcological Impact of a Free, Community-Based, Indoor Walking Initiative in Thunder Bay

Kassandra Fernandes

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Helle Moeller

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Kevin Gardam

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: An aging population holds great potential when they are valued for their contribution to society, when communities accommodate varying levels of functionality, and when older adults are supported to remain engaged and be as socially, mentally, and physically healthy as possible. Participation in physical activity is associated with physical, cognitive,and social benefits integral to maintaining health, wellbeing, and independence throughout the life course. Factors affecting older adult participation in physical activity are multidimensional in nature. The purpose of this study is to explore, using a social justice lens, the socioecological factors associated with older adult participation in a free, community-based, indoor walking initiative in Thunder Bay.

Methods: This study employs a qualitative approach to a mixed methods study design that includes individual interviews with ten male and ten female older adult participants and 59 paper copy surveys. The interviews were semistructured and explored older adults' perceptions of their participation in the walking initiative, while the surveys were composed of 40 questions examining participant demographics, intention for participation, perceived benefits, and also included questions from the psychological domain of the WHO's quality of life BREF.

Results: The walking initiative was popular amoung and valued by participants. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, community/organizational, and policy factors were involved in the participation of both male and female older adult participants.

Conclusion: Understanding the multi-level factors facilitating older adult participation in physical activity, has the potential to provide successful and accessible health-promoting initiatives geared toward to this population in the future.

Speaker #5

Effectiveness of Single Session Therapy through a Walk-In Counselling Clinic and Outpatient Mental Health Services (First Connection)

Amy Killen

Clinical Development, Evaluation, & Research, Children's Centre Thunder Bay

Fred Schmidt

Clinical Development, Evaluation, & Research, Children's Centre Thunder Bay

Liesha Vannieuwenhuizen

Adolescent Services, Lakehead University

Abi Sprakes

Manager of Psychotherapy & Trauma Services, Thunder Bay Counselling Centre

Angela Hill

Manager of Intensive Services, Children's Centre Thunder Bay

Background/Objectives: This oral presentation explores the effectiveness of single session therapy (SST) as delivered within a walk-in counselling clinic (WICC) and an outpatient mental health service. An overview of SST is provided, along with relevant information regarding the shift in mental health services to brief interventions. The overall effectiveness of single session services will also be described.

Methods: Data will be presented for 499 participants, between January 2017December 2017 for WICC. In addition, data for 244 clients who participated in a First Connection (FC) service from June 2018 - December 2018 will be contrasted with that obtained through WICC. Data will be presented on age, gender, presenting concerns, and initial and final outcomes.

Results: Internalizing concerns and relationship issues were the most common presenting problems for the total WICC sample. When asked where else clients would have gone instead of WICC, 59.3% answered 'nowhere'. Stress levels, understanding their specific problem, confidence to fix their problem, and knowledge of support and resources, all displayed significant change at posttreatment for WICC (p < .001). Similar outcome data for FC will also be presented. Approximately 22% of cases closed after completing one or more FC sessions.

Conclusion: The research indicates that there is a need for increased mental health services due to long waiting lists and a lack of resources. The WICC and FC findings support the efficacy of using SST in both a walk-in mental health and outpatient mental health setting. Implications for SST within the mental health field will be provided.

Speaker #6

Preliminary Activities of the Thunder Bay Situation Table

Deborah Scharf

Psychology, Lakehead University

Anna Kone-Pefoyo

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Mariah Maddock

Canadian Mental Health Association

Sharon Pitawanakwat

Canadian Mental Health Association

Background/Objectives: The Thunder Bay Situation Table (TBST) is a group of multidisciplinary community agencies that collaboratively identify and attenuate situations at Acutely Elevated Risk (AER). AER situations are at risk of escalation and negative outcomes such as criminalization, victimization, or harm absent immediate intervention. Since beginning in September 2017, the TBST has aimed to offer wraparound services to individuals, families, or groups with diverse needs.

Methods: We created a set of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) indicators of infrastructure, administration, case referral and review, and intervention. Indicators were derived from administrative sources including the Risk-Driven Tracking Database (RTD) (case characteristics, services mobilized), and data from partners about community service utilization (e.g., police non-safety calls). Data are from September 2017 - May 2018.

Results: Community agencies (n=41) from health, justice, social services, and other sectors participated in the TBST. Participants attended in-person (n=37) and on-line (n=28) trainings. Overall, n=35 cases were reviewed, most (83%) met AER criteria, and most (65%) cases experienced lower risk after TBST intervention. Cases originated from justice (43%), children and youth (17%), and mental health agencies (12%), and services were primarily provided by health (45%), child and youth (21%), and social service (21%) groups. No trends in community service (e.g., emergency department) use were observed.

Conclusion: The TBST experienced successes in its first year including engaging many diverse agencies and identifying and serving AER clientele. The TBST can continue to enhance its activities by finding ways to increase case referrals, enhance case follow-up, and maintain integrity of CQI data.

Speaker #7

A Simple Algorithm to Predict Fear of Falling in Primary Care Older Patients

Afshin Vafaei

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Fernando Gomez

Health Sciences, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia

Juliana Barbosa

Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

Background/Objectives: Primary care practitioners need simple algorithms to identify older adults at higher risks of falls and fear of falling (FOF). In our previous analysis, we identified main predictors of falls. The objective of the present study was to determine the best combination of factors predicting the risk of developing FOF in older people via Classification Regression Tree (CaRT) analysis.

Methods: In 2014, we recruited 1,725 community-dwelling older adults from Canada, Brazil, Colombia, and Albania. With a retention rate of 81%, in 2016, 1,409 individuals were reassessed. These risk factors for FOF were entered into the CaRT: age, sex, education, self-rated health (SRH), comorbidity, medication, visual impairment, frailty, objective measure of physical functioning (Short Physical Performance Battery), mobility disability measured by the Nagi questionnaire, cognitive deficit, depression, and fall history.

Results: The classification tree identified 12 end-groups representing differential risks of FOF with a minimum of two and a maximum of five predictors. The first split in the tree involved levels of physical functioning that showed respondents with impaired physical functioning had 82% risk of developing FOF at the end of 2 years follow-up. In those with no functional impairment, levels of education, sex, and SRH were important predictors of FOF. Between 23.2% and 82.3% of the risk of developing FOF in two years of follow-up were explained by only five variables: age, sex, SRH, physical function, and mobility disability.

Conclusion: Assessment of five easily measurable predictors with emphasis on physical functioning can easily identify older adults at higher risk for developing FOF.

Speaker #8

The Effect of Sociodemographic and Health System Contextual Factors on the Association Between Multimorbidity and Colorectal Cancer Survival

Andrea Fortin

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Anna Kone

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Lindsay Galway

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in Ontario. It is common in older adults, who frequently present with other chronic conditions. Cancer patients with multimorbidity are complex. They require care from disconnected healthcare systems and without proper integration, risk poorer outcomes. The study objective is to ascertain the effect of multimorbidity on CRC patients' survival and to explore whether sociodemographic and health system factors modify this relationship.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with administrative data from the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). Adult Ontario residents, diagnosed with CRC between 2003 and 2013 were followed until March 31, 2018. Complexity of patients (disease clusters) and care management patterns will be described. Survival analyses were performed to investigate factors associated with CRC patients' survival.

Results: Of 68,880 patients, 53.9% were female. The mean age was 69 years. Ninety-four percent had multimorbidity, most frequently four or more comorbid conditions (CCs). Risk of death increased with increasing number of CCs, ranging from RR=1.56(95%CI:1.49-1.64) for 1CCs to RR=2.29(95%CI:2.19-2.40) for ≥4CCs compared to those with CRC only. Those in non-capitated models were 1.14 times at risk of death compared to those in capitated+ models (95%CI:1.121.17). Overall, decreased survival as according to the number of CCs, was slightly modified by PCM. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards results are forthcoming.

Conclusion: Multimorbidity negatively impacts CRC patients' survival. This study provides evidence about the complexity and management of multimorbidity, taking into account health system factors, to benefit person-centered care for complex cancer patients in Ontario, Canada.

Poster #1

An Unwelcome Guest: The Prevalence of High Residential Radon in Two Thunder Bay District Communities

Erica Sawula

Foundational Standards, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Lee Sieswerda

Environmental Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Robin Cooper

Health Protection Division, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Background/Objectives: Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. A previous study in the City of Thunder Bay showed that 16% of homes had high radon, with semi-rural or rural areas more greatly affected. The current study examined the prevalence of high radon in a rural area and small town surrounding the City. The study aimed to motivate radon testing and mitigation, and inform public policy to reduce exposure to high radon.

Methods: The study used a convenience sample of Oliver Paipoonge and Marathon residents. We distributed long-term alpha track radon detectors to 211 and 151 homes in Oliver Paipoonge and Marathon, respectively. Participants placed their detector on the lowest lived-level of their home for at least 3 months during the home-heating season. After testing, detectors were sent to a laboratory for analysis. The main outcome analyzed was a dichotomous variable indicating whether the radon level was above or below the Health Canada guideline of 200 becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3) of air.

Results: Among the 188 Oliver Paipoonge homes that completed testing, 65% had high radon. Among the 110 Marathon homes that completed testing, 17% had high radon. These result are well above the Canadian and Ontario averages of 6.9% and 4.6%, respectively. Mapped geographic location, home characteristics, and perceived barriers to remediating high radon will be presented.

Conclusion: Exposure to radon is an area of increasing public health concern. This study has a number of implications for public health, the community and further research.

Poster #2

The Wellbeing of First Nations Children: A New Measure

Alexandra Drawson

St. Joseph's Care Group

Elaine Toombs

Psychology, Lakehead University

Jay Blain

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

Tina Bobinski

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

John Dixon

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

Jason Dulude

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

Natalie Paavola

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care et al.

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this project was to create, implement, and evaluate a tool designed to measure the wellbeing of First Nations children in the Robinson Superior Treaty Area.

Methods: This project followed a community-based participatory research approach and was overseen by a research advisory made up of employees from the partner organization. Interviews were conducted with community members in the Robinson Superior Treaty Area and analyzed to identify indicators of wellbeing for children. This analysis was utilized to generate items for a pilot version of the measure. This pilot version was administered by two mental health intake workers to the parents and caregivers of 91 children who were seen through intake for service at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, along with the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths measure (Lyons et al. 2003).

Results: Following piloting, interview with the mental health intake workers, and measure refinement, a principal component analysis was conducted and three factors emerged: General Wellbeing, Traditional Activities, and Social Engagement.

Conclusion: This measure represents one of few created and validated for use specifically with a First Nations population and aligns with the literature regarding the importance of engagement in traditional activities and understanding of culture for the wellbeing of Indigenous people.

Poster #3

Social Work Intervention for Women Experiencing Early Pregnancy Loss in the Emergency Department

Ashley Palmer

Social Work, Lakehead University

Jodie Murphy-Oikonen

Social Work, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Early pregnancy loss (EPL) is the most common complication in pregnancy and is most often managed in the emergency department (ED). Despite the high prevalence of pregnancy loss, many women suffer in silence due to the common societal belief that early losses are insignificant. Current suggested recommendations for compassionate care that is attentive to the emotional needs of women following pregnancy loss are well suited to the unique skillset of the social work profession. Thus, the purpose of this article is to explore women's experiences of EPL in the ED and the specific social work interventions that may promote healing.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore the impact of pregnancy loss, how EPL is managed in the ED, women's experiences of EPL in the ED and current social work interventions for EPL in the ED.

Results: Social workers are in a unique position to offer psychosocial interventions to address the individual needs of women experiencing EPL in the ED. The interventions include: a) acknowledging the loss, b) psychoeducation, c) honouring the loss, d) assessing resources, referral and additional information, and e) building capacity in the ED.

Conclusion: This review highlights the important role social work has in assisting women through these difficult experiences and provides guidelines for practice.

Poster #4

Listening to Mothers' Voices: Substance Involvement and Local Service Needs

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio

Centre for Health Care Ethics, Lakehead University

Lisa Bishop

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Jasmine Cotnam

Women's College Research Institute

Roxanne Turuba

Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Women who are pregnant and/or parenting and substance involved are typically viewed as a hard to serve population. Poor outcomes not only impact these mothers, but also their children. The purpose of this qualitative (descriptive) research is to inform practice and service delivery in Thunder Bay for individuals and organizations working with and caring about substance involved mothers.

Methods: Following the manifesto of 'nothing about us without us,' we reached out to mothers to hear their voices about the issue of substance involvement and their experiences with local medical, counselling, social, and addictions services. In collaboration with the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy- Maternal Substance Use & Child working group and 24 community partner organizations, the research team held three focus groups with a total of 18 mothers.

Results: Mothers who are substance-involved continue to experience stigma and discrimination from society, care providers, and social structures, hindering their ability to access safe and effective care. Key themes include: 1) structural barriers; 2) social networks; 3) providers/services; and 4) sense of self. These inter-related themes are described with a socio-ecological model and further explored within the context of a recent comprehensive literature review using a multi-petal flower diagram.

Conclusion: This study is now moving into phase two. Three to seven mothers' will be individually interviewed as expert consultants on the findings of this study. They will inform next steps in further knowledge translation activities and may choose to be included as co-authors and co-presenters. All community partners will receive a summary report of the completed study that should inform decision making about current practices and service delivery models.

Poster #5

Arts-Based Perspectives on Compassion and Patient Care Experiences

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio

Centre for Health Care Ethics, Lakehead University

Michelle Spadoni

School of Nursing, Lakehead University

Brian Nieminen

Background/Objectives: Compassion in nursing is often depicted as handholding. A contemporary understanding of compassion in nursing is needed. The purpose of this study was to explore compassion in nursing from both personal and professional perspectives.

Methods: A qualitative aesthetic approach was used. As Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham et al. (2015) suggest for inquiry, the interrelated concepts of local context, processes, people, and knowledge were the focus of data collection during three focus group sessions with nurses, nurse educators, and nursing students. Data were analyzed in collaboration with a local artist. Themes informed the creation of a multi-dimensional models of compassion in nursing.

Results: The findings take viewers into this research on visual and emotional levels, before explaining the cognitive findings with simple poetic guidance. The first drawing represents a model of the process of compassionate care. Compassion twists and curves throughout our personal and professional lives; as nurses and among the patients whose lives we become a part of. The second drawing represents the interconnections and relational aspects of compassionate care experiences, within ourselves and with each other. A journey that is isolated and yet collective; part of our common humanity.

Conclusion: In the format of an art gallery exhibit, 'compassion' as described by nurses and students is defined through art. The results of this study will be formatted into curricula recommendations and resources, to encourage changes to nursing pedagogy that legitimizes and enhances compassion in everyday practice.

Poster #6

Paving the Way: Lessons Learned while Establishing the NorthBEAT Collaborative

Chiachen Cheng

NorthBEAT, Centre for Applied Health Research

Carole Lem

NorthBEAT, Centre for Applied Health Research

Shevaun Nadin

Lakehead University

Heather Zachozy

NorthBEAT, Centre for Applied Health Research

Doug Eddington

NorthBEAT, Centre for Applied Health Research

Background/Objectives: The NorthBEAT Collaborative is a 4-year research-toaction strategic systems collaborative funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Youth Opportunities Fund. To date, the Collaborative has 30 signed members across Northwestern Ontario who are committed to help young people with psychosis get the help they need, when they need it. This poster will describe lessons learned over the first 18 months, with emphasis on best practices for stakeholder engagement.

Methods: Engagement strategies have followed best practices. The NorthBEAT Collaborative's stakeholder engagement approach has two main groups: 1) service providers, 2) youth and families. Stakeholder engagement activities began in late 2016 during the funding application and continue. NorthBEAT has two active youth and family advisory groups with monthly meetings and ongoing recruitment.

Results: At the application phase, 20 organizations had signed the Collaborative agreement. 67 organizations were invited to participate in our inaugural launch workshop; of those 67 organizations, 40 organizations registered. The launch workshop included 61 registrants from across the province. Post-workshop engagement resulted in 3 more invited organizations and 10 more signed members-bringing the total to 70 invited organizations and 30 signed members. Membership includes secondary and post-secondary educators, first responders, community and social services, youth programs, and health/mental health. Youth and family advisory groups have a combined 45 members.

Conclusion: Lessons learned during the first 18 months of the NorthBEAT Collaborative's development are related to time, staffing, and flexibility. Time is underestimated yet critical. Adequate staffing, flexibility, openness to feedback are essential to a Collaborative's sustainability.

Poster #7

Building Leadership Capacity to Navigate Change at St. Joseph's Care Group

Lisa Beckwick Organizational & People Development, St. Joseph's Care Group

Background/Objectives: Over the past two years, St. Joseph's Care Group (SJCG) has experienced one of their largest periods of growth since the Sisters of St. Joseph opened the first hospital in 1884. This type of organizational change requires managers who have the skills to lead effectively while meeting the growing needs and expectations of their clients and the community. This action research inquiry investigated leadership development strategies for enhancing the capacity of leaders to navigate organizational change in today's complex and rapidly-changing healthcare environment.

Methods: The Action Research Engagement (ARE) model was utilized for the inquiry. A multimethod approach was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The first method included two focus group sessions: one for SJCG for directors and Leadership Team members and the other for managers. From the focus group transcriptions, a thematic analysis was conducted. An online survey was developed based on the themes and provided the analytical quantitative data to augment the qualitative findings.

Results: There were five main findings that evolved once data was triangulated between the focus groups and the online survey: the environment in which SJCG operates is in a continuous state of change; employees are emotionally impacted by organizational change; organizational structure is important in enabling change initiatives; leaders play a key role in facilitating change, and; training and development are essential to building capacity for navigating change.

Conclusion: The results of this study recommend a leadership development system, a leadership development program, and the cultivation of SJCG's existing values-based culture.

Poster #8

Improving Communication Amongst Community Providers in Thunder Bay

Hilary Mettam

NWLHIN Regional Palliative Care Program, St. Joseph's Care Group

Beverley Kelley

Home & Community Care, North West LHIN

Karen Roberts

Palliative & Supportive Care, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Marlene Benvenuto

NWLHIN Regional Palliative Care Program, St. Joseph's Care Group

Background/Objectives: The goal of this project was to improve communication and coordination between the North West LHIN and Most Responsible Providers (MRPs) for complex and palliative care patients living in community.

Methods: A project team was established to use quality improvement methodology to test a change idea aimed at improving information flow. A letter was created for the LHIN Community Care Coordinator to send to a patient's MRP(s) following every home care assessment. This Health Partner letter describes Home and Community Care services the patient would be receiving, the name and phone number of the patient's Care Coordinator, and the presence of other supports such as a back-up plan to Hospice.

Results: Online surveys were conducted with 1) MRPs who had received at least 2 Health Partner letters and 2) Care Coordinators responsible for sending out the letters. Results indicated that both groups found the letter to be a useful tool for improving communication and a valuable addition to their practice. They also provided suggestions for additional information that could be incorporated into future iterations of the letter. The Health Partner letter will be revised to reflect this feedback and the NWLHIN will then spread the letter to other caseloads who manage vulnerable and at-risk patients e.g. end of life, acquired brain injuries and medically fragile.

Conclusion: Introducing new mechanisms to improve the flow of information between providers can assist with the development of positive working relationships, which is critical to improving patient care.

Poster #9

Building Capacity for Patient-Oriented Research in Northwestern Ontario

Niki Kiepek

School of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University

Stacey Freemantle

St. Joseph's Care Group

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio

Lakehead University

Kristine Quaid

St. Joseph's Care Group

Mandy Byerley-Vita

Mark Lavallee-Demers

Danielle Lesschaeve et al.

Background/Objectives: We describe a CIHR funded collaborative project designed to increase local capacity for patient-oriented research (POR) in Northwestern Ontario (NW ON). POR engages patients throughout the research process with a goal of improving health services and health outcomes. Underlying principles of POR are inclusiveness, transparency, honesty, trust, and respect.

Methods: Our research team of health professionals, patients, and researchers, hosted a two-day workshop facilitated by experts from the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research and Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit. Health professionals, hospital research staff, and patients from St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Services Centre (TBRHSC), university researchers, and a graduate student attended the workshop.

Results: SJCG and TBRHSC are leading the way for POR in NW ON. Optimal POR projects ensure genuine involvement of patients, ranging from developing the research question, determining study design, data collection, analysis, dissemination, and evaluation of the process. Sustained efforts are required to enhance and support commitment from researchers and research institutes to implement POR principles and strategies.

Conclusion: Commitment by regional partners will support involvement of patients as research partners in NW ON, enhance organizational policy, and improve patient care outcomes. Next steps include development of contextually relevant POR Best Practice Resources to involve patients and other key stakeholders in refining research principles, determining implementation processes, and identifying strategies that support patient involvement in research design, implementation, monitoring, and dissemination. Our future vision is to support researchers and patients to collaboratively establish relevant and timely regional research priorities.

Poster #10

Caring for Carers: Exploring the Experiences of Health, Supports, and Services among Caregivers of Children with Disabilities

Living in Northwestern Ontario

Jonathon Racine

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead Univsersity

Erin Pearson

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead Univsersity

Laura Deschamps

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Caregivers of children with a disability (CCWD) provide long-term unpaid physical, emotional, social, and financial support. High levels of stress, reduced mental and physical health, and a heightened risk for premature mortality are commonly experienced. Programs aimed at attenuating caregiver burden while improving health are lacking. In order to develop a caregiver-focused intervention, the study purpose was to conduct an exploratory needs assessment among CCWDs to determine challenges faced and what is valued regarding supports.

Methods: Ten CCWDs (9 mothers, 1 father) participated in a one-on-one or group-based semi-structured interview. Inductive content analysis was applied to explore caregiver experiences relating to personal health, caregiving, and supports

Results: Caregivers described their days as routine, combined with accepting the unknown. Personal health was characterized as poor to good, and experiences of debilitating and chronic physical and mental health conditions were shared. Caregiving was explained by many as 'It's just what we do' whereby the child's needs always come first; prioritizing personal health was equated with guilt. A strongly developed support network was identified as important to alleviate caregiver burden. Yet, social isolation was discussed often due to the difficulty of maintaining friendships. Caregivers agreed that future programming for CCWDs (e.g., family centred case management) and individual supports (e.g., Co-Active life coaching) could increase caregiver effectiveness and help reduce chronic stress.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the unique challenges that CCWDs face along with specific recommendations for intervention. Future caregiver-focused research aimed at providing support while mitigating gaps in service will be discussed.

Poster #11

Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who are Frail: Development of an International Consensus Statement

Victoria Barabash

Public Health Sciences, Queen's University

Eve Deck

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Lynn Martin

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz

Public Health Sciences, Queen's University

Background/Objectives: While adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are known to have higher rates and earlier onset of frailty compared to the general population, research on how to best support them is lacking.

Methods: Three distinct consensus-building methods (Nominal group technique, NIH consensus conference approach, and Delphi surveys) were used to develop an international consensus statement on how to best to support adults with IDD who are frail. Thirty seven clinicians, service providers, and researchers engaged in small-group discussions based on ten different case scenarios to suggest actions related to frailty and pre-frailty (Nominal group technique). Proposed actions were reviewed by an international expert panel and resulted in two principles and seven recommended actions (NIH consensus conference approach), which were subjected to an international review (Delphi survey).

Results: Person-centred planning and aging in place emerged as the core principles guiding any and all action taken regarding frailty or pre-frailty status. Seven interconnected recommended actions were also proposed: (1) frailty must be considered earlier than in the general population; (2) improvement and maintenance are viable goals; (3) intersectoral collaboration is needed; (4) safety is a key consideration; (5) planning for the future is needed; (6) informal and formal caregivers also have needs; and (7) ongoing research is needed.

Conclusion: The statement represents an international consensus that can guide efforts to respond to frailty among adults with IDD. Practical tools and resources would be helpful to assist individuals with IDD, families, and service providers implement the consensus statement recommendations.

Poster #12

Development of the Job Accommodation Scale for Mental Health Through Concept Mapping and Structural Equation

Modeling

Joshua Armstrong

Enhancing the Prevention of Injury & Disability at Work (EPID@Work) Research Institute, Lakehead University

Marc Corbière

Department of Education and Pedagogy, Université du Québec À Montréal

Chris Viel

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Karen Harlos

Department of Business and Administration, University of Winnipeg

William S. Shaw

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut

Margaret Cernigoj

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Vicki L. Kristman

Enhancing the Prevention of Injury & Disability at Work (EPID@Work) Research Institute, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: The Concept Mapping (CM) approach has been widely used in the development of measures and in evaluation work. The approach mixes qualitative and quantitative methods and can be used to develop a consensus-based conceptual framework about a problem or issue. Our objective using CM was to develop a measure that could be used to assess the likelihood of an employer to provide accommodations to workers with mental health issues.

Methods: Participants consisted of the advisory panel members for the project. The Concept Mapping process involves six steps: (1) Preparation; (2) Generation of Statements; (3) Structuring of Statements; (4) Representation of Statements; (5) Interpretation; and (6) Use of the results. Potential scale items were generated and sorted by participants. Participant groupings of items were collected using online survey software (Qualtrics), transformed into similarity matrices, and pooled using Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) Analysis. MDS output was examined using hierarchical cluster analysis to form subscales. Results were evaluated using survey data from employers in Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba.

Results: In total, 41 potential scale items related to accommodations were generated. Cluster analysis of the sorting data indicated 4 subscales. Scale items were reduced to 29 using item-rest correlations. Structural equation modeling using the study's survey data from 31 employers (366 supervisors and 1062 workers) indicated good model fit when combining factor scores into a single latent construct (RMSEA = 0.07; 95%CI: 0.021-0.123).

Conclusion: CM provided a collaborative and inductive framework which aided in the development of a new scale reflecting employer support for mental health accommodations.

Poster #13

Factors Associated with Supervisor Support of Job Accommodations for Mental Health Disorders in the Workplace

Vicki Kristman

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Joshua Armstrong

EPID@Work Research Institute, Lakehead University

Marc Corbière

Université du Québec À Montréal

William Shaw

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut

Karen Harlos

Business and Administration, University of Winnipeg

Chris Viel

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Margaret Cernigoj

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Background/Objectives: Supervisors of workers with mental health disorders (MHDs) are important in the prevention of prolonged work absences. Providing appropriate workplace accommodation is one approach that supervisors use to facilitate employees staying at or returning to work. Yet, we understand little about factors associated with the provision of accommodations for workers with MHDs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine factors associated with supervisor support for job accommodations for workers with MHDs.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of supervisors from 31 randomly-selected companies across 10 industrial sectors in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Supervisors completed a survey regarding job accommodation practices and potential associated factors concerning a case vignette of a worker with a MHD. Multilevel mixed regression was used to identify the most parsimonious set of factors associated with supervisors' support for accommodations.

Results: A total of 373 supervisors participated with 320 eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The final set of factors explained 33% of the variance in supervisors' support for accommodations. Workplace disability management policies and practices (β = 0.12; 95% CI 0.04, 0.20), supervisor stigma (β = -0.18; 95% CI -0.27, -0.10), and supervisors with greater education (β = 0.19; 95% CI 0.01, 0.36) were associated with supervisor support for accommodations for MHDs.

Conclusion: Factors associated with supervisors' likelihood to accommodate workers with MHDs include workplace disability management policies and practices, supervisor stigma and education levels. Workplace interventions targeting these factors should be developed and evaluated for their ability to improve work disability outcomes for workers with MHDs.

Poster #14

Job Accommodation Scale for Mental Health (JAS-MH): Assessing Construct Validity Using Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Job Demand Ratings

M. Grace Herring

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Joshua J. Armstrong

Health Sciences, Enhancing the Prevention of Injury & Disability at Word Research Institute

Vicki Kristman

Health Sciences, Enhancing the Prevention of Injury & Disability at Work (EPID@Work) Research Institute

Background/Objectives: If appropriate accommodations are in place, workers with mental health disorders (MHD) function well in the work environment. To promote a healthy work environment, we need a measure to assess the need for accommodations from the workers' perspective. The objective of this study was to assess the construct validity of a new self-report measure, the JAS-MH that seeks to measure accommodations needed for workers with MHD.

Methods: Workers (n=247) were recruited from 31 businesses across 10 industrial sectors from Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Workers completed a questionnaire that assessed accommodation needs for employees with MHD. Using the job description from the survey, we assigned a unique 8digit code to the job position using the O*NET system. Each O*NET code links to occupational classifications, including job demands. We identified 3 job demands from O*NET that have been shown to be risk factors for poor workplace mental health. It was hypothesized that workers with higher job demands, according to the O*NET database, will report a greater need for accommodation. T-tests were used to compare JAS-MH scores between the lowest and highest quartile for each O*NET job demand.

Results: Workers in jobs that required greater accuracy (p = .001) and more time pressure (p = .05) were more likely to report a greater need for accommodation. Workers in jobs with a large number of hours worked were less likely to report a need for accommodation (p = .05).

Conclusion: Our findings generally support the construct validity of the JAS-MH.

Poster #15

Lack of Association between Sex and Disclosure of a Need for Workplace Accommodations for Mental Health Disorders

Nyasha Makuto

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Vicki Kristman

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Workplace accommodations may ameliorate the impacts of mental health disorders (MHDs) though men may be less likely than women to request these services due to social barriers. The objective of this study is to determine the association between sex and disclosure of a need for workplace accommodations.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were distributed to workers from 31 randomly-selected employers, across 10 industrial sectors, in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine sex differences in the disclosure of a need for workplace accommodations.

Results: Out of 1,073 workers, 137 had MHD diagnoses and 163 had symptoms of MHDs. Although not a statistically significant difference, women with MHD diagnoses disclosed a need for workplace accommodations twice as often as men (OR 2.10, 95% CI: 0.80-5.67). There was no statistically significant difference for women versus men with MHD symptoms in terms of disclosure for workplace accommodations (OR 0.88, CI: 0.20-3.70). Both sexes in the MHDdiagnosed group reported no need for accommodations as the most common reason for why their MHD was not disclosed at the workplace. Both sexes in the symptomatic group reported 'other' as their primary reason for non-disclosure. Conclusion: The need for disclosure among the sexes seems to vary by whether or not the individual is diagnosed with a MHD or only experiencing symptoms. Further studies with larger sample sizes of people with MHDs are needed to confirm these findings.

Poster #16

Identifying Critical Incident Exposure among Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Firefighters: Implications for Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Disorder

Sara T. Sayed

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Regan Bolduc

Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association

Kathryn E. Sinden

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Firefighters are exposed to various factors associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Critical incident exposure (CIE) is one of the highest risk factors associated with PTSI. The objectives of this study were to quantify critical incident exposure (CIE) among Thunder Bay Fire Rescue (TBFR) firefighters (FF).

Methods: Multiple factors related to firefighters' work health were collected from a sample of 34 TBFR firefighters (Age: M=39.8 SD=7.8; years of service: M=11.6 SD=7.2) at baseline (November 2017) and six months (May 2018). CIE was measured using the 24-item Critical Incident Inventory (CII) developed to assess CIE among firefighters; the CII uses a 2-month point prevalence. Descriptive statistics for each subscale and total score at each time point were calculated.

Results: 94% of participants experienced at least one critical event at baseline and six months. The most common critical event exposure recorded was direct exposure to blood and body fluids (70%-baseline; 38%-6 months) and responding to an incident involving one or two deaths (79%-baseline; 41%-6 months). 54% percent of the critical events (baseline) involved children (i.e., serious injury, death or threat), and 40% (baseline) involved calls that required removing a dead body.

Conclusion: Study results suggest that TBFR FF experience call volumes with high critical incident exposure, multiple causalities, and incidents involving children; results further suggest PTSI exposure is high and potentially higher than in other regions. These findings suggest TBFR FFs require an intervention to mitigate impacts associated with CIE with higher support during winter months.

Poster #17

Assessing the Links between Materialism and Using Alcohol to Cope with Depression

Ishaq Malik

Psychology, Lakehead University

Elaine Toombs

Psychology, Lakehead University

Kara Boles

Psychology, Lakehead University

Aislin Mushquash

Psychology, Lakehead University

Christopher Mushquash

Psychology, Lakehead University

Daniel McGrath

Psychology, University of Calgary

Background/Objectives: Materialism has been defined as the importance one places on the attainment of goals related to financial success, having the right image via status and consumer products, and obtaining nice possessions. Materialism is often measured by assessing the importance one places on extrinsic life goals. Previous research has demonstrated that higher levels materialism predict risky behaviors. However, no study has longitudinally assessed how materialism predicts individual differences in the reasons why people drink alcohol. This short-term longitudinal study examined the relationship between materialism and drinking to cope with depression over time.

Methods: 410 university students were assessed at three time points (each separated by a one week interval). Participants completed self-report measures of the importance they place on materialistic needs and their reasons for drinking. Linear regression was used to test if higher levels of materialism (at baseline) significantly predicted participants' ratings of drinking to cope with depression (at follow-up).

Results: The results of the regression indicated that materialism (at baseline) significantly predicted drinking to cope with depression (at follow-up), F(3,354)=6.419, p<.001, R2 = .05 when both sex and frequency of alcohol use were controlled for.

Conclusion: These results indicate that materialism, particularly extrinsic life goals, may be a risk factor for using alcohol to cope with depression - a risky drinking motive associated with problematic drinking and more frequent alcohol use. These results could aid in understanding, preventing, and addressing the underlying values and goals that lead to problematic drinking behaviors.

Poster #18

Impact of Depression on the Survival of Cancer Patients With and Without Other Chronic Diseases

Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Anna Kone Pefoyo

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Deborah Scharf

Psychology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Treating cancer patients with depression and other chronic comorbidities is complicated as multiple medical specialities and treatment modalities participate in each patient's care. Multimorbidity can also influence patients' treatment adherence and lead to poorer patient outcomes. We examined whether depression modifies survival outcomes among cancer patients in Ontario.

Methods: We used a population-based retrospective cohort design to analyze provincial administrative data available from the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). All adults diagnosed with cancer in Ontario between 2003 and 2013 were followed until March 31, 2018, to measure survival. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate the combined effect of 14 other common chronic diseases and major depressive disorder on cancer survival.

Results: The final sample included 570,474 patients and 85.2% had at least one comorbidity including 1.9% having major depressive disorder. Women constituted 49% of the cohort. Mean age at the time of cancer diagnosis was 65.3 years (SD 14.3). Data showed that cancer patients with comorbidities had higher mortality than those with no comorbidity (RR=1.52, 95% CI 1.51-1.54), and those with depression had higher mortality than those without depression (RR=1.43, 95% CI 1.41-1.44). Overall, survival rates decreased with increasing number of comorbidities and presence of depression, and those with depression and three or more other conditions had the lowest survival rates.

Conclusion: Number of chronic comorbidities and major depression have a negative impact on the survival of cancer patients. Identifying and treating major depression may help improve the survival of patients with cancer and multiple chronic conditions.

Poster #19

Evaluation of a Combined Mental Health and Addictions

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Program

Kara Boles

Psychology, Lakehead University

Aislin Mushquash

Psychology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Those living in Northwestern Ontario are at a heightened risk for mental health disorders. Mental health symptoms can be exacerbated when an individual is suffering with co-morbid substance use difficulties. Treating co-morbid mental health and substance use difficulties is often a challenge in a clinical setting. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is empirically validated as a treatment for both mental health and substance use difficulties. This study provides an evaluation of the St. Joseph's Care Group (SJCG) Mental Health and Addictions DBT program. Specially, examining how effective it is at treating people with co-morbid mental health and substance use difficulties.

Methods: The sample included 44 outpatient clients who were referred to the DBT program from one of the affiliated SJCG programs. The program is intended for adult outpatients only. Each participant was given a questionnaire aimed at measuring mental health symptoms, quality of life, as well as adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviours. Participants completed the same questionnaire at intake, as well as 6 and 12 months into treatment. Change in symptoms, quality of life, and coping behaviours was analyzed using the SPSS-25 software. Results: The DBT program resulted in: Improved quality of life, reduced mental health symptomology, as well as reduced dysfunctional coping strategies. Clients also experienced a reduction in problematic behaviours (i.e., drug use, self-harm, alcohol abuse). Further, clients who continued treatment for 12 months experienced a continual improvement in most areas and demonstrated better end-of-treatment scores than those who completed treatment at 6 months.

Conclusion: Results from this evaluation suggest that DBT contributes to improvements in multiple aspects of functioning for the clients receiving this service.

Poster #20

Meaning Self-Efficacy: Preliminary Scale Development

Hillary Jones

Psychology, Lakehead University

Christiana Goetz

Psychology, Lakehead University

Mirella Stroink

Psychology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Meaning has long been established as a central component of individual well-being (Frankl, 1959; Ryff, 1989; Seligman, 2011); however the processes involved in meaning-making are not yet fully understood. Researchers have suggested active effort may be required to construct (King & Hicks, 2009) or search for (Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006) meaning in life. As such, an individual's belief in their ability to successfully construct or search for meaning may influence their ability to perceive meaning and therefore experience greater well-being. The Meaning Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES), a 12-item self-report scale, was proposed to measure this construct and its potential relationships with aspects of well-being.

Methods: Items developed through deductive methods were generated and tested empirically with a sample of 186 undergraduate students. Internal consistency was evaluated and correlational analyses between the proposed MSES and other relevant constructs were conducted to examine convergent and discriminant validity.

Results: The preliminary psychometric evaluation of the MSES shows strong internal consistency and significant correlations in expected directions with resilience, satisfaction with life, stress, and depression. Results justify a future follow-up study to further examine factorial structure and psychometric properties of the proposed MSES.

Conclusion: Meaning-self efficacy is a construct that shows sufficient preliminary evidence to warrant further exploration through ongoing psychometric evaluation, particularly regarding its potential relationship with meaningfulness and individual well-being.

Poster #21

Associations between Authenticity of Social Roles and Psychological Resilience

Christiana J. G. Fidler

Psychology, Lakehead Univeristy

Mirella Stroink

Psychology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Authenticity based in self-determination theory is the degree to which an individual believes the roles within one's self-concept are fully self-endorsed, willfully enacted, and reflecting who one actually is. Authenticity across social roles is associated with greater role contentment and increased mental and physical well-being (Sheldon et al., 1997). This current study planned to measure the association between authenticity and psychological resilience.

Methods: Undergraduate students (n = 191) rated authenticity for five social roles and completed measures of well-being including three forms of resilience: role resilience (the tendency to bounce back after hard times that arise in each role), traditional resilience [Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC)], and resilience grounded in complex adaptive systems theory [Dynamic Psychological Resilience Scale (DPRS)].

Results: Role authenticity significantly positively correlated with role resilience for the roles of student, worker, child (son/daughter), friend, and romantic partner. At the person level of analysis, mean authenticity significantly correlated with depression (r = -.57, p < .01), life satisfaction (r = .54, p < .01), mean role resilience (r = .46, p < .01), the CD-RISC (r = .50, p < .01), and the DPRS (r = .38, p < .01).

Conclusion: Authenticity relates to bouncing back ability, growth, and adaption during difficult times. These findings resonate with Aristotelian Eudaimonia, which suggests that self-realization and being true to one's self are qualities that can help in times of adversity.

Poster #22

The Influence of Different Social Sources on the Presentation of Empathy, Resilience, and Psychological Strengths in Youth

Tiffany Leung

Psychology, Lakehead University

Edward Rawana

Psychology, Lakehead University

Rupert Klein

Psychology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: The ability to experience and understand another person's feelings (empathy), to successfully adapt amidst stress (resilience), and to harness personal skills (psychological strengths) are dynamic qualities that have implications for an individual's well-being, health, and sense of social responsibility. These qualities are heavily influenced by an individual's perception of care from others (i.e., family, friends, teachers, and significant others). However, it has yet to be determined which of these sources is most central to the presentation of these three qualities.

Methods: 236 high school students from a northern community completed a series of standardized questionnaires on empathy, resilience, psychological strengths, and perceived care.

Results: A series of hierarchical regressions showed each source of care accounted for unique variance in the presentation of resilience and strengths, with different sources playing a larger role for the different qualities: perceived care from friends accounted for the greatest variance in empathy scores (β = .15, p < .01 ), perceived care from teachers accounted for the greatest variance in resilience scores (β = .29, p < .001), and perceived care from family and teachers accounted for the greatest variance in strength scores (β = .11, p < .001; β = .46, p < .001; respectively).

Conclusion: Although much of the youth literature has emphasized the role of family and peers, when the influence of different social sources were directly compared, it was found that teachers exerted the greatest influence. Further research is needed to understand how the school environment influences personal development.

Poster #23

An Evaluation of Mental Health Care Learning Needs of Primary Care Providers in Northwestern Ontario

Hillary Bohler

Psychiatry, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Supuneet Bismil

Psychiatry, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

John M. Haggarty

Psychiatry, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Background/Objectives: Northwestern Ontario (NWO) is an underserved area with specialist shortages, including psychiatry, and relies on collaborative care. Our study investigated the perceived mental health learning needs of primary care providers (PCPs) from both the perspectives of PCPs and psychiatrists.

Methods: We distributed two separate surveys to PCPs throughout the region and psychiatrists in Thunder Bay. Questions included perceived frequency, confidence and learning gaps with various topics.

Results: Despite low response rates, both groups identified clinical management as a common reason for referral and disclosed a need for further PCP training in mental health. PCPs have the most confidence in diagnosing and managing conditions seen frequently (anxiety, substance use disorders, safety concerns). They identified highest learning needs in psychosis, linked to uncertainty with management and antipsychotic agents, in addition to prevalent disorders such as anxiety, mood and trauma. Conditions managed least frequently and with low confidence (child and adolescent, somatization, eating disorders) were not topics of perceived educational benefit. Similarly, psychiatrists recognized PCP competence with conditions seen frequently (anxiety, mood, safety) and identified psychosis as an area for learning. However, there was a discrepancy with psychiatry-determined learning needs with substances and ADHD not reflected by PCPs. Another difference was the perceived confidence with benzodiazapines by PCPs, versus observed low PCP competence in this area by psychiatry. Overall, psychiatrists were motivated to participate in shared care efforts, although limited by time on behalf of both groups.

Conclusion: These findings will inform future educational sessions to address knowledge gaps in developing collaboration and strengthening regional services.

Poster #24

Rock and a Hard Place: Nurses' Experiences of Ethical Decision Making (EDM) in Acute Care Settings in Northern Ontario

Manal M. Alzghoul

School of Nursing, Lakehead University

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio

Centre for Health Care Ethics, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Making good decisions is key to providing high quality, ethically competent nursing care. Compared to nurses working in other healthcare sectors, nurses in acute care settings have reported experiencing ethical issues more often. There is a paucity of literature on how the unique context of being in a small community impacts nurses' ethical decision making (EDM). This study explored registered nurses (RNs) experiences of ethical issues and EDM in acute care settings in northern Ontario.

Methods: Guided by an interpretive descriptive approach, data were collected using in-depth, individual, semi-structured interviews with 8 RNs in northern Ontario. Data were coded into three main themes (with sub-themes)

Results: Findings identified complex examples of ethical issues in the context of acute care in small community settings. Themes included:

1) tension-based EDM (doctors/ power, being in small community/ trust, and providing holistic care/ unnecessary suffering); 2) personal and organizational factors that block or facilitate EDM; and, 3) impacts on nurses and responses

Conclusion: This study highlights nurses' perspectives on complex ethical issues in acute care settings, shaped by the context of working and living in small communities in northern Ontario. Often these RNs felt that they: must take a fear-based approach to EDM; need to carry these issues silently; and, often had no resolution to the ethical challenges. Nurses need safe spaces, formal supports, and improved access to ethics resources. This study will help to guide future research on ethics and EDM among nurses and members of health care teams in northern contexts.

Poster #25

Perspective of Private Health Care Providers in India in Adopting

Key Strategies of the India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI)

Mandavi Kashyap

gck Consulting & hme Enterprises ltd

Ashish Krishna Health Unit, WHO, India

Gaurav Kumar

WHO, India

Sadhana Bhagwat

WHO, India

Abhishek Kunwar

WHO, India

Chakshu Joshi

WHO, India

Suyash Shrivastava

WHO, India et al.

Background/Objectives: The burden of hypertension in India is expected to almost double from 118 million in 2000 to 213.5 million by 2025. The 'India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI),' based on key components of WHO's HEARTS technical package, has been launched in public healthcare facilities in five states of India, including Madhya Pradesh (MP). Involvement of the private health sector is critical as an estimated 70% of the Indian population seeks healthcare in the private sector. We undertook a qualitative study to understand perceptions of private providers (PPs) in adopting IHMI components.

Methods: We used a semi-structured tool to interview thirty conveniently selected PPs who are also employed in government health facilities, from two districts of MP. Information collected on adopting IHMI-drugs protocol & ensuring their availability, patient information system etc and analysed data with NVivo software.

Results: Of 30 PPs, 27(90%) appreciated the concept of IHMI, however, only 37% reported using the IHMI treatment protocol in private practice. Main challenges in implementing IHMI strategies in private practice were: limited availability of single component hypertension drugs (36%); fear of losing patients due to lack of immediate relief or adverse effects of protocol drugs (40%); and difficultly maintaining IHMI records and patient follow-up due to limited resources (80%). Overall, 57% PPs reported that medical representatives influenced their choice of prescription. While few (13%) showed concern for possible audits from government associated with the initiative. Suggestions for increasing private sector engagement in IHMI included: IT-based solution for records and patient follow-up, free supply of protocol medicines, incentives to private doctors or paramedical staff and involvement of doctor associations.

Conclusion: This exploratory study suggests that private sector IHMI engagement is possible. Further engagement with PPs should focus on ensuring wider availability of IHMI protocol drugs, and developing a simple user friendly digital platform for patient monitoring. Similar study need to be conducted in northern Ontario areas.

Poster #26

Effectiveness of a New Evidence-Based Triage Toolkit for Transient Ischemic Attack and Mild Non-Disabling Stroke in Northwestern Ontario, Canada

Margaret Sweet

Neurology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Elaine Edwards

Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network, TBRHSC

Sharon Jaspers

Stroke Prevention Clinic, TBRHSC

Shalyn Littlefield

Clinical Research Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI)

Sacha Dubois

Human Sciences, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Background/Objectives: Northwestern Ontario (NWO) Canada is a large geographic region, approximately the size of France, with a population of ~220,000. The majority of communities are rural and remote. A major challenge in this vast region is timely access to stroke specialists and neuro-imaging. The objective was to develop evidence demonstrating that the update/adoption of the new NWO TIA/Mild Non-Disabling Stroke (MNDS) Triage Toolkit provides equitable and accessible stroke care

Methods: A Toolkit adapted from the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (CSBPR) was developed for health care providers working in primary care and emergency departments to facilitate consistent stroke care throughout NWO. As part of the Toolkit, the attached Triage Algorithm identifies the appropriate risk level and channels the delivery of 'Right care at the Right time in the Right place'. To evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm we examined time from first encounter with medical care for specific indicators (stroke expert assessment; brain imaging; vascular imaging; Stroke Clinic visit) by risk level (highest to low risk). Patient charts were reviewed between September 2015-August 2016 (n=281).

Results: Based on case analysis our specific indicators appear to meet CSBPR's. The full analysis will be presented.

Conclusion: The Toolkit creates a pathway that facilitates access to stroke care in a rural and remote region. The Toolkit has the potential to be adapted to regions with similar geographical challenges.

Poster #27

Driving Safety and Opinions in the Community of Thunder Bay

Shauna Fossum

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Carlina Marchese

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Shayna Cummings

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Hillary Maxwell

Centre for Applied Health Research, St. Joseph's Care Group

Bruce Weaver

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Michel Bédard

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Many residents of Thunder Bay depend on private vehicles as their primary source of transportation. The purpose of this study was to engage community members in driving research, and determine their opinions on driver safety issues such as driver impairment and distracted driving.

Methods: A 23-item survey was completed by 42 participants aged 18 or older (25 male; mean age = 36) at the Intercity Shopping Centre during Lakehead University Research and Innovation Week 2018. Frequency tables were generated for categorical variables; means and standard deviations were computed for quantitative variables. Gender and age groups (younger drivers: 18-30 vs mature drivers: 31-64) were compared via t-tests.

Results: Almost 60% of respondents thought they were not as likely to be involved in a crash compared to others their age, and 69% agreed or strongly agreed that they would be able to get out of a dangerous driving situation. The Thunder Bay driving issues most frequently identified were distracted driving (26%) and speeding (24%). Compared to mature drivers, younger drivers reported statistically higher comfort levels of riding with a driver using a handheld phone, t(40)= 2.4, p = .02 1 and Bluetooth/hands-free phones, t(40) = 2.3, p = .029. Mature drivers reported a statically higher comfort level of riding with a driver who had consumed alcohol, compared to younger drivers, t(40)= -2.5, p = .016.

Conclusion: Comfort with certain behaviours that cause driving impairment may differ by age. This suggests that educational resources may need to be tailored to be age-appropriate.

Poster #28

Bikeability and Cyclist Safety in Thunder Bay

Joanna Carastathis

Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Lindsay Galway

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Adam Krupper

Engineering, City of Thunder Bay

Erica Sawula

Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Anish Yadav

Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Cycling is an accessible and affordable way to incorporate physical activity into everyday life and prevent the onset of chronic diseases. However, the perceived and actual bikeability and safety of neighbourhoods can influence the decision to cycle for transportation. Many residents in Thunder Bay currently rely on automobiles for transport, fail to meet physical activity recommendations, and suffer worse health outcomes compared to provincial averages. This research aims to better understand bikeability and cyclist safety issues and provide an evidence-base for improvements.

Methods: We analyzed cyclist-vehicle collision data from 10 years of Thunder Bay police reports (2004-2013) and conducted descriptive statistics of trends relating to where, when, why and how collisions were occurring. Collision hotspot locations were also identified. An intercept survey was conducted with 126 cyclists in Thunder Bay to assess perceptions of bikeability, cyclist safety, and develop priorities for action.

Results: 490 collisions involving cyclists occurred between 2004 and 2013. The analysis revealed that the majority (82.4%) of reported cyclist-involved collisions occurred at intersections. Most collisions happened during daylight (83.4%), in good weather (93.4%), and on dry roads (89.6%). Results from the community perceptions survey revealed that 51.2% of respondents were dissatisfied with cyclist safety in Thunder Bay. Most (88.1%) respondents agreed that more cycling infrastructure is needed.

Conclusion: Many factors contribute to cyclist-vehicle collisions. However, collisions are preventable, and it will take a coordinated effort from many stakeholders to improve bikeability and cyclist safety in Thunder Bay.

Recommendations from this research can be used to inform transportation planning decisions.

Poster #29

Investigating Barriers and Facilitators to Bikeability and Perceptions of Cyclist Safety in a Northern Community

Eve Deck

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Lindsay Galway

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Joanna Carastathis

Health Promotion, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Adam Krupper

Active Transportation, City of Thunder Bay

Background/Objectives: Various factors in the social and built environment present unique barriers and facilitators to the physical activities of its residents. Despite these factors, research examining their influence with regards to the lived experiences of active commuter cyclists has been limited. This research seeks to elucidate the unique facilitators and barriers that encourage or discourage cycling in a Northern Community by those who identify themselves as active commuter cyclists.

Methods: Thirty-two active commuter cyclists participated in one-on-one guided interviews to provide feedback on their experiences of bikeability and cyclist safety in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Qualitative data analysis through NVivo was used to identify emerging themes regarding barriers and facilitators to bikeability.

Results: The preliminary findings from this research indicate the existence of barriers that influence the behaviours of Thunder Bay cyclists, which include inclement weather, lack of infrastructure, lack of community support and aggression from drivers. Facilitators that have emerged from this research include infrastructure development, positive role-modelling within the cyclist community and workplace incentivization. Across the study sample, important differences in the experiences of barriers and facilitators were observed amongst the population of cyclists who did and did not have access to a vehicle for transportation.

Conclusion: The findings from this research will provide crucial insight with regards to the factors that uniquely influence bikeability amongst the population of active commuter cyclists in Thunder Bay. This research may provide important directives for future policy-making and infrastructure development for the purposes of promoting active transportation.

Poster #30

Innovative Training Approaches Enhance Fitness among Young Adults with an Intellectual Global Delay

Eryk Przysucha

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Tyler McDougall

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) have significant limitations in both intellectual functioning such as learning and problem solving, as well as in social and practical skills (Schalock et al., 2010). As a result of these issues they do not participate in regular physical activity and most of them exhibit a sedentary lifestyle leading to a multitude of health issues (Segal et al., 2016). Although many programs have been implemented to address these issues, no studies combined both cardio- and resistance training as an intervention approach.

Methods: Seven adults with a mild to moderate global delay (M= 23.1 years, SD= 2.29) took part. The program occurred 3 times a week for 6 weeks, in 1 hour sessions. It incorporated full body resistance training with machine and free weights, followed by cardiorespiratory training (treadmill, stationary bike and elliptical). The degree of intensity was increased on case by case basis after 3 weeks of training. To analyze if any improvements were made the participants completed a 10RM seated chest and leg press, Legers 20m shuttle run and hip to waist ratio measurements at the pre-, mid- and post- times of the study.

Results: The results showed a statistically significant improvement in upper and lower body muscular strength as well as in cardiorespiratory fitness. This was inferred from inferential statistics, corresponding effect sizes, and the analysis of individual data. However, no significant changes in body composition were evident.

Conclusion: These results revealed that combined type of exercise routine that is progressively enhanced, in line with training guidelines, may be an effective way for individuals with ID to improve their overall motor capabilities with implications for their daily living. The results also suggest, contrary to a common belief, that young adults with intellectual delay can be challenged in regards to their fitness routines.

Poster #31

Evaluation of a 6 Week Interprofessional Chronic Pain Management Program for Improving Clients' Kinesiophobia and Health-Related Physical Fitness

Andrew Koscielniak

Chronic Pain Management, St. Joseph's Care Group

Victoria Ewen

Psychology, Lakehead University

Mary Donaghy

Chronic Pain Management, St. Joseph's Care Group

Matt Schmidt

Chronic Pain Management, St. Joseph's Care Group

Background/Objectives: Kinesiophobia, the debilitating fear of movement, leads to avoidance behaviour and subsequent disuse and disability in individuals with chronic pain conditions. The St. Joseph's Care Group Chronic Pain Management Program (CPMP) uses an interprofessional approach to help clients manage their kinesiophobia and achieve their physical goals. The objective of this evaluation was to determine if attending a 6 week interprofessional CPMP is associated with improvements in kinesiophobia and physical fitness.

Methods: Of the 155 clients attending the CPMP after November 2015 who completed an assessment, 96 clients (Mean age = 49.0, SD=13.1; 64.6% female) completed a measure of kinesiophobia before and after engaging in the program, with 57 clients at 6-week follow-up. Eighty clients (Mean age = 50.9, SD = 14.1; 68.8% female) also completed fitness assessments before and after engaging in the program, with 48 clients at 6-week follow-up.

Results: Clients reduced their kinesiophobia (t(95) = -2.75, p = .007) and made improvements in their physical fitness (e.g., 6 minute walk test, t(79) = 7.64, p < .001; chair sit to stand, t(79) = 7.82, p < .001) after attending the CPMP. Clients maintained their improvements in kinesiophobia (t(56) = -1.61, p = .114) and continued to make improvements in their physical fitness (e.g., 6 minute walk test, t(47) = 4.16, p < .001; chair sit to stand, t(48)= 2.22, p = .031) at 6 week follow-up.

Conclusion: Findings support the effectiveness of an interprofessional approach for improving kinesiophobia and physical fitness in clients with chronic pain conditions.

Poster #32

Exploring the Feasibility of a Kinesiology Student-Teacher Partnership via a Tailored Physical-Education Based Program

Delivered in Northwestern Ontario Public Schools

Rebecca Kennedy

Health and Behavioural Sciences - School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Erin Pearson

Health and Behavioural Sciences - School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Recent research conducted in Thunder Bay revealed that an elementary school teacher-kinesiology student partnership is valuable for fostering mentorship and teacher confidence to implement Physical Education (PE) programming. A larger sample and the inclusion of accessible resources (i.e., Ontario Physical and Health Education Association [OPHEA] curriculum) were recommended for subsequent PE research with a partnership focus. The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory needs assessment with key stakeholders to determine program-related preferences and priorities.

Methods: A 37-item electronic survey integrating facets of validated questionnaires used in similar contexts was developed for Lakehead Public School Board educators. Closed- and open-ended questions were included to explore participant views regarding PE (e.g., what is/not important), barriers and facilitators associated with teaching PE, and components for a new mentorshipbased program aimed at assisting with delivery. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: Recruitment occurred between May and June 2018. In total, five educators responded. Overall, participants advocated for the use of OPHEA given its' easy-to-implement activities and practical PE lessons. Participants also agreed that a PE program integrating partnerships between kinesiology students and local teachers would be valuable.

Conclusion: While the survey timing likely contributed to the low response rate, findings revealed a number of suggestions that will be used to develop a tailored mentorship-based PE program integrating OPHEA curriculum for teachers. It is hoped that the program will alleviate barriers associated with teaching PE while enhancing the experience for teachers and students alike.

Poster #33

Mitigation of Linear Impact to the Head by Using Lining Inserts in Hockey Helmets

Meilan Liu

Mechanical Engineering, Lakehead University

Carlos Zerpa

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Kyle McGillivray

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Impacts to the head while playing the sport of ice hockey cause brain injuries or concussions due to the accelerations induced in the brain matter. Helmets provide a form of head protection; however, brain injuries or concussions continue to occur. This study examined the effect of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) linings inserted in a hockey helmet in mitigating linear accelerations across different impact locations.

Methods: A helmet mounted on a surrogate headform attached to a mechanical neck received linear impacts at the front, side and back locations via a horizontal air driven impactor rod. At each location, triaxial accelerometers instrumented in the headform measured the linear accelerations at different impact speeds under a helmet with TPU linings and without TPU linings. Measures of percentage reduction of the helmet with TPU linings relative to the helmet without TPU linings provided information on the effectiveness of mitigation of impact to the head.

Results: The results obtained so far showed that the TPU linings inserted in the helmet reduced the linear acceleration across all impact locations of the helmet. The percentage reduction ranged from 11% to 38%.

Conclusion: The use of TPU linings inserted in a helmet seems to provide a means to improve helmet protection and sheds light on future research to examine the effect of these linings in minimizing rotational accelerations and shear forces also known to cause concussions.

Poster #34

The Comparison of Neck Strength between Healthy and Concussed Adolescent Athletes on Measures of Linear Acceleration across Helmet Impact Locations using a Surrogate Headform

Jasmine Ferdousi

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Carlos Zerpa

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Neck musculature plays a critical role in head stabilization to prevent the brain from hitting the skull during impact. Concussion prevention must go beyond wearing a helmet and include neck strength training as another avenue to protect young athletes' functionality in sports.

Methods: Using secondary data from Collins et al. 2014, the neck strength average measures of concussed adolescent athletes (8.04lbs, 3.65kg, 35.77N) and healthy adolescent athletes (9.54lbs, 4.34kg, 42.53N) provided the calibration information for a mechanical neckform. The neckform mounted under a pediatric surrogate headform attached to a linear impactor. Researchers fitted a helmet to the headform and impacted it at three different locations (front, back and side), 15 times per location with speeds ranging from 1.82m/s to 5.39m/s. The dependent variable included linear acceleration and independent variables included impact location and neck strength level. Results: The results revealed no significant interaction effect between location and neck strength level, F(2,84)=0.024, p=0.976, n2=0.003 on measures of linear impact acceleration. The main effects, however, indicated a difference between locations, F(2,84)=6.704, p=0.002, n2=0.138 with the front location having significantly higher linear acceleration measures than the side and back locations.

Conclusion: Decreased impact acceleration to the head due to neck strength may relate to decreased severity of a concussion. Although the outcome of this study did not support this hypothesis, the results highlight a limitation of helmets in protecting the head against impacts across different locations.

Poster #35

Validating a New Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Self-Report Scale

Helen Otterman

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Vicki Kristman

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Dave McKee

Sports Medicine Clinic, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is estimated to have an incidence of 600 cases per 100,000 people each year. This estimation; however, is based off hospital admission data alone, which likely underestimates the true incidence in the population as those sustaining a concussion do not always seek medical care for their injury. The objective of this study is to assess the validity of an instrument designed to ascertain the true annual incidence of MTBI in the general population.

Methods: We surveyed 142 patients seeking care for concussion and nonconcussion injuries at the Lakehead University Sports Medicine Clinic from September to December 2018. The survey included measures of self-reported MTBI symptoms and a disability scale adapted from the von Korff Chronic Pain Questionnaire.

Results: A Symptom Intensity Score (SIS) measuring symptom severity, and Degree of Disability Score (DDS) measuring symptom interference were determined by 10-point scales. SIS was highly correlated to the number of symptoms experienced after a head injury (r=0.8148 to 0.8457, p=<0.0001), as was DDS (r=0.6606 to 0.7245, p=<0.0001). From these scores, an MTBI grade was established, which was associated with an almost doubling in the proportion of respondents who reported experiencing unconsciousness and memory loss with each MTBI grade increase.

Conclusion: We anticipate that our survey will be an accurate and reliable measure of determining the annual incidence of MTBI in the general population. This estimation is important, as those who do not seek treatment for MTBI may have different health outcomes.

Poster #36

The Effect of Taping on the Foot to Determine Centre of Pressure and Sway while Balancing on a Stable versus Foam Surface over an AMTI Force Platform

Kaitlynn Gilmor

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Paolo Sanzo

Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: The first metatarsophalangeal joint is essential for weight-bearing activities and absorbing twice the amount of weight in relation to the other digits. There is limited research exploring the treatment effects of corrective taping commonly applied to this joint for injury and how this alters biomechanics and performance. This pilot study examined the effects of taping on the area, velocity, and length of centre of pressure sway under different taping conditions (Leukotape-PTM, zinc oxide, no tape) and surfaces (stable, foam).

Methods: Participants stood on a force platform on two different surfaces (stable and foam) and balanced on their dominant foot with and without the application of tape for 15 seconds. Trajectory plots for area (cm2), average velocity (cm/sec), and length (cm) under each condition were recorded. A twoway ANOVA was used to analyze the data with a significance level of p<0.05.

Results: Thirty-three individuals participated in this study (19 males, 14 females; aged M=20.73 years, SD=1.65; height M=175.59 cm, SD=8.70; mass M=81.39 kg, SD= 15.70). There were no statistically significant interaction effects between taping condition and surface type, or main effects for taping condition on the area, velocity, and length of centre of pressure sway. There were statistically significant main effects for surface type on the area, F(1, 192)=54.1, p=.0001, velocity, F(1,192)=38.34, p=.0001, and length of centre of pressure sway, F(1,192)=38.31, p=.0001.

Conclusion: Further research is required using alternative dynamic rather than static methods of analysis to explore the utility of taping and how this may help patients that have sustained foot injuries.

Poster #37

The Effect of Taping on Electromyographic Activity of the Peroneus Longus and Tibialis Anterior Muscles during the Modified-Y Star Excursion Balance Test

Alyssa Poulin

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Paolo Sanzo

School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Taping is commonly applied to treat heel pain or overpronation disorders but the exact utility and effects of the tape are not known. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used as a predictive and diagnostic tool and exercise for balance foot disorders. The original test protocol has been shortened and named the modified-Y SEBT. To examine the effects of tape applied to the foot compared to no tape on the electromyographical (EMG) activity in tibialis anterior (TA) and peroneus longus (PL) when completing the modified-Y SEBT.

Methods: Sixteen healthy participants (male n=9; female n=7; age=23.63±2.63 years; mass 73.53±11.74 kg; height 175±9.77 cm) completed this study. After obtaining ethical approval and consent, the skin was prepared, EMG electrodes applied, and participants asked to reach into three directions for the modified-Y SEBT with and without low dye taping. The mean absolute EMG activity in the TA and PL muscles was recorded for the three directions. A two-way ANOVA was used to examine the interaction effects between the type of tape and reaching directions when completing the modified-Y SEBT for each muscle. Results: There were no significant interaction effects on type of tape and reaching direction for the modified-Y SEBT. There was also no significant main effect for type of tape or reaching direction.

Conclusion: The application of tape did not affect the mean EMG activity of either muscle when completing the modified-Y SEBT. Further research exploring kinetic and kinematic changes is warranted to more fully understand the effects of low dye taping.

Poster #38

Changing Coupling Between the Arms and Legs with Slow Walking Speeds Alters Neural Control

Taryn Klarner School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University

Background/Objectives: Understanding the dynamic interactions between arm and leg coordination is important as it has been suggested that arm activity be integrated into locomotor rehabilitation where rhythmic activities in the arm may alter leg activity via interlimb spinal pathways. The normal 1:1 frequency ratio that exists at normal walking speeds changes to a 2:1 ratio at slow walking speeds. It is hypothesized that this change in interlimb frequency results in a change in nervous system control.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of changing walking speed and interlimb coordination on the modulation of cutaneous reflexes. Participants walked in four combinations of walking speed (normal, slow) and interlimb coordination (1:1, and 2:1) and cutaneous reflexes and background muscle activity were evaluated following stimulation applied to the superficial peroneal nerve at the ankle and superficial radial nerve at the wrist.

Results: Results show that neural control is dependent on interlimb coordination and walking speed and effects are largest in the swing phase when walking is unstable. A directional coupling of arm to leg interlimb control was also observed where arm perturbations had a greater effect on leg activity instead of the reverse. These results continue to elucidate spinal connections between the arms and legs and their role during walking.

Conclusion: Understanding the underlying neural mechanisms for the organization of rhythmic arm movement, and its coordination with the legs, can give insight into pathological walking, and will enable development of effective strategies for rehabilitation of walking.

Poster #39

Association of Modifiable Risk Factors with Bone Mineral Density among Women with Distal Radius Fracture: A Cross Sectional Study

Neha Dewan

Health Sciences, Lakehead University

Joy MacDermid

Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University

Ruby Grewal

Surgery, Western University

Karen Beattie

Medicine, McMaster University

Background/Objectives: Distal Radius Fracture (DRF) is an early and independent predictor of future osteoporotic (OP) fractures. Currently, there are no studies evaluating the role of modifiable risk factors on OP fracture risk in PMW with DRF. To determine the extent to which modifiable risk factors such as balance, muscle strength and physical activity can explain variability in bone mineral density (BMD) among post-menopausal women (PMW) with DRF

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation of baseline data. 50-80 year old PMW with DRF were assessed for balance, musclestrength (grip strength, plantar-flexion) and physical activity using reliable and validated measures. Dual-energy-X-ray-absorptiometry was used to assess areal-BMD at femoral-neck (BMD-FN) and total-hip (BMD-TH). Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the extent to which modifiable risk-factors (predictor) could explain variability in the BMD (outcome) in overall and agestratified sample.

Results: 66 women (mean age: 62.12±7.45 years) with completed data were analyzed. Hand grip strength was the only independent predictor explaining 15% (F=11.26, p=0.001)and 6% (F=4.18, p=0.04) of total variability in BMD-FN and BMD-TH respectively. Balance (R2=0.10, F=4.35, p=0.04) and hand grip strength (R2=0.32, F=10.78, p=0.003) alone explained significant variability in BMD-FN among 50-64 year (n=41) and among 65-80 year (n=25) old PMW with DRF respectively.

Conclusion: Hand grip strength is the independent predictor of femoral neck and total hip BMD in PMW with DRF. We recommend evaluation of hand grip strength and balance as a component of OP risk factor assessment among PMW with DRF.

Poster #40

Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches to Fibromyalgia

Management: Quantification of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Function and Evaluation of Radial Shockwave Therapy

Martina Agostino

Biology, Lakehead University

Paolo Sanzo

Lakehead University

Bryan MacLeod

St. Joseph's Care Group

Wesley Fidler

St. Joseph's Care Group

Simon Lees

Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)

Background/Objectives: Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes a widespread heightened sensitivity to pain, along with other somatic symptoms. It is usually diagnosed after other conditions with similar symptoms have been eliminated as there are no clear diagnostic or treatment methods. The aim of current research is to focus on developing a diagnostic and treatment method to aid in understanding this complex and misunderstood disorder.

Methods: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were quantified from stimulated and unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of seven healthy controls (HCs) and nine fibromyalgia participants (FMPs). FMPs were randomly assigned to either the radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) intervention treatment (n=4) or placebo (n=5) groups using minimisation. IL-6 concentrations were quantified for FMPs before beginning and after completing once weekly RSWT intervention sessions for five weeks.

Results: PBMCs from FMPs exhibited the ability to respond to stimulation and increase IL-6 release >1500-fold (HCs increased IL-6 release ~1700-fold). However, the IL-6 concentration was 58.8 ± 27.8 pg/mL in unstimulated PBMCs collected pre-intervention from FMPs, compared to 13.5 ± 3.7 for HCs (p=0.089). In addition, the treatment group exhibited a non-significant increase in IL-6 release from stimulated PBMCs, compared to pre-intervention values (p=0.108).

Conclusion: Higher pre-intervention IL-6 release from unstimulated PMBCs in FMPs compared to HCs (p=0.089) might indicate that PBMCs isolated from FMPs have a low-grade inflammatory profile. A larger sample size is required to establish if the inflammatory profile is altered in PBMCs in FM.

Author List

Martina Agostino Lakehead University magosti1@lakeheadu.ca

Manal M. Alzghoul Lakehead University Malzghou@lakeheadu.ca

Joshua Armstrong Lakehead University joshua.j.armstrong@gmail.com

Victoria Barabash Queen's University tori.barabash@queensu.ca

Juliana Barbosa

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil julianaferso@gmail.com

Karen Beattie McMaster University beattik@mcmaster.ca

Lisa Beckwick St. Joseph's Care Group beckwicl@tbh.net

Michel Bédard

St. Joseph’s Care Group mbedard@lakeheadu.ca

Marlene Benvenuto St. Joseph's Care Group benvenum@tbh.net

Sadhana Bhagwat WHO India aviralmandu@gmail.com

Lisa Bishop

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre bishopl@tbh.net

Supuneet Bismil

Northern Ontario School of Medicine bismils@tbh.net

Jay Blain

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care JayBlain@dilico.com

Tina Bobinski

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care TinaBobinski@dilico.com

Hillary Bohler

Northern Ontario School of Medicine hbohler@nosm.ca

Regan Bolduc

Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association rbolduc@thunderbay.ca

Kara Boles

Lakehead University kboles@lakeheadu.ca

Mandy Byerley-Vita byerleym@tbh.net

Joanna Carastathis

Thunder Bay District Health Unit joanna.carastathis@tbdhu.com

Margaret Cernigoj

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Margaret.cernigoj@gmail.com

Chiachen Cheng

St. Joseph’s Care Group chcheng@nosm.ca

Robin Cooper

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Robin.Cooper@TBDHU.com

Marc Corbière

Université du Québec à Montréal corbiere.marc@uqam.ca

Jasmine Cotnam

Women's College Research Institute jasminec@caan.ca

Shayna Cummings Lakehead University slcummin@lakeheadu.ca

Alannah Dart Lakehead University Sophia.Wenzel@tbdhu.com

Eve Deck Lakehead University edeck0@lakeheadu.ca

Laura Deschamps Lakehead University lldescha@lakeheadu.ca

Neha Dewan Lakehead University ndewan@lakeheadu.ca

John Dixon

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care JohnDixon@dilico.com

Mary Donaghy St. Joseph's Care Group donaghym@tbh.net

Alexandra Drawson St. Joseph's Care Group drawsona@tbh.net

Sacha Dubois

Northern Ontario School of Medicine sdubois@nosm.ca

Jason Dulude Dilico Anishinabek Family Care JasonDulude@dilico.com

Brian Dunn Lakehead University brian.dunn@oxon.org

Doug Eddington St. Joseph’s Care Group eddingtd@tbh.net

Elaine Edwards TBRHSC edwardse@tbh.net

Victoria Ewen Lakehead University vewen@lakeheadu.ca

Jasmine Ferdousi Lakehead University jferdous@lakeheadu.ca

Kassandra Fernandes Lakehead University kfernan2@lakeheadu.ca

Christiana J. G. Fidler Lakehead Univeristy cgoetz1@lakeheadu.ca

Wesley Fidler St. Joseph's Care Group wfidler@tbaytel.net

Andrea Fortin Lakehead University afortin2@lakeheadu.ca

Shauna Fossum Lakehead University snfossum@lakeheadu.ca

Author List

Stacey Freemantle St. Joseph's Care Group freemans@tbh.net

Lindsay Galway Lakehead University lgalway@lakeheadu.ca

Kevin Gardam Lakehead University kjgardam@lakeheadu.ca

Kaitlynn Gilmor Lakehead University kgilmor@lakeheadu.ca

Christiana Goetz Lakehead University cgoetz1@lakeheadu.ca

Fernando Gomez Universidad de Caldas gomez.montes@ucaldas.edu.co

Ruby Grewal

Western University rgrewa@uwo.ca

John M. Haggarty

Northern Ontario School of Medicine haggartyj@tbh.net

Karen Harlos

University of Winnipeg ka.harlos@uwinnipeg.ca

M. Grace Herring

Lakehead University mherring@lakeheadu.ca

Angela Hill

Children's Centre Thunder Bay ahill@childrenscentre.ca

Sharon Jaspers TBRHSC jasperss@tbh.net

Justine Jecker Lakehead University jjecker@lakeheadu.ca

Hillary Jones Lakehead University hjones@lakeheadu.ca

Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio Lakehead University Kristen.Jones@lakeheadu.ca

Chakshu Joshi WHO India aviralmandu@gmail.com

Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan Lakehead University akariapa@lakeheadu.ca

Mandavi Kashyap gck Consulting & hme Enterprises aviralmandu@gmail.com

Beverley Kelley

North West LHIN beverley.kelley@lhins.on.ca

Rebecca Kennedy Lakehead University rakenne1@lakeheadu.ca

Niki Kiepek

Dalhousie University niki.kiepek@dal.ca

Amy Killen

Children's Centre Thunder Bay akillen@childrenscentre.ca

Author List

Taryn Klarner Lakehead University tklarner@lakeheadu.ca

Rupert Klein Lakehead University rgklein@lakeheadu.ca

Anna Kone Pefoyo Lakehead University akonepe@lakeheadu.ca

Andrew Koscielniak St. Joseph's Care Group kosciela@tbh.net

Ashish Krishna WHO India aviralmandu@gmail.com

Vicki Kristman Lakehead University vkristman@lakeheadu.ca

Adam Krupper City of Thunder Bay akrupper@thunderbay.ca

Gaurav Kumar WHO India aviralmandu@gmail.com

Abhishek Kunwar WHO India aviralmandu@gmail.com

Mark Lavallee-Demers lavalmar@tbh.net

Simon Lees

Northern Ontario School of Medicine simonjlees@gmail.com

Carole Lem

St. Joseph’s Care Group lemc@tbh.net

Danielle Lesschaeve lesschad@tbh.net

Tiffany Leung

Lakehead University tleung1@lakeheadu.ca

Shalyn Littlefield

Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute littlefs@tbh.net

Meilan Liu

Lakehead University mliu@lakeheadu.ca

Joy MacDermid

Western University jmacderm@uwo.ca

Bryan MacLeod

St. Joseph's Care Group bmacleod@nosm.ca

Mariah Maddock

Canadian Mental Health Association mmaddock@cmha-tb.on.ca

Nyasha Makuto

Lakehead University namakuto@lakeheadu.ca

Ishaq Malik

Lakehead University imalik3@lakeheadu.ca

Carlina Marchese

Lakehead University cmarches@lakeheadu.ca

Lynn Martin Lakehead University lynn.martin@lakeheadu.ca

Hillary Maxwell

St. Joseph's Care Group maxwellh@tbh.net

Tyler McDougall

Lakehead University tamcdoug@lakeheadu.ca

Kyle McGillivray Lakehead University kmcgilli@lakeheadu.ca

Daniel McGrath

University of Calgary daniel.mcgrath@ucalgary.ca

Dave McKee Lakehead University dave.mckee@lakeheadu.ca

Hilary Mettam

St. Joseph's Care Group mettamh@tbh.net

Helle Moeller Lakehead University hmoeller@lakeheadu.ca

Dr. Jodie Murphy-Oikonen Lakehead University jlmurph1@lakeheadu.ca

Aislin Mushquash Lakehead University amushqua@lakeheadu.ca

Christopher Mushquash Lakehead University chris.mushquash@lakeheadu.ca

Shevaun Nadin Lakehead University snadin@lakeheadu.ca

Brian Nieminen bnieminen@shaw.ca

Helen Otterman Lakehead University hotterma@lakeheadu.ca

Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz

Queen's University helene.kuntz@queensu.ca

Natalie Paavola

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care NataliePaavola@dilico.com

Ashley Palmer Lakehead University adkallos@lakeheadu.ca

Erin Pearson Lakehead University espearso@lakeheadu.ca

Sharon Pitawanakwat

Canadian Mental Health Association spitawanakwat@cmha-tb.on.ca

Alyssa Poulin Lakehead University acpoulin@lakeheadu.ca

Eryk Przysucha

Lakehead University eprzysuc@lakeheadu.ca

Kristine Quaid

St. Joseph's Care Group quaidk@tbh.net

Author List

Jonathon Racine Lakehead Univsersity jracine@lakeheadu.ca

Edward Rawana

Lakehead University erawana@lakeheadu.ca

Karen Roberts

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre robertka@tbh.net

Paolo Sanzo

Lakehead University psanzo@lakeheadu.ca

Erica Sawula

Thunder Bay District Health Unit erica.sawula@tbdhu.com

Sara T. Sayed

Lakehead University ssayed1@lakeheadu.ca

Deborah Scharf Lakehead University dscharf1@lakeheadu.ca

Fred Schmidt

Children's Centre Thunder Bay fschmidt@childrenscentre.ca

Matt Schmidt

St. Joseph's Care Group schmidma@tbh.net

Rachael Shaffer

Lakehead University Rachael.Shaffer@tbdhu.com

William Shaw

University of Connecticut wshaw@uchc.edu

Suyash Shrivastava WHO India aviralmandu@gmail.com

Lee Sieswerda

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Lee.Sieswerda@TBDHU.com

Kathryn Sinden

Lakehead University ksinden@lakeheadu.ca

Lyne Soramaki

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Sophia.Wenzel@tbdhu.com

Michelle Spadoni

Lakehead University mmspadon@lakeheadu.ca

Abi Sprakes

Thunder Bay Counselling Centre Abi.Sprakes@tbaycounselling.com

Mirella Stroink

Lakehead University mstroink@lakeheadu.ca

Margaret Sweet

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre sweetm@tbh.net

Elaine Toombs Lakehead University etoombs@lakeheadu.ca

Roxanne Turuba

Lakehead University rturuba@lakeheadu.ca

Afshin Vafaei

Lakehead University avafaei@lakeheadu.ca

Author List

Liesha Vannieuwenhuizen Lakehead University lvannieuwenhuizen@childrenscentre.ca

Chris Viel

Lakehead University cdviel@lakeheadu.ca

Bruce Weaver Lakehead University bweaver@lakeheadu.ca

Sophia Wenzel

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Sophia.Wenzel@tbdhu.com

Anish Yadav Lakehead University ayadav@lakeheadu.ca

Heather Zachozy St. Joseph’s Care Group zachozyh@tbh.net

Carlos Zerpa Lakehead University czerpa@lakeheadu.ca

CAHR Award

The CAHR Learner Award is a monetary prize awarded to the highest ranked learner/ student poster at the Showcase. Presentations must be on a topic relevant to St. Joseph’s Care Group (addictions & mental health, seniors’ health, or rehabilitative care). As well, the candidate must the presenter and first author, a learner or student at Lakehead University or Northern Ontario Medical School, and under the supervision of a CAHR member.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the following individuals for their work on the Showcase!

Remo D’Angelo Corporate LearningFacilitator Corporate Learning

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Duncan Koza Website & Graphics Developer

Communications, Engagement & Client Relations

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Erin Paul Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Communications, Engagement & Client Relations

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Lisa Beckwick Director Organizational & People Development

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Michel Bédard Scientific Director

Centre for Applied Health Research

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Sacha Dubois Research Statistician

Centre for Applied Health Research

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Hillary Maxwell Research Coordinator

Centre for Applied Health Research

St. Joseph’s Care Group