2018 CAHR Annual Report

2018 Annual Report

Mandate

The Centre for Applied Health Research conducts high quality research, engages in knowledge translation, and supports St. Joseph's Care Group in the creation of new knowledge relevant to: Rehabilitative Care, Seniors' Health, and Addictions & Mental Health.

Objectives

• Create new knowledge relevant to the organization

• Adopt strategies to enhance knowledge translation activities

• Support the development of research capacity within the organization

• Contribute expertise to facilitate evaluation activities

"Researchisacriticalandvitalelementofthe workwedoatSt.Joseph'sCareGroup.The supportandmentorshipprovidedtoresearchers bytheCentreforAppliedHealthResearch(CAHR)

isessentialtothedevelopmentofevidence-based clinicalpractice.TheworkofCAHRdemonstrates oneofthewaysinwhichwearedeliveringonour promisetoprovideinnovativeandprogressive qualitycareforourclients."

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

CAHR Membership

CAHR members comprise both St. Joseph’s Care Group staff and external researchers whose interests align with those of the Care Group. Members are eligible for seed funding (when available) and have access to other forms of support such as project and statistical consultation. Visit the www.cahr.sjcg.net website for more information on becoming a CAHR member.

Alongside all of our members, I am proud to highlight the achievements of the Centre for Applied Health Research (CAHR) over the past year. Our 2018 report celebrates our productivity and innovation, and shines a light on our dedicated community of researchers working to create new knowledge relevant to St. Joseph’s Care Group. This report also gives us the opportunity to reflect on how we have evolved in the three years following our first annual report. Since 2015, we have added 29 new members, and as such have seen our peer-reviewed publications grow by more than 45% and conference presentations by nearly 60%. Our annual Showcase of Health Research has also expanded. Recognizing the need for increased capacity, we switched Showcase venues in 2018. The event can now accommodate a growing number of attendees, as well as space for an additional 10 poster presentations, providing opportunities for more researchers, students, and clinicians to share and learn about the innovative research taking place in Northwestern Ontario.

Internally, the demand for research and evaluation support within St. Joseph’s Care Group is higher than ever. CAHR staff provided expertise to nearly 40 projects in 2018, denoting a doubling of support since 2015, and indicating a strong focus on quality improvement.

It is clear that the CAHR is succeeding in facilitating and creating new knowledge, supporting knowledge dissemination, developing research capacity, and contributing to evaluation activities. We look forward to another year of meeting these important objectives.

Sincerely,

Message from the Scientific Director

Michel Bédard, PhD

Impact by the Numbers

The CAHR and its members made a big impression in 2018.

Peer-reviewed Publications K

$

3.3 Million In External Research Funding

47 Presentations at the CAHR Showcase of Health Research

71 Presentations at Conferences

Internal Projects

44 Total Members 6 Trainees

2018markedthe13th anniversaryoftheAnnualShowcaseofHealthResearch.OnMarch2,over 200healthcareprofessionals,studentsandresearchersfromavarietyoforganizations gatheredtosee8oraland38posterpresentationsmadebyhealthresearchers.

Highlighting our Members

Dr.AislinMushquash, Ph.D.,C.Psych.isanAssistant ProfessorintheDepartmentofPsychologyatLakeheadUniversity. Herresearchfocusesonunderstandingandaddressing maladaptivecopingbehaviours.InadditiontoherroleatLakehead University,Dr.MushquashisaClinicalPsychologistwiththe ThunderBayRegionalHealthSciencesCentre-PaediatricHealthy LivingProgram,aspecializedfamily-basedprogramforchildren and youth living with obesity and associated comorbidities. Dr. Mushquashprovidespsychologicalassessment,treatment,and consultationservicesinthisrole.Shealsoconductsresearchon treatmentapproachesandaccesstocareforthispopulation.

“TheCAHRShowcaseofHealthResearchhasprovidedan excellentlocalopportunitytodisseminatemyresearchfindings andconnectwithcolleaguesandstudentsacrossmultiplehealthrelatedfields.Theconsultationandstatisticalexpertiseavailable throughtheCAHRhasalsobeenveryhelpfulacrossanumberof myrecentprojects.Allofmycurrentgraduatestudents(Alexandra Popowich,ShakiraMohammed,andAngelaMacIsaac)have receivedsupportfortheirresearchinmylaboratorythroughthe CAHRAwardinAppliedHealthResearch.“

Jessica Lowey recently completed her NOHFC internship with the CAHR. “Theprogram allowedmetoprimarilyfocusonstrengtheningtheresearchcyclephasesIhadtheleastamount ofexperiencein(dataanalysisandmanuscriptpreparation).TheCAHRinternshipprogram providedmewithchallengingopportunitiestoapplytheknowledgegainedduringmyacademic careerandadvancemyprofessionalcareerinhealthresearch.”