Get Involved With Our Research Postings!

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY/ THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Project Title: Assessing the Patient, Provider and Policy Impacts of a Positive Airway Pressure Device Recall for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation

End Date: June 2023

Website/Link: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_5aQkIgvUSP0SHBk?Q_CHL=qr

In June 2021, Philips Respironics issued a voluntary recall of positive airway pressure (PAP) devices over concerns about potential health risks due to the breakdown of polyurethane foam used in many of their devices distributed between 2009–2021. Researchers from the University of Calgary and University of Ottawa are interviewing healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers from across Canada who have been affected by or involved in this recall. Interviews with family physicians include discussions of how the recall has affected both physicians and their patients, how well physicians think the recall has been handled, and physicians’ recommendations for improvement. Study objectives include assessing the recall’s impact across Canada, collecting recommendations from those affected, and sharing findings and recommendations with policy- and decision-makers.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Project Title: Building research supports services for family physicians

End Date: June 2023

Website/Link: https://redcap.ualberta.ca/surveys/?s=LENXTWPFC3LFTPPY

Family physicians are the first point of contact for community members, and as such are ideally situated to reach a larger research participant population. We at University of Alberta’s Clinical Trial Office (CTO) want to learn what interest in contributing to research exists amongst family physicians in Alberta. We also want to get a sense of what research supports are currently available to family physicians within their communities, what gaps may exist in these services, and where there may be opportunities to develop these relationships and supports. Your responses will inform us of what the barriers to research participation for family physicians and their patients currently are, and guide us in tailoring our research supports to better serve the community. 

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Project Title: The Impact of Virtual Care on Decision-Making Capacity Assessments (DMCAs)

Project End Date: March 31, 2023

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/99H5S3Y

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, decision-making capacity assessments have been done face-to-face. During the pandemic, DMCAs have been done virtually, in addition to face-to-face assessments. We invite you to participate in a survey on The Impact of Virtual Care on Decision-Making Capacity Assessments (DMCAs) – Study ID: Pro00110017. The survey will determine the characteristics of DMCAs done virtually. The survey is anonymous and participation is voluntary. The results of this study will be used to inform future virtual DMCAs.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Project Title: Developing a roadmap for early diagnosis and rapid referral of probable ALS cases to specialist care using a Tableau Dashboard and Human-Centred Design Methods

Project End Date: July 15, 2022 (Tentative)

Website: albertaplp.ca

We are recruiting physicians from various groups, including family physicians, to participate in a brief (~30 min) semi-structured interview via Zoom or a phone call. This project aims to gather information on the diagnostic experience of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and understand physician experiences when they are referred patients who may have ALS. As ALS is diagnosed by ruling out other diagnoses, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis in a multidisciplinary ALS clinic can be drawn out. When a diagnosis is delayed, patients may no longer be eligible for standard of care medications ultimately affecting their prognosis. Therefore, we are aiming to collect information on experiences from initial symptom onset to the time that an individual first enters an ALS specialty clinic. We will interview patients with ALS as well as physicians who encounter patients with ALS at some point throughout their referral pathway. We would like to understand challenges and barriers to identify areas in the referral process that can be improved. This project is being conducted by the Kaye Edmonton ALS Clinic and the Physician Learning Program. 

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Project Title: Developing Education for Family Physicians on Supporting Family Caregivers

Project End Date: July 2022

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5TGQVLX

Help us build education for Family Physicians on supporting family caregivers. Are you Family Physician who is caring for patients with chronic illness, disability or frailty? Do you interact with family caregivers of such patients?

The objective of this survey is to understand, and to receive input, from Family Physicians on their educational needs to support family caregivers.

Family caregivers provide 75-90% of the care to children and adults living in community homes with serious illness, disability, or frailty. About 70% of the Canadians providing care without pay to a family member, chosen family, friend, or neighbor.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Project Title: Development of Referral Templates to Assist Family Medicine Physicians Referring Patients to Specialist Otolaryngology Care

Project End Date: September 2022

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/5QveEwFWgPKwe6dv9

Primary care practitioners (PCPs) are often the first physicians to see patients with complaints affecting the head and neck. However, there is limited training within medical school and residency to support education surrounding otolaryngologic conditions. Naturally, this indicates the need to support colleagues in general practice.

The referral process provides a strong opportunity for development. The creation of comprehensive referral templates to assist PCPs will streamline the referral process leading to improved access to specialist otolaryngology care for patients. We aim to complete a needs assessment by surveying 50 Alberta PCPs comprising rural and urban regions to identify their top five presenting otolaryngologic complaints. Of those five, we will ask which two are of highest yield for the development of a referral template. We will utilize the Delphi method with aims of generating an expert consensus on what should be included in a standard otolaryngologic referral comprising these complaints. This will involve the convening of two panels comprised of both otolaryngologists and PCPs to develop the two referral letter templates for the complaints previously determined from the needs assessment. Of note, not every PCP will participate in this panel, and no information will be collected by the PCP. 

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

Project Title: Physician motivation towards tele-healthcare: A cross-sectional look at the workplace needs and well-being of family doctors in Alberta

Project End Date: September 2022

Survey Link: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_cOqtzUNWampm45M

Family physicians (FPs) have rapidly had to shift to using virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact this move has had on their work-related motivation and well-being remains unclear. You are invited to participate in a brief survey, to help us understand your perceptions about virtual care and how it impacts your sense of motivation and wellness as a FP in Alberta. Further information about this study and a link to the survey are provided herein. Your participation is very much appreciated. 

This study has been approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB21-1440).