The Health Research Fund is administered by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research on behalf of Alberta Health and Wellness.
(From 2000 Competition)
| Total Projects Funded: | 24 |
| Total Commitment: | $1,871,000 over two years |
| EDMONTON | |
| 1. Do pesticides affect the health of farmers? | |
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Two thousand farmers currently engaged in grain farming will be surveyed to assess ill health associated with pesticides. | |
| Title: |
"Pesticide use and the health of farmers" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Nicola Cherry, Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2003 |
| 2. What motivates people to become involved in community health centres? | |
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This study assesses a commonly used tool called Functional Capacity Evaluation for how valid it is in predicting successful return to work after back pain. | |
| Title: | "Approaches to citizen participation in community health centres—a comparative study" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. John Church, Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Northeast Community Health Centre, Edmonton; Boyle MacCauley Community Health Centre, Edmonton; 8th and 8th Health Centre, Calgary; Alexandra Community Health Centre, Calgary; Capital Health Authority; Calgary Regional Health Authority; SSHRC/NHRDP Health and Canadian Society |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
September, 2003 |
| 3. How valid is a clinical measurement tool commonly used by clinicians to determine when people with lower back pain should return to work? | |
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This study assesses a commonly used tool called Functional Capacity Evaluation for how valid it is in predicting successful return to work. | |
| Title: | "Functional Capacity Evaluation: Its role in predicting successful return to work following back injury" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Michele Crites Battie, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Workers Compensation Board—Alberta, Millard Centre; The Cooperators General Insurance Company |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
December 1, 2003 |
| 4. Does an education program for elementary and junior high school children help prevent eating disorders? | |
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This study will work with grades 5 and 7 students in an education program aimed at preventing eating disorders through education about body acceptance and self-esteem. | |
| Title: | "Evaluation of eating disorder prevention in schools—a wellness approach" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Dianne Drummond, Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Health Centre |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Alberta; Children's Mental Health; Capital Health Authority; Caritas Research |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
November 10, 2003 |
| 5. How long do colorectal and lung cancer patients have to wait between diagnosis and treatment? | |
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Colorectal and lung cancers are the two most common cancers in Alberta. This project will describe the waiting time from first contact with the health system to treatment, using two years of data from the Alberta Cancer Board. | |
| Title: | "Waiting time in diagnosis and definitive treatment of lung cancer and colorectal cancer" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Juanita Hatcher, Alberta Cancer Board, Cross Cancer Institute |
| Affliated institution: |
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2002 |
| 6. Can specific quality of life measures be used to make decisions about diabetes prevention and control? | |
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This study will use quality of life measures specific to the side-effects of diabetes-such as vision loss, dexterity, movement and pain-that ultimately can be used to support decisions about health care services in communities. | |
| Title: | "Health Utilities Index Mark 3 in Diabetes: evaluating the construct validity from population health survey data" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton |
| Affliated institution: |
University of British Columbia, University of Manitoba, Manitoba Health, Dalhousie University, University of Alberta |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
December 31, 2002 |
| 7. What are the outcomes of using a diabetes drug that helps control blood sugar? | |
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In a British study, a drug used to control blood sugar is associated with increased diabetes-related death. Dr. Johnson will use databases from Saskatchewan Health that track the use of the drug in diabetics over a five-year period to see if the statistical outcomes support those of the British study. | |
| Title: | "Pharmacoepidemiological study of Metformin and clinical outcomes in diabetes mellitus using the linked databases of Saskatchewan Health" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, Institute of Health Economics and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Institute of Health Economics; Alliance for Canadian Health Outcomes Research in Diabetes |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
October 31, 2002 |
| 8. Can intensive group treatment be made more effective in helping people with borderline personality disorder? | |
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Dr. Joyce will compare the forms of depression specifically associated with borderline personality disorder patients with those of non-BPD patients in order to develop effective treatment. | |
| Title: | "Borderline personality disorder and intensive group therapy" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Anthony Joyce, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Alberta Hospital Foundation; Alberta Health Sciences Research Institute |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
July 31, 2003 |
| 9. What is the medical cost of caring for low-birth weight babies from birth to school age? | |
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This study, which will use both Alberta and Manitoba data, hopes to provide detailed information about the economic consequences of low birth weight. | |
| Title: | "Direct medical costs of low birth weight from birth to seven years of age in two Canadian provinces" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Christine Newburn-Cook, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Manitoba, University of Calgary, Alberta Health and Wellness, Institute of Health Economics |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
July 1, 2003 |
| 10. What factors can help type I and type II diabetics improve their exercise behaviour? | |
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Exercise provides physical and psychological benefits to diabetics, yet more than 50% of diabetics don't exercise more than once a week. Dr. Plotnikoff will work with diabetics to determine what factors can motivate them to exercise. The final phase of the project will be focused on developing interventions to help diabetics exercise more. | |
| Title: | "Exercise behaviour of community adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes: the determinants of exercise behaviour change" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Ronald Plotnikoff, Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Ottawa, Alberta Health and Wellness, Capital Health Authority, Canadian Diabetes Association, Alberta-NWT Division, Calgary Regional Health Authority |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
September 1, 2003 |
| 11. Can support for adolescents with Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy be provided on-line? | |
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People with Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy are prone to social isolation, loneliness, and social and behavioural problems. The study will determine if an on-line social support intervention is helpful for adolescents in reducing the risk of social and behavioural problems. | |
| Title: | "On-line support for adolescents with Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Miriam Stewart, Director, Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Psychology Services; Faculties of Nursing and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta; Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 1, 2003 |
| 12. Can a successful intervention program be designed to provide social support for homeless youth? | |
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This project will assess the support needs and preferences for support needs of homeless youth in Edmonton and test a pilot intervention program to support them. | |
| Title: | "Support intervention for homeless youth" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Miriam Stewart, Director, Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | 2003 |
| 13. Can young people with autism learn to adjust their language levels? | |
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This study will test autistic young people to determine if they spontaneously adjust language levels in social situations or if they could do so with direction. | |
| Title: | "Adjusting language style in autism" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Joanne Volden, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital; Alberta Children's Service; Allendale Elementary School; Edmonton Autism Society |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2003 |
| 14. What are the causes of obesity in Cree children? | |
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This project will observe 2000 Cree children in Northern Quebec and assess all the factors for children at risk. The results will be used to develop culturally appropriate community-based interventions for obesity. | |
| Title: | "The sociological and biological determinants of overweight in Cree children" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Noreen Willows, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and Home Economics, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
McGill University, Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
May 1, 2003 |
| LETHBRIDGE | |
| 15. Can an education program be developed to improve the prescribing and monitoring of drugs for dementia patients in long-term care facilities? | |
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This study will investigate the effectiveness of a specific education program for caregivers charged with monitoring drug administration for long-term care patients with dementia. | |
| Title: | "Neuroleptic medications in rural and urban long-term care facilities: a randomized trial of physician, nursing staff, and family member education" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Brad Hagen, School of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Calgary; Calgary Regional Health Authority; Chinook Health Region; Headwaters Health Authority; Alzheimer Society of Alberta |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
May 1, 2003 |
| CALGARY | |
| 16. What is the effect on quality of life and on costs of multiple organ failure in the intensive care unit? | |
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This study is one of the first to examine the impact of multiple organ failure on quality of life and costs both in the intensive care unit and after discharge. | |
| Title: | "Impact of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the intensive care unit on quality of life and costs" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Christopher Doig, Division of Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Acute Care Services, Calgary Regional Health Authority |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2003 |
| 17. How effective is public participation in deciding policy on xenotransplantation (transplanting animal organs into humans)? | |
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This study looks at a model of public participation to assess its effectiveness in contributing to a process of national public consultation and policy making about xenotransplantation. | |
| Title: | "Public participation in xenotransplantation: assessment of a controversial health technology" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Edna Einsiedel, Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Health Canada; University of Calgary |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
December 1, 2002 |
| 18. Can services be developed to support the needs of Chinese elders? | |
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The project will assess the prevalence of frailty and needs of Chinese seniors in Calgary, the impact on caring for the elderly within that community, and disseminate the project findings to the Chinese community through bilingual channels in order to develop programs and services. | |
| Title: | "Dealing with frailty of seniors in a Chinese community" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Daniel Lai, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens' Association; Calgary Family Services; Calgary Regional Health Authority |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
August 31, 2003 |
| 19. What are the costs and quality of life of using specific methods to improve dialysis on larger patients? | |
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Dr. Manns will investigate using three different approaches to improve dialysis in larger patients and the costs and quality of life effects of each. | |
| Title: | "An economic evaluation of improving dialysis adequacy in large hemodialysis patients" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Braden Manns, Department of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Calgary; Calgary Regional Health Authority; Kidney Foundation of Canada |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2003 |
| 20. Are there early signs of kidney problems that can be detected from laboratory tests and speed referral to specialists? | |
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This study will assess the effectiveness of using of laboratory prompts, in the form of patient management material from the Canadian Society of Nephrology, to increase the rate of early referrals of patients to kidney specialists. | |
| Title: | "Can laboratory prompts (combined with clinical practice guidelines) increase referral of patients with progressive renal insufficiency to nephrologists in Alberta? " |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Kevin McLaughlin, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Kidney Foundation of Canada; Calgary Laboratory Services; Alberta Health and Wellness |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2003 |
| 21. Can an innovative approach provide a detailed proposal for mental health surveillance? | |
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This project addresses the lack of surveillance data by testing an innovative approach to gathering and updating critical information about the current mental health situation in the province. | |
| Title: | "Population-based mental health/illness surveillance in Alberta " |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Scott Patten, Community Health Sciences & Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Alberta Mental Health Board |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
September 1, 2002 |
| 22. What are the causes and consequences of having children late in life? | |
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The project will assess how women are counseled about the risks of bearing children late in life and the project outcomes will be disseminated to health care audiences though a number of channels. | |
| Title: | "Delayed childbearing in Alberta: causes and consequences" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Suzanne Tough, Department of Pediatrics and Community Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta; Faculty of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba; Capital Health Authority; Calgary Regional Health Authority; Alberta Health and Wellness; United Way of Calgary |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
September 30, 2003 |
| 23. Are there indications that can help early with treatment and prevention of psychosis? | |
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The earlier schizophrenia is treated, the better the chances for learning, employment, and social interaction for patients. This project explores the development of indicators that will help with early intervention for schizophrenia. | |
| Title: | "Selecting and testing quality indicators for evaluating early psychosis treatment and prevention programs " |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Donald Addington, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Alberta Mental Health Board, Calgary Regional Health Authority |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
March 31, 2003 |
| 24. What are the outcomes of early intervention in psychosis? | |
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This project assesses a current Calgary program to determine if early intervention and prevention improves the outcome of schizophrenia over five years. | |
| Title: | "Outcome in early psychosis: a 5-year follow-up " |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Jean Addington, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2003 |