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Item The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study: Implications for Research, Practice, and Policy(2023-04-25) Hall, Steven; Rohatinsky, Noelle; Holtslander, Lorraine; Peacock, ShelleyBackground: A total of 70-80% of community care for older adults is provided by informal or family caregivers. With Canada’s aging population, the number of caregivers to older adults is growing. The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study gathered perspectives and mapped the experiences of caregivers in Saskatchewan and identified their priority support needs. Method: In this qualitative descriptive study, an online qualitative survey asked three open-ended questions regarding: (1) the challenges that caregivers experience; (2) the positive aspects of caregiving; (3) the support needs and priorities of Saskatchewan caregivers. Content analysis was the method used for data analysis. Results: 355 caregivers responded to the survey. The challenges Saskatchewan caregivers reported experiencing are exhaustion, living their own lives, navigating complex systems, self-doubt, and caregiving at a distance. Positive aspects were related to the rewards of caregiving, having the ability and opportunity to care, ensuring quality care for the care recipient, and the experience of personal growth through being a caregiver. Support priorities were help when they need it, an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on, assistance in optimizing the care recipient’s health, having healthcare professionals that care, and improved policies, legislations, and regulations. Discussion: The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study has implications for research, practice, and policy. Caregivers to older adults have previously shared an interest in research engagement. Researchers should capitalize on this interest by co-creating solutions to improve the caregiver experience. In practice, recognition of the caregiver experience by healthcare professionals is essential in planning services to support care recipients and caregivers in ways that are meaningful and effective. In policy, leveraging informal care in place of institutional long-term care has become a key strategy in maintaining healthcare system sustainability. Findings from this study can be used to adapt policies to improve the support that caregivers to older adults receive and facilitate positive aging in the community. Conclusion: By mapping the Saskatchewan caregiver experience, this study can help to inform how communities, governments, and our healthcare system can best support caregivers in their role.Item Queer Caregiving: A Scoping Review of the Lived Experiences of LGBTQ+ Caregivers of Older Adults(Oxford Abstracts, 2023-10-27) Dyck, Darien; Hall, Steven; Hubbard Murdoch, Natasha; Stacey, AdamThe aging population coincides with a higher demand for informal caregivers. An expanding LGBTQ+ community worldwide is accompanied by an increasing number of LGBTQ+ caregivers of older adults. However, the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ caregivers remain poorly understood within the healthcare system. This scoping review compiles literature that highlights the unique challenges, needs, and support systems required by LGBTQ+ caregivers. We used Arksey & O’Malley’s five-step iterative scoping review methodology and identified relevant studies through a search of three electronic databases conducted on May 11, 2023. A total of 57 items were included in this review: 13 quantitative studies, 22 qualitative studies, 6 mixed methods studies, 2 scoping reviews, 1 literature review, and 13 grey literature records. Researcher interactions with participants included surveys and questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and a support group intervention. Using thematic analysis, we identified five major themes: LGBTQ+ caregivers are highly active in providing informal care; queer caregiving has unique complexities; LGBTQ+ caregivers want to feel recognized and understood; caregiving can be overwhelming; and challenges navigating heteronormative health systems. This scoping review highlighted the distinct experiences of LGBTQ+ caregivers and their specific support needs as individuals and as a caregiver of older adults. Findings from this review emphasize the importance of healthcare professionals receiving comprehensive LGBTQ+ focused education to better understand and support LGBTQ+ caregivers. Further research is needed to address the gaps in knowledge, provide effective interventions, and draft policies to support LGBTQ+ caregivers.Item Harnessing the power and making the most of Google Scholar(2022-02-16) Hall, StevenA seminar on how to use Google Scholar. Presented to graduate nursing students on February 16, 2022. Non-peer reviewed.Item Assessing the need for caregiver support in Saskatchewan: Gathering perspectives and setting priorities(Oxford Abstracts, 2021-10-21) Hall, Steven; Holtslander, LorraineAbstract / Résumé Background: An ageing population corresponds with a need for informal caregivers. Caregiving burden is the most compelling problem affecting caregivers of older adults. Previous research efforts have explored predictors of caregiving satisfaction and interventions for caregiving support. Our study aimed to set priorities for the future development of interventions for caregivers in Saskatchewan. Objective: Our objective was to engage caregivers in setting priorities for accessible interventions and support. The specific research question we sought to answer was “What do the experiences of caregivers have to offer in setting priorities for caregiver support?" Methods: We conducted an environmental scan of caregiver intervention programming in Canada. We then held two focus groups with caregivers to older adults, defined as 55 years or older for this study. Twenty-three caregivers attended the first focus group, and ten caregivers participated in the second. We used a qualitative descriptive approach and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Caregivers of older adults were eager to share barriers and facilitators to their role. Themes derived from data include (1) lack of access; (2) conflict with self and others; (3) the burden of caregiving; and (4) declining health and wellness. Conclusion: Caregivers may struggle to find resources to support them in their caregiving role. Findings from this study indicate that there is a need for more interventions to support caregivers. Furthermore, our data highlights what outcomes caregivers in Saskatchewan want from those interventions.Item Caregivers to older adults require support: A scoping review of their priorities(Oxford Abstracts, 2021-10-23) Hall, Steven; Rohatinsky, NoelleObjectives: Canada’s population of older adults is growing, and the vast majority of older adults who are chronically ill rely on informal caregivers. This scoping review provides a collation of what caregivers have identified as priorities for support through previous research efforts. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework guides this review. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases on July 2, 2021. We selected databases based on their relevance to nursing, health and social science. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed research of any design, a sample population of caregivers to older adults (>55 years), manuscripts published in English, and the priorities for caregiver support were identified by caregivers themselves. Results: 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. These studies used various quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method study designs. We coded caregiver-identified priorities using thematic analysis and quantified the priorities based on their frequency in the literature. We present the following list of caregiver-identified priorities: (1) orientation to the caregiving role; (2) self-care and respite; (3) adapting healthcare; (4) improved supports; (5) information needs; (6) access to resources; and (7) financial assistance. Conclusion: Researchers have previously engaged caregivers in setting priorities for support. This scoping review presents a synthesized and ordered list of caregiver-identified priorities for support. Policymakers, healthcare professionals, and non-profit organizations can use evidence from this study to guide decisions when developing support interventions for caregivers to older adults.Item Exploring perceptions of technology use to support self-management amongst adults with cancer and multimorbidities(Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2021) Hall, Steven; Sattar, Schroder; Ahmed, Shahid; Haase, KristenIntroduction Globally, cancer is a leading cause of death and impacts older adults more than any other age group. Self-management is defined as how patients with chronic conditions address and cope with symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle adjustments. Many self-management interventions are moving to an online format. Our objective was to investigate and describe how older adults engage technology for cancer self-management, particularly as they live with multimorbidity. Methods We used a qualitative descriptive approach and semi-structured interviews with older adults with cancer who had at least one other chronic condition. Data were analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Results We found that older adults are interested in, if not already, engaging with technology and internet searching to manage their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Data were grouped into two themes: 1) Surfing for answers to take control, and 2) Confidence in technology supports competence in self-management. Participants felt they might need extra support learning how to craft a search, filter facts, and digest information from the internet to manage their cancer. Conclusions Older adults are interested in engaging technology to support self-management. Developing an understanding of what older adults desire from technology to support their cancer and multimorbidities could improve their confidence and wellbeing.Item A scoping review of caregiver-identified priorities for support: Focus on cancer caregiving(Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2022) Hall, Steven; Rohatinsky, NoelleIntroduction The vast majority of older adults living with cancer rely on informal caregivers. Caregivers often require additional support to facilitate their role. This subanalysis of scoping review results collates priorities for support identified by caregivers to older adults living with cancer. Methods Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework guides this review. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases on July 2, 2021. We selected databases based on their relevance to health and social science. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed research of any design, a sample population of caregivers to older adults (>60 years), manuscripts published in English, and the priorities for caregiver support were iden- tified by caregivers themselves. Results We screened a total of 3591 records, and 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. Six focused explicitly on cancer caregiving. In our synthesis, we quantified the identified priorities within the studies using coding and content analysis. Articles related to cancer caregiving were isolated and sub-analyzed. We identify and order five priority themes, as follows: (1) orientation to role; (2) engagement in cancer care; (3) learning about self- care; (4) access to respite; (5) finances and policy. Conclusions Researchers have previously engaged caregivers in setting priorities for support interventions. This subanalysis of scoping review results presents a synthesized list of cancer caregivers’ priorities for support. Policymakers, healthcare professionals, and non-profit organizations can use this synthesis to guide decisions when developing support inter- ventions for caregivers to older adults living with cancer.Item Maintaining ethical conduct in quality improvement projects(2021-11-16) Hall, StevenQuality improvement (QI) projects and clinical research play essential roles in healthcare to enhance and improve patient care. Clinical research uses the scientific method to investigate a health-related problem or phenomenon systematically. QI projects also employ rigorous methods, but it has become more difficult to delineate what constitutes QI versus research. Furthermore, without oversight from a research ethics board to ensure ethical conduct in QI, how can project teams ensure ethical conduct within their QI initiative. The purpose of this abstract and presentation is to provide five guidelines for maintaining ethical conduct in QI initiatives. The following five guidelines are proposed: (1) Review the purpose and design of the activity, with QI projects aiming to be safe, effective, patient-centred, timely, efficient, and equitable. (2) Consider the need for informed consent to respect participants' autonomy and protect them from project risks that they have not agreed to accept. (3) Consider how participant confidentiality is protected and take measures to ensure no participant information can be unintentionally transmitted. (4) Consider whether the right of the participant to withdraw from the project is necessary. (5) Seek an exemption from a research ethics board for the QI initiative to ensure that further oversight is not required. Although a review by a research ethics board is not required for QI, it is no justification for less rigour or less attention to the protection of participants. Adhering to these five guidelines can help to ensure that ethical conduct is maintained when conducting quality improvement. Learning Objectives: • Understand the delineation between quality improvement and clinical research. • Define five guidelines for ensuring ethical conduct in quality improvement projects. How was this research identified as a priority? QI is becoming increasingly more common in health sciences. The delineation between QI and clinical research is a grey area, which leads to the issue of maintaining ethical conduct in QI when oversight from a research ethics board is not required.Item Improving end-of-life care through interprofessional collaboration with death doulas: Implications for oncology nurses(Oncology Nursing Society, 2022) Holtslander, Lorraine; Hall, StevenThe end-of-life or death doula is an emerging, grass- roots role, making its mark in hospice palliative care in seeking to support people and families during the dying process. Doulas offer a community-based, non-medicalized approach to care that is holistic and person-centred. Exploring and understanding the interprofessional, collaborative roles of oncology nurses and the death doula could optimize patient and family-centred care and improve outcomes at the end of life. However, there are significant implications for oncology nurses to accompany this new and upcoming paraprofessional role. A scoping review, applying the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s Square of Care as a conceptual framework, was completed to describe the opportunities for collaboration as death doulas become part of the team providing end-of-life care. Despite the presence of death doulas, oncology nurses are responsible for assessing the patient’s status and well-being. Information-sharing is central to interprofessional collaboration, but oncology nurses must take sensitive measures to maintain the patient’s confidentiality and trust when communicating with death doulas. In decision-making processes, nursing knowledge can guide patients in their choices, as well as death doulas. At the same time, it is paramount that the oncology nurse advocates for evidence-based decisions. The plan of care at the end of life must view the individual holistically. Oncology nurses and death doulas can complement each other in their holistic approach to client care. Regarding care delivery, oncology nurses play a medicalized role in care, guided by the philosophy of nursing and person-centred care. Death doulas serve to develop a relationship with the dying person that transcends their illness, further highlight- ing how the two can complement one another. Lastly, confirmation involves the clients’ understanding of the goals of care. While death doulas can advocate for com- prehension, oncology nurses can promote health literacy. Death doulas are an emerging role with the potential to make a significant impact at the end of life. Therefore, healthcare professionals should focus efforts on integrating death doulas into the interprofessional care team; however, oncology nurses’ understanding of the death doula role is critical to providing quality end-of-life care in parallel. Death doulas offer an innovative, non-medical approach to providing support and comfort, while facilitating person-centred death and dying.Item A Smile: pahpêwihkwêwin(2022) Ogenchuk, Marcella; Graham, Juanita; Uswak, Gerry; Graham, Holly; Weiler, Robert; Ramsden, VivianAn informative book for caregivers on pediatric oral health care; created in partnership with Thunderchild First Nation (Health Services), University of Saskatchewan and the Colleges of Nursing, Dentistry, and Medicine. Written in English and CreeItem Biological and practical considerations regarding circadian rhythm and mental health relationships among nurses working night shifts: a narrative review and recommendations(Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore s.r.l., 2022-04-14) Okechukwu, Chidiebere Emmanuel; Mark, D Griffiths; Carta, Mauro Giovanni; Nwobodo, Edwin; Shariful Islam, Sheikh Mohammed; Forbes, Malcolm; Berk, Michael; Marc N, Potenza; Banach, Maciej; Ojiakor, Amamihechineke Grace; Nwobodo, NkoliSummary. Background. Sleep is a vital physiological process regulated by the circadian clock and homeostatic mechanisms. Shift work is necessary to ensure continuity of healthcare provision. Worldwide, nurses work night shifts on a rotational or permanent basis. Objective. To analyse the impact of circadian rhythm disruption due to night shift work on the mental wellbeing of nurses. Methods. The literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus electronic databases. Selection criteria include studies published in English between 1997 and 2021 that examined the impact of night-shift work on the mental health of nurses. Results. The searches generated a total of 22 records on the PubMed database, and 9 records on the Scopus database, and a total of 31 studies. 29 papers were identified after removal of duplicates. However, 29 articles were screened based on the review of titles and abstracts. 19 articles were identified for full-test review. Seven papers were included in this review. Conclusions. Disrupted circadian rhythms and poor sleep quality and quantity have been identified as two of the most significant elements in the long-term effects of night-shift work on nurses’ mental health. Strategies and policies to promote workplace health may reduce the occurrence of mental health disorders among night-shift nurses, whether the shifts are rotational or permanent. Nursing supervisors and hospital administrators should consider developing new guidelines to minimize the negative impact of night shift rotations on mental health and the quality of life among nurses.Item A Smile(2021) Ogenchuk, Marcella; St. Pierre, Robert; Cheecham, Connie; Ruelling, Mary; Cheecham, Lisa; Uswak, Gerry; Graham, Holly; Weiler, Robert; Ramsden, VivianAn informative book for caregivers on pediatric oral health care; created in partnership with the community of La Loche, University of Saskatchewan and the Colleges of Nursing, Dentistry, and Medicine. Written in English and Dënësųłinë́. Documents include the "Informative book with audio". To listen, download and open using a PDF viewer (eg. Adobe or Kofax). Alternatively you can listen to the same audio in the "A Smile - audio only" file