Revue interdisciplinaire des sciences de la santé // Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Sciences

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10393/31181

La RISS est une revue académique bilingue gérée par des étudiants de l'Université d'Ottawa. Basés sur les déterminants de la santé, ses critères de soumission encouragent l'échange entre chercheurs de tout horizon disciplinaire.

The IJHS is a student-led bilingual academic journal at the University of Ottawa. Based on the determinants of health, its submission criteria promote exchanges between researchers across disciplinary background.

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Expériences de préposées aux bénéficiaires sur l’utilisation d’un système informatisé de gestion des soins en résidences pour personnes âgées
(2019) Arnaert, Antonia; Ponzoni, Norma; Debe, Zoumanan; Morisette, France
Malgré l’augmentation de l’utilisation des systèmes informatisés de gestion des soins dans les résidences pour personnes âgées, il existe très peu d’évidences sur les perceptions des professionnels, spécifiquement des préposées aux bénéficiaires. Le but de cette étude qualitative est d’explorer les expériences de 17 préposées aux bénéficiaires sur l’utilisation d’un logiciel Soins Organisation Facilité Intérêt (SOFI) dans deux résidences au Québec. Les transcriptions de quatre groupes de discussion ont été analysées selon une approche inductive. Toutes les préposées percevaient le logiciel comme un atout positif majeur qui leur permettait de mieux organiser leurs tâches et leurs documentations. En outre, elles ont exprimé le souhait d'utiliser SOFI dans leur flux de travail pour améliorer la communication entre elles, mais aussi avec toutes les sphères de l'établissement dans le but de participer au processus décisionnel sur la qualité des soins. Enfin, elles ont insisté sur la nécessité absolue de disposer d’une technologie adaptée à l’environnement de travail aussi bien dans sa présentation digitale que dans sa disposition physique afin qu’il soit d’accès et d’utilisation facile. Il apparait clairement que la présence d’un logiciel répondant aux critères de choix des préposées, leur permettra facilement de devenir meilleures avec une perception accrue de leur autonomie et de leur engagement dans leur pratique quotidienne.
An Exploration of the Methodological Flaws for Assessing Fibre Intake Among Canadians
(2019) Asbury, Michelle
According to the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition, the majority of Canadians are consuming fibre below the adequate intake (AI) level. Although an intervention by Health Canada to improve fibre intakes may seem appropriate, there is insufficient evidence to warrant an intervention given the methodological flaws for assessing fibre intakes in the Canadian population. This paper explores these limitations by reviewing how the AI for fibre was developed, by examining how fibre intakes are assessed by the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition, and by outlining the limitations of using an AI to draw conclusions about fibre inadequacy. Recognizing the pitfalls of this methodology is the first step to improving the assessment of fibre intakes in Canada, which is needed before any intervention by Health Canada is implemented.
Canada's New Food Guide: A Dietitian's Perspective
(2019) Stochla, Joanna
A Qualitative Study Exploring Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Families with Young Children
(2019) Merritt, Rowena; Vogel, Michelle; Ladbury, Patrick
Overweight and obesity in childhood affects health long-term. Parent attitudes and behaviours play major roles in their child’s weight despite no consensus on appropriate and effective family-focused interventions to successfully tackle childhood obesity. This research aims to explore caregiver perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours around children’s diet, exercise, and weight in East Sussex. In-depth qualitative interviews with mothers, fathers, and grandparents of children aged 2-11 years were conducted. Caregivers wanted to influence their children’s diet and exercise habits but were unable due to perceived and actual barriers. Barriers included cost, time, and a lack of control over food choices as children aged. Moreover, caregivers admitted to providing unhealthy sweets and snacks to please their children. While caregivers openly discussed their own weight concerns, they were less likely to discuss concerns about their children’s or grandchildren’s weight. When asked about the ideal amount of exercise, caregivers found it easy to describe a regime for adults but did not know the ideal amount of exercise for children. Many caregivers found it difficult to quantify exercise when it came to their children because children naturally played in ways that could be considered exercise. Family-based interventions should begin in early childhood and promote walking and dog-walking as forms of exercise, parental education on childhood exercise guidelines, and preparing and eating healthy home-cooked meals in the home.
Sortir de la Prostitution de Rue au Canada: L’approche Transdisciplinaire du Modèle Intégré en Santé des Populations
(2019) Lessard, Émilie
Cet article examine l’influence des déterminants sociaux de la santé sur les trajectoires d’entrée, de maintien et de sortie de la prostitution de rue au Canada. La complexité de la problématique de la prostitution de rue chez les jeunes femmes entraîne de multiples défis quant à la mise en place d’un modèle théorique permettant de cerner les enjeux relatifs à la santé des femmes prostituées. La prostitution de rue étant fortement liée à la toxicomanie et à l’itinérance, entrainant une augmentation des risques de problèmes de santé associés à l’abus de substance, aux infections transmissibles sexuellement et par le sang, à des problèmes de santé mentale, une exposition accrue à la violence physique, émotionnelle et sexuelle et à un taux de mortalité élevé. Il est impératif d’établir un modèle théorique transdisciplinaire permettant de saisir les mécanismes d’entrée, de maintien et de sortie de la prostitution, afin de mieux cibler les interventions en matière de prévention et pour mieux soutenir les femmes désirant quitter la prostitution de rue. De plus, l’approche transdisciplinaire vise à fournir des pistes d’interventions pour promouvoir la sortie du système prostitutionnel et pour guider les recherches futures.
D’un Accès Pour Tous à un Accès Restreint: L’évolution Des Services de Procréation Assistée au Québec
(2019) Chaumont, Andréanne
La Nécessité Des Approches Intersectionnelles en Santé: Le Cas de L’allaitement Maternel
(2019) Vallières, Annick
L’intersectionnalité renvoie à des expériences différenciées en fonction de l’articulation de multiples formes d’oppressions ou de privilèges. Le concept est également repris aujourd’hui pour l’étude des inégalités en santé, le plus souvent en se basant sur l’intersection de différents déterminants de la santé. Dans ce texte, l’auteure présente tout d’abord brièvement le concept d’intersectionnalité, puis fait le lien avec les déterminants de la santé. Pour ce faire, l’auteure aborde les raisons qui poussent les chercheur(e)s à se concentrer sur l’intersectionnalité dans le domaine des déterminants de la santé. L’article explique comment le fait de considérer l’articulation des inégalités en termes de « déterminants multiples » affecte la santé; ainsi que comment l’intersectionnalité peut combler des lacunes sur les connaissances de la santé des groupes marginalisés et de la population en général. De plus, l’auteure utilise l’exemple de l’allaitement maternel pour montrer de quelles manières le cadre d’analyse intersectionnelle pourrait être bénéfique pour l’avancement des connaissances sur un sujet précis. Pour conclure, l’auteure aborde les défis méthodologiques qu’ils restent à relever pour faire avancer les connaissances dans ce domaine.
Conflict and Disease: A Complex Relationship
(2018-03-19) Frank, Robert A.
An Interdisciplinary Population Health Approach to the Radon Health Risk Management in Canada
(2018-03-19) Khan, Selim M.; Gomes, James
Radon is a known carcinogen found in indoor air that exists at higher than the federal reference level (200 Bq/m3) in about 10% of Canadian homes. Every year, over 3,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer, which accounts for 16% of annual lung cancer deaths in Canada. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers and is second among smokers. Children, women, and smokers from lower in-come groups are disproportionately affected. Although the Federal Government has re-set the guideline (from the previous 600 Bq/m3 down to 200 Bq/m3) and provincial governments revised the building codes to limit exposure, there remain controversies with the latest scientific development in adopting strategies of radon management in Canada. This review applies an Integrated Population Health Framework to look at the relation-ships and interactions between population health determinants such as biology and genetics, environment and occupation, and social and economic factors, that influence the health risk of radon. The evidence gathered supports policy analysis with the application of ethical and risk management principles that lead to the identification of efficient and affordable broad-based and population-level preventive strategies. The final inferences enhance the framework by adding critical intervention modalities to Health Canada’s National Radon Program.
Reducing Interprofessional Conflicts in Order to Facilitate Better Rural Care: A Report From a 2018 Rural Surgical Network Invitational Meeting
(2018-03-19) Pelletier, Hayley
An invitational meeting organized by the Centre for Rural Health Research convened to facilitate respectful dialogue with general surgeons in British Columbia; the objective was to clearly understand concerns and address questions around rural family physicians with enhanced surgical skills (FPESS). In particular, the meeting focused on interprofessional challenges that hinder the adoption of a net-work model between general surgeons and FPESS. This report summarizes the findings (n = 5) and recommendations (n = 8) made during the meeting. The meeting underscored the need for more thoughtful discussions to develop inter-professional trust and support between general surgeons and FPESS through an integrated health care system and proper networks.
An Overview of Scientific-Based Knowledge on Sedentary Behaviour Among the Pediatric Population — A Conceptual Model Development
(2018-03-19) Aubert, Salomé
Sedentary behaviour has been identified as a specifically deleterious personal practice on multiple levels of health of individuals at all ages, including the pediatric population (i.e., 0 to 18 years of age). The aims of this paper are to (i) summarize the literature con-cerning the definition, the characteristics, the context, the determinants, and the conse-quences of sedentary behaviour among children and youth; (ii) propose a conceptual model that summarizes these findings; and (iii) highlight research gaps in the literature. Sedentary behaviours are common and complex behaviours that can potentially affect the health of children and youth on the physiological and psychological levels. Those deleterious effects on health can vary depending on how they are accumulated through-out the day, for example with or without interruption, or in which context. While child-hood engagement in sedentary behaviours is too high in the majority of countries where it has been assessed, developing research and policies that target the reduction of sedentary behaviours among children and youth must be ranked as a top priority for all public health organizations worldwide. Although further research is needed concerning the identification of the specific determinants and consequences of different types and pat-terns of sedentary behaviours in various contexts, the Conceptual Model for the Study and Understanding of Children and Youth’s Sedentary Behaviour, gives an overview of the topic and supports the development of policy and further research.
The Global Burden of Surgical Disease: An Analysis of Inaccessible Surgical Care in Low and Middle Income Countries
(2018-03-19) Huynh, Chau; Huynh, Minh N. Q.
Worldwide, 4.8 billion people do not have access to safe, adequate surgical care and an-aesthetic management. Surgical care has been deemed “the neglected child of global health,” a startling reminder of the disparities in health services. The provision of surgi-cal interventions can avert 11% of the global burden of disease and 1.5 million deaths each year. Many obstacles exist for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to pro-gress towards accessible surgical care. The first challenge is delivering cost-effective sur-gical care despite financial constraints and political turmoil. Foreign aid was established to alleviate the financial burden and its contributions have been pivotal. However, based on the political climate in certain countries, funds are siphoned to government sectors other than health care. Moreover, the lack of infrastructure, equipment, and personnel in LMIC compound the issue. The other challenge is determining if surgery is as feasible and effective as non-surgical health interventions. Surgical care is crucial and this paper aims to assess the challenges that limit its stature in global health discussions. The paper will address the influence of financing, infrastructure, workforce, service delivery, and information management on surgical care, and the current resolutions, such as humanitarian aid missions.
An Overview of the Malaria Epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2016-11-01) Konji, Sandra
Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by mosquitos during their blood meal. The risk of contracting malaria is highest for people in tropical countries, due to the ever-present humid weather that allows yearly infections. Consequently, sub-Saharan Africa has a disproportionately higher rate of death among women and children with malaria. One of the major barriers identified in the efficacy of malaria treatment and prevention is the lack of health education and literacy. The lack of health education has decreased the efficacy of antimalarial drugs, such as Artemether Lumefantrine, due to the distribution and administration of the drug by untrained persons. The lack of incidence and prevalence data makes it difficult to ensure adequate supply of the drug in endemic countries. Furthermore, the lack of knowledge of malaria pathogenesis and transmission has prevented many from promptly seeking treatment and practicing preventative care methods. Recently, the implementation of health education programs by international organizations has allowed local and travelling healthcare practitioners to be educated on the disease and methods of antimalarial drug administration.
Storytelling and Asperger Syndrome: A Key for Social Integration
(2016-11-01) Sahin, Alain N.
Storytelling is a universal way of communication between human beings. It is inhibited when neurodevelopmental disorders hinder human reciprocity, the understanding of body language, and nuances of language. Asperger Syndrome (AS), one of these disorders, is characterized by social impairment and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Messages cannot be conveyed through storytelling, which causes social isolation and withdrawal of individuals with AS from society. The development of the mirror neuron system in the brain, which incites imitation of peers, might be altered in AS by a mechanism that is not entirely understood. Because mirroring the emotions of others is key to understanding their feelings and perceptions of the world, the “theory of mind” is not formed in individuals with AS as it normally would be. While studies have suggested this impediment, current views and evidence show that people with AS may use storytelling as a powerful tool to integrate themselves into society. Future research should investigate storytelling as an intervention to increase social interaction of individuals with AS.
Planning and Delivery of Health Services - An Article Review on Urban Aboriginal Mobility in Canada: Examining the Association With Healthcare Utilization
(2016-11-01) Dhawan, Ankit
An article from Social Science and Medicine, written by Snyder and Wilson (2012), examined the use of healthcare services by urban Aboriginal populations in Canada. Using the Behavioural Model of Health Services Use (BMHSU), predisposing, enabling, and need factors were organized and used for data analysis. Specifically, a comparison was made between conventional (physicians and nurses) and traditional (traditional healers) health service utilization in Toronto and Winnipeg. In addition to the geographical and educational factors, the results of the research recognized mobility as a significant predisposing complement to healthcare utilization.
The Development of Scoring Criteria for a New Picture Naming Task
(2016-11-01) Mahava, Ferzin; Sheppard, Christine; Monetta, Laura; Taler, Vanessa
Objective: The purpose of the study was to develop a scoring system for a novel naming task suitable for assessing naming performance in younger (18-30 years) and older (65+ years) adults in monolingual English, monolingual French, and English-French bilingual groups. This novel naming task will serve as an important health service to help diagnose and assess cognitively impaired older individuals, while also serving as an educational tool for healthcare providers. Materials and Methods: The Naming Task consists of 120 images organized in the same randomized order, and are shown on a white background displayed on a computer screen using PowerPoint. Participants are instructed to name the image displayed. Monolinguals completed the test in their native language and bilinguals completed the test in English only, French only, and a bilingual administration. Scoring criteria was established based on the responses from testing. Results: Strict and lenient scoring criteria developed for the Naming Task are presented. Eight items were removed from the original Naming Task due to quality and/or clarity, inability to name the image, or too many alternate responses. Performance in monolingual English and French was similar in younger and older adults for strict and lenient scoring. Bilinguals performed better with bilingual administration and worse with French administration, where scores were the lowest of all age and language groups. Conclusion: The Naming Task appears to be suitable for monolingual French and English individuals. Results suggest that a bilingual administration should be used when testing English-French bilinguals.
Transmission of Human Papillomavirus Without Sexual Contact
(2016-11-01) Tavassol, Panteha; Ahmed, Naweed; Kayani, Wakqas; Jamshidi, Sahab; Bapat, Suneil; Imamovic, Ahmed
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. There are four common HPV strains: 6, 11, 16, and 18. Strains 6 and 11 cause genital warts, while strains 16 and 18 are asymptomatic in males and may progress to cervical cancer in females. Although uncommon, a small percentage of males and females have been diagnosed with HPV without previous sexual contact. In this case report, we discuss a case conducted on a 15-year-old South Asian male who contracted an unknown low-risk strain of HPV with no history of sexual contact. HPV is highly infectious, however in the majority of cases the immune system is able to clear the infection, preventing the appearance of genital warts. In cases such as these, it is important to help control the spread of viral infections. Several determinants of health are involved in and affect the transmission of HPV, including income and social status, social support networks, education and literacy, culture, social and physical environments, and health services. To aid in the prevention of HPV, sexual education should be taught at early ages within schools and the Gardasil® vaccine should be administered to both females and males at an early age to reduce the burden of disease and the incidence of HPV.
Critique of a Community-Based Population Health Intervention in a First Nations Community: Public Health and Medical Anthropology Perspectives
(2016-11-01) Khan, Selim M.
Launched as a community-based partnership endeavour, the Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project (SLHDP) aimed to prevent diabetes in a First Nations community (FNC) in Toronto. With active engagement of the key stakeholders, SLHDP conducted a series of studies that explored public health needs, priorities, and the contexts. These led to the adoption of a variety of culturally appropriate health interventions, addressing several health determinants such as health education, physical environments, nutrition, personal health practices, health services, and FNC culture. SLHDP built reciprocal capacity for both the community stakeholders and academic partners, thus evolved as a model of population health intervention. The school components are being scaled-up in other parts of FNCs in Canada. This paper presents a critique from public health and medical anthropology perspectives and draws evidence-based recommendations on how such programs can do better.
Changement Climatique et Iniquités en Santé : L’apport de L’approche Interventionnelle en Santé des Populations dans un Contexte Québécois
(2016-11-01) Buetti, David; Annous, Rana
Dans un monde globalisé, le changement climatique vient s’ajouter à la pléthore de problèmes complexes auxquels la santé publique doit faire face. Cet article propose de s’intéresser, à travers une perspective interventionnelle en santé des populations et dans un contexte québécois, aux conséquences du changement climatique sur les populations vulnérables ainsi qu’aux domaines d’action pouvant les mitiger. Une recherche documentaire a été effectuée dans sept banques de données liées à plusieurs disciplines en sciences sociales, de la santé et de l’environnement. Reconnaissant également l’apport des organismes non gouvernementaux pour la santé des populations, celle-ci a été complémentée par des rapports d'organisations militantes et citoyennes. Les résultats montrent que plusieurs secteurs peuvent collaborer avec les agences de santé publique et les organismes communautaires pour réduire, d’une part, le changement climatique et, de l’autre, les iniquités en matière de santé. Au Québec, trois domaines d’action semblent particulièrement prometteurs, soit : l’aménagement territorial en milieu urbain, le transport et la mobilité durable et l’agriculture urbaine et périurbaine. Préconisant un cadre social écologique et une collaboration multisectorielle, les interventions centrées sur la santé des populations permettent d’atténuer les conséquences du changement climatique sur les iniquités sociales et sanitaires. Quelques défis et pistes de recherche liés à leur implantation et à leur pérennité sont discutés.
Health Sciences (HSS) Buddy Program: Evaluation of its First Year
(2014-08) Abdul-Fattah, Mostafa; Hafizi, Rita; Abdul-Fattah, Hiba; Gulati, Sonia; Deonandan, Raywat
In the 2011-2012 academic year, the HSS Buddy Program pilot project was implemented in the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. Intended to address rising student anxiety levels, the program teamed freshmen (first year) students with groups of older students to promote more instances of casual social interaction. Participants’ perceptions of the program were universally positive in terms of how enjoyable it was, its usefulness, and its relevance to student needs. Suggested improvements include recruiting of more male participants, liaising with school administrators to help avoid scheduling conflicts, starting the program earlier in the academic year, and forming social groups with fewer students. Overall, the approach undertaken by the Buddy Program was seen to be a valuable one worthy of continuation and growth.

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