Programme: Master's of Science in Health Systems

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• Project Title:  To be announced
• Project Description/Research Interests: To be announced
• Publications & Presentations: N/A
• Where you are now?: Master of Science in Health Systems
  

   

   

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• Project Title (thesis):  The gendered experiences of mental health and leaves of absence among early-career female physicians in Ontario
  
• Research Projects: Healthy Professional Worker Partnership - Medicine Case Study 
• Publications:

Mihailescu, M., Neiterman, E. A scoping review of the literature on the current mental health status of physicians and physicians-in-training in North America. BMC Public Health 19, 1363 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7661-9

• Presentations:

Simkin S, Aggarwal M, Ahmed N, Hedden L, Marshall E, Mihailescu M, Neiterman E, and Bourgeault IL. "An Examination of Mental Health Issues, Leaves of Absence, and Return to Work Experiences of Canadian Physicians: A Case Study of the Healthy Professional Workers Partnership." Poster presentation at the Canadian Conference on Physician Health, St John's, NF, October 5, 2019.

Bourgeault IL, Aggarwal M, Ahmed N, Demers C, Hedden L, Marshall E, Mihailescu M, Neiterman E, and Simkin S. "Mental Health Issues, Leaves of Absence, and Return to Work of Canadian Physicians: A Case Study from the Healthy Professional Worker Research Initiative." Oral presentation at the CSSH Canadian-Australian Health Sociology Conference, Vancouver, BC, June 7, 2019.

Mihailescu M, Neiterman E. "A Scoping Review of the Literature on the Current Mental Health Status of Physicians and Physicians-in-Training in North America." Oral Presentation at the Canadian Health Workforce Conference, Gatineau, QC, October 4, 2018.

Mihailescu M, Neiterman E. "A Scoping Review of the Literature on the Current Mental Health Status of Physicians and Physicians-in-Training in North America." Poster Presentation at the Canadian Health
Workforce Conference, Gatineau, QC, October 4, 2018. 

Programme: Master's of Science in Health Systems

• Email Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
• LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-huyer-21384345/
• Twitter ID:  @g_huyer
• Project Title: Transitions of care for people with dementia: Predictive factors and health workforce implications
• Project Description/Research Interests:  As the population ages, policymakers are increasingly looking to augment home care services as a means of reducing the growing need for long-term institutional care.  People suffering from dementia are among those putting the greatest demand on the long-term care system, and the prevalence of dementia is increasing dramatically with an aging population.  This research project seeks to determine the predictive factors and health workforce implications associated with the transition from receiving home care services to institutionalization in long-term care facilities (i.e., nursing homes) for people with dementia.  A retrospective, population-based cohort study of community dwelling adults with dementia in Ontario
  will be undertaken using routinely collected health administrative data.  From these data, we will develop a predictive model to estimate the time between home care initiation and placement in a long-term care institution. The multivariable model will permit the identification and contribution of key predictors associated with this primary outcome.  Among the predictors, factors that are modifiable are of greatest interest as they can potentially be targeted to delay the transition from home to long-term care, allowing people to be cared for longer in the community.  Of particular interest is the relationship between services provided by the health workforce and how long people with dementia can remain adequately supported at home, and reciprocally how policies that increase the emphasis on home care implicate the health workforce.  To this end, the contribution of formal and informal caregivers (in terms of level and mix of care) to delaying the home-to-institutional care transition will be examined to describe different “care packages” and their impact on transitions of care.  Taken together, these results will be of use to inform policymakers in
  capacity planning and in determining where investments should be targeted to maintain people with dementia safely at home, along with the associated health workforce implications.
• Publications & Presentations: N/A
• Where you are now?: MSc Health Systems at the University of Ottawa

Programme: Master's of Science in Health Systems

• Email Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• LinkedIN: goo.gl/a69D2K
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephAboueidRD 
  
• Project Title: Nutrition care practices of family physicians and nurse practitioners in primary healthcare settings in Ontario – A qualitative study
• Project Description/Research Interests: This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the way in which the macro, meso, and micro levels of the health care system affects nutrition care practices of family physicians (FPs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). It also examined how current practices compare to the clinical practice guidelines on the management and prevention of obesity. Three different types of team-based primary care settings were included: 2 Family Health Teams, 3 Community Health Centres and 1 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic. Within each type of setting, six to eight FPs and NPs were interviewed (for a total n= 20). Site-specific documents and government reports were also analyzed. Findings suggest that the team-based nature improves nutrition care due to the accessibility to dietitians and cost-free service. Electronic Medical Records seemed to be an important enabler for chronic disease management. Duration of medical visits and increasing prevalence of complex patients were barriers for addressing nutrition and weight. Despite the importance of addressing obesity in primary care, it seems that the topic is approached in terms of chronic disease management rather than prevention. FPs and NPs seemed to spare the dietitian on site for patients who have more severe chronic conditions. Nevertheless, the presence of a dietitian on site increased the likelihood of primary care providers bringing up the topic of nutrition. Addressing site-specific barriers could improve nutrition care practices for weight management and chronic disease prevention in the primary care setting. 
• Publications & Presentations: 

  Aboueid S, Blanchet R, Giroux I. Résultats préliminaires: consummation de légumes et fruits chez des enfants en situation minoritaire vivant à Ottawa. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Symposium. March 2014. Ottawa, Ontario.

  Aboueid S, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. Current dietetic referral practices of primary care physicians – A literature review. Canadian Health Workforce Conference. October 2016. Ottawa, Ontario.

  Aboueid S, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. Dietetic referrals in various primary healthcare settings – A literature review. Canadian Diabetes Association Conference. October 2016. Ottawa, Ontario.

  Aboueid S, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. Current Weight Management Approaches Used by Primary Care Providers in Multidisciplinary Healthcare settings in Ontario. Canadian Obesity Summit 2017. April 2017. Banff Springs, Alberta.

  Aboueid S, Edmonds D, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. Primary Care Providers’ Approach to Dietetic Referrals for Patients with Obesity and Factors Affecting Patient Initiation of Medical Nutrition Therapy – A Qualitative Study. May 2017. Association of Health Services and Policy Research Conference. Toronto, Ontario.

  Aboueid S, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. What Are the Nutrition Promotion Practices of Family Physicians and Nurse Practitioners in Regards to Obesity in Multidisciplinary Primary Care Settings in Ontario? May 2017. Association of Health Services and Policy Research Conference. Toronto, Ontario.

  Duquet M, Aboueid S, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. La perception de l’intégration des diététistes en milieu cliniques primaires en Ontario en lien avec la gestion de poids. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Symposium. March 2017. Ottawa, Ontario.

  Edmonds D, Aboueid S, Bourgeault I, Giroux I. Assessing Health Care Providers’ Approach to Discussing Weight Management Options in Multidisciplinary Primary Care Clinics in Ontario. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Symposium. March 2017. Ottawa, Ontario. 

• Where are you now?: I will be a PhD candidate in Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo

Programme: Master's of Science in Health Systems

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• Project Title: End-of-career practice patterns of primary care physicians in Ontario, Canada
• Project Description/Research Interests: Incomplete understanding of attrition from the physician workforce has hampered policy-makers’ efforts to achieve optimal alignment of the supply of physicians with population demand for medical services.  This longitudinal study of Ontario primary care physicians used health administrative data to characterize changes in physicians’ practice patterns over time.  We examined the workload and scopes of practice of 21,240 physicians between 1992 and 2013.  We found that physicians reduce their workloads gradually as they age, retiring from clinical practice at an average age of 70.5.  Furthermore, we found that 60% of family physicians who stop providing comprehensive primary care continue to provide clinical services for an average of three years, with reduced workloads, before retiring fully.  Our findings clarify the process of physician attrition from the workforce and will help to improve estimates of attrition and make physician workforce planning more accurate and effective.
• Publications & Presentations: 

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “End-of-career practice patterns of primary care physicians in Ontario.”  Free-standing paper presentation at the Family Medicine Forum, Vancouver, BC, November 9, 2016.

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “End-of-career practice patterns of primary care physicians in Ontario.” Poster presentation at the 16^th International Health Workforce Collaborative, Washington, DC, October 26, 2016.

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “Did retirement behaviours of primary care physicians change after the global financial crisis of 2008?”  Poster presentation at the Canadian Health Workforce Conference, Ottawa, ON, October 5, 2016.

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “Measuring retirement: Impact of the definition of retirement on restimated retirement age.“  Poster presentation at the Canadian Health Workforce Conference, Ottawa, ON, October 4, 2016.

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “End-of-career practice patterns of primary care physicians in Ontario.”  Oral research presentation at the Canadian Health Workforce Conference, Ottawa, ON, October 4, 2016.

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “Approaches to measuring retirement in a population of primary care physicians.”  Poster presentation at the Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, Toronto, ON, June 1, 2016.

  Simkin S, Bourgeault I, and Dahrouge S.  “Measuring retirement: A workforce planning challenge.”  Poster presentation at the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research Conference, Toronto, ON, May 10, 2016.

• Where you are now?:I continue to work as a family practice anaesthetist and am contributing my skills and experience to various other research projects.

Programme: Master's of Science in Health Systems

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• Project Title: Obstacles and Enablers to the Professional Development of Skilled Birth Attendants: A Case Study of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit on the Thailand-Myanmar Border
• Project Description/Research Interests: This Research will focus on the promotion of maternal healthcare in developing countries. Maternal health in a context of underdevelopment can often be hindered by a lack, or even an absence of access to appropriate health services due to geographic, economic, and/or institutional conditions. Gaps in access often reinforce existing disparities in standards of living amongst the local population. These availability issues are aggravated by the States' incapacity to mobilize sufficient funds for social programming, and resistance to dedicate available funds and resources to maternal health within their budgetary planning process. Capacity building amongst local professionals and institutions is also necessary in many cases in order to promote the efficiency and sustainability of any investment within this sector. Furthermore, the persistence of traditional practices in many of these contexts introduces a higher level of risk to pregnancy and delivery. These factors contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates in the developing world, which encompasses 99% of such cases on a global scale.
• Publications & Presentations: 

  Caroline has presented at the Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research Conference, the World Congress on Public Health, the Canadian Health Workforce Conference, the Global Symposium for Health Systems Research, and the Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives.

• Where you are now?: 

  Caroline is a currently pursuing a PhD in Management within the Telfer School of Management's Health Systems stream. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Development and Globalization, and a Master of Science in Health Systems from the University of Ottawa. While completing her MSc in Health Systems, Caroline focused her attention on human resources for maternal health in developing contexts. Accordingly, her thesis research involved a case study of the obstacles and enablers to the professional development of skilled birth attendants providing perinatal care to migrants and refugees within a self-contained health system at the Thailand-Myanmar border. Under the continued supervision of Professor Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, Caroline will utilize the PhD in Management to further develop her research skills and enrich her understanding of the complexities of maternal health workforce sustainability in the context of protracted displacement and fragility. 

Programme: Master of Science in Health Systems, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa

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• Project Title: Initiation of In-hospital CPR: An Examination of Nursing Behaviour within their Scope of Practice
• Project Description: This thesis explored the factors that influence the behaviour of registered nurses in the first responder role by employing a mixed methods research design. In addition, this research aimed to extrapolate findings on the influence of nurses’ scope of practice on their behaviour by employing the conceptual framework on optimizing scopes of practice developed by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2014) to inform a portion of the qualitative data analysis. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation are the interventions performed by health care professionals in order to preserve the life of a patient suffering cardiac arrest. These tasks are important to the role of nurses because they are the most common first responders to in-hospital cardiac arrest scenarios. The early initiation of CPR and defibrillation is essential in increasing the likelihood of a patient surviving cardiac arrest; however, despite possessing the knowledge, skills, and training to initiate CPR independently, nurses may hesitate to perform these actions in a timely manner. This topic has been studied previously, but there have been no studies directly examining this issue in the Ontario context. This study revealed a number of contextual factors in Ontario influencing nurses’ deployment of CPR and defibrillation including variations in hospital unit types, geography, workload, the availability and quality of technology, legislation and regulation, accountability, as well as economic constraints. 
• Publications & Presentations: 

• Hebert R, Bourgeault I, Chiocchio F. Barriers and enablers to optimal scopes of practice: A study of nurses and midwives. Canadian Health Workforce Conference. October 2016. Ottawa, Ontario.
• Hebert R, Bourgeault I, Chiocchio F. Initiation of in-hospital CPR: An examination of nursing behaviour within their scope of practice. Canadian Health Workforce Conference. October 2016. Ottawa, Ontario.
• Chiocchio F, Bourgeault I, Fleury M-J, Hebert R. The role of gender and informational role self-efficacy in physician-nurse knowledge sharing and decision making. Canadian Health Workforce Conference. October 2014. Ottawa, Ontario.

• Where are you now?: Working as a registered nurse in home care.

Programme: Master's of Science in Health Systems, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa

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• Project Title: The Impact of the NICU microsystem on maternal mental health (2012-present)
• Research Interests: Research will focus on gathering information on how care is delivered within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and how these processes influence maternal mental health. Elements such as care coordination. integration and case management will be explored to learn about the microsystem and the impact they have on achieving desirable meternal and child healthcare. Understanding how the elements of the microsystem function can allow for recommendations to be made that will alleviate maternal distress in a highly stressful hospital unit.
• Where are you now: MSc Health Systems at the University of Ottawa