Research
OVERALL GOAL
The overall goal of my research program is to improve the quality, the safety, and the experience of older adults as they navigate through the healthcare system.
EXTERNAL FUNDED RESEARCH
Improving The Ottawa Hospital’s Hip Fracture Patients’ Access to Inpatient Geriatric Rehabilitation Services at Bruyère Continuing Care
Research Team
Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Anne Harley and Dr. Chantal Backman
Co-investigators
Dr. Paul Beaulé, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Véronique French-Merkley, Bruyère Continuing Care
Dr. Steve Papp, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Stéphane Poitras, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
Dr. Janet E Squires, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
This project was made possible through the support of:
Bruyère Academic Medical Association Incentive Fund competition (Operating Grant)
Improving access to rehabilitative care for Hip Fracture Patients: Bridging acute inpatient care at TOH to Geriatric Rehabilitation Services at Bruyère Hospital
Research Team
Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Steve Papp and Dr. Chantal Backman
Co-investigators
Dr. Paul Beaulé, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Véronique French-Merkley, Bruyère Continuing Care
Dr. Anne Harley, Bruyère Continuing Care
Dr. Stéphane Poitras, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
Dr. Janet E Squires, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
This project was made possible through the support of:
The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization Innovative Fund competition (Operating Grant)
Development of a “Path to Home” mobile application for the geriatric rehabilitation program at Bruyère Continuing Care: A protocol for user-centered design and feasibility testing studies
As the population ages, the need for appropriate geriatric rehabilitation services will also increase. Pressures faced by hospitals to reduce length of stay and reduce costs have driven the need for more complex care being delivered in the home or community setting. As a result, a multifaceted approach that can provide geriatric rehabilitation patients with safe and effective person- and family-centered care during transitions from hospital to home is required. We hypothesize that a technology-supported person- and family-centered care transition could empower geriatric rehabilitation patients, engage them in shared decision-making and ultimately help them to safely manage their personalized needs during care transitions from hospital to home. The purpose of this study is to design, and test the feasibility of a novel “Path to Home” mobile application designed to manage the personalized needs of geriatric rehabilitation patients during their transitions from hospital to home.
Research Team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Chantal Backman
Co-investigators
Dr. Anne Harley, Bruyère Continuing Care, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Dr. Liam Peyton, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa
Dr. Craig Kuziemsky, Associate Professor, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
Dr. Jay Mercer, Bruyère Continuing Care
Dr. Anne Monahan, Bruyère Continuing Care
Ms. Sandra Schmidt, Manager, Bruyère Continuing Care
Ms. Havinder Singh, Bruyère Continuing Care
Ms. Debbie Gravelle, Bruyère Continuing Care
This project was made possible through the support of:
Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) SPARK Program
A pre and post intervention study to reduce unnecessary urinary catheter use and
to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections at The Ottawa Hospital
The use of urinary catheters among hospitalized patients is extremely common. At the same time urinary catheter use is associated with preventable harm such as catheter-associated urinary tract infection. It is known that the inappropriate use of urinary catheters can increase the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections leading to increased morbidity and increased costs. Although best practices do exist to support the removal or avoidance of unnecessary urinary catheters in order to reduce this risk, our focus is on developing and using innovative methods to increase unit level awareness and compliance, and quantitatively demonstrate their effectiveness. Our proposed project relates to the following Choosing Wisely Canada activity: “Don’t place, or leave in place, urinary catheters without an acceptable indication (such as critical illness, obstruction, palliative care)”.
The overall objectives of this study are to reduce unnecessary urinary catheter use and to prevent catheter-associated
urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients across all of TOH.
Research Team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Chantal Backman
Co-investigators
Dr. Krista Wooller, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Dr. Delvina Hasimja, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Ms. Lisa Freeman, Corporate Coordinator Nursing Best Practices, The Ottawa Hospital
Ms. Lori Delaney, Corporate Clinical Nurse Expert, The Ottawa Hospital
This project was made possible through the support of:
IQ@TOH
SAFE-CT Project - Safe and effective person- and family-centered care practices during transitions between hospital-based care and home care – A mixed methods study
Using person-and family centred approaches to care, this research aims to explore how patient safety is operationalized and monitored during transitions in care. Transitions, when patients are moved from hospital-based care to home care, have been identified as potentially high risk for harm.
The objectives of the study are:
Describe patients and families' perceptions of key factors that would improve safety and facilitate person- and family-centered care during transitions from hospital-based care to home care;
Identify the indicators (structural, process and outcome) that best reflect safe person- and family-centered care transitions;
Identify how organizations monitor inter-organization transitions to ensure that they are safe and person- and family-centered;
Describe best practices for safe person- and family-centered care transitions and identify high performing organizations that have successfully implemented and monitored these practices; and
Develop recommendations for how Canadian healthcare organizations at both regional and local levels can implement and monitor safe person- and family-centered care transitions from hospital to home care.
Research Team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Chantal Backman
Co-investigators
Dr. Wendy Gifford, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Nelly D. Oelke, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development
Dr. Julie Chartrand, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Sharon Johnston, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine
Dr. Alan J. Forster, Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Program
This project was made possible through the support of:
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
Canadian Patient Safety Institute
Accreditation Canada
Canadian Home Care Association
Patients for Patient Safety Canada
The VOICE Project - Embedding the patient voice for collaborative, evidence-informed design of care transition interventions for older adults with multiple chronic conditions: a participatory visual (pilot project)
The primary aim of this research study is to collaboratively engage stakeholders (e.g., patients, families, informal caregivers, health care providers and leaders) in co-designing evidence-informed care transition interventions for older adults managing multiple chronic conditions.
Specific objectives are:
To use participatory visual research methods to engage older adult patients and families in the detailed exploration of their experiences of managing multiple chronic conditions during care transitions between primary care, acute care, and home care;
To use the data collected about the experiences during care transitions to engage older adult patients, informal caregivers, health care providers and leaders in co-designing feasible evidence-informed care transition interventions for this patient population; and
To evaluate the merits and limits of participatory visual research methods as an integrated knowledge translation strategy aimed at enhancing knowledge exchange and embedding the patient voice into evidence-informed care design.
Research Team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Chantal Backman
Co-investigators
Dr. Dawn Stacey, Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Patricia Marck, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Human and Social Development, University of Victoria
This project was made possible through the support of:
The Beryl Institute
INDUSTRY FUNDING
What is the Impact of Sensory Practices on the Quality of Life of Long-Term Care Residents? A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review
Principal Investigator: Dr. Chantal Backman
A research collaboration between the University of Ottawa LIFE Research Institute and Sodexo
INTERNAL FUNDED RESEARCH
Engaging Patients to Enhance the Post-Discharge Phone Call Program at The Ottawa Hospital
To improve the success of the Post-Discharge Phone Call Program at The Ottawa Hospital, we will engage patients to review and provide feedback on the questions that are asked during these phone calls to determine their relevance and usefulness from the patients’ perspective.
The overall objective is:
To obtain patient- and family- perspectives on the questions being asked by the centralized Post-Discharge Phone Call Program and to make recommendations to enhance and sustain the program.
Research Team
Co-Principal Investigators:
Dr. Elianna Saidenberg, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Chantal Backman
Senior Advisor:
Dr. Alan J. Forster, Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Program