The Health Research Fund is administered by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research on behalf of Alberta Health and Wellness.
(From 1998 Competition)
| Total Projects Funded: | 18 |
| Total Commitment: | $1,475,541 over two years |
| EDMONTON | |
| 1. Does a liver transplant impact child development? | |
| There have been few attempts to evaluate the effects of a liver transplant on child development. This study will examine age, diet, liver function and other factors to see if they play a role in developmental delay. | |
| Title: | “Child development post-liver transplant” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Susan Gilmour, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, U of A |
| Affliated institution: | Capital Health Authority |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | June 30, 2001 |
| 2. Are there better ways to prioritize patients on cataract surgery wait lists? | |
| This study will determine the validity and acceptability of two different ways to assess cataract surgery wait lists. | |
| Title: | “The use of a priority instrument in cataract surgery wait lists” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. David Johnson |
| Affliated institution: | Health Systems Utilization Analysis, Alberta Health |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Dec. 1, 2001 |
| 3. How can the results of research be better utilized in health care? | |
| If funded research doesn't lead to changes in the health of Canadians and the health care system, health care may suffer needlessly. This study examines barriers and gateways to research results utilization among healthcare professionals and policy makers. | |
| Title: | “The determinants of research utilization in an acute clinical setting” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Carole Estabrooks |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Nursing, U of A |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | August 31, 2001 |
| 4. Does exercise help patients with traumatic brain injury recover physical ability? | |
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can result in loss of consciousness, skull fractures and post-traumatic amnesia. This study will examine the effects of exercise and the withdrawal of exercise on the physical and mental health of TBI patients. | |
| Title: | “Aerobic conditioning in Traumatic Brain Injury” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Yagesh Bhambhani |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, U of A |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | March 2001 |
| 5. Can patterns of development in normally developing babies be used in early intervention programs for developmentally delayed babies? | |
| Approximately 800-900 babies are referred annually to early intervention programs in Alberta. This study aims to identify patterns in normal development that can be used to make these screening and intervention programs more effective. | |
| Title: | “Evaluation of infant development” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Johanna Darrah |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, U of A |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Dec. 31, 2000 |
| 6. Can an outpatient program be used to treat patients with congestive heart failure (CHF)? | |
| Congestive heart failure has emerged as a health problem of epidemic proportions with major economic impact. This study will compare two treatments for patients with congestive heart failure. | |
| Title: | “Outpatient treatment of decompensated heart failure” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Dante Manyari |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | June 30, 2001 |
| 7. What causes low birth weight? | |
| Birth weight is an important indicator of infant health and later development. This study will extend the knowledge of the causes of low birth weight. | |
| Title: | “A study of the determinants of pre-term and term low birth weights in Alberta” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Christine Newburn-Cook |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Nursing, U of A |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | July 1, 2001 |
| 8. How does an expecting mother's health and a doctor's intervention impact the health of an at-risk newborn? | |
| This study will use the MAIN (Morbidity Assessment Index for Newborns) assessment tool to assess how an expecting mother's health condition and intervention and treatment by a doctor impacts the health of a newborn. | |
| Title: | “Establishment of normal criteria and use in health services utilization of an obstetrical outcome measure: morbidity assessment index for newborns” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Bryan Mitchell |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, U of A |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | May 2000 |
| 9. How do community development practices affect the social health of a community? | |
| This pilot project will assess the impact of a community exploring its human resources. | |
| Title: | “Community development for population health” |
| Principal Investigator: | Ms. Susan Roberts |
| Affliated institution: | Jasper Place Gateway Foundation |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | June 30, 2001 |
| 10. How does raising a chronically ill child affect the health of family caregivers? | |
| Children with chronic health problems need skilled health and developmental care. This is a role that many family caregivers are not prepared for, nor do they know how to access support. This study will examine the issues facing family caregivers and what must be done to promote and maintain their health. | |
| Title: | “Health promotion for family caregivers” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Lynne Ray |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Nursing, U of A |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Feb. 28, 2001 |
| CALGARY | |
| 11. Do certain cysts detected in the fetus contribute to developmental delays later in some children? | |
| CPCs are fluid-filled cysts thought to be linked to developmental delays in some children. This study will address the lack of information on CPCs and the possible effects of cysts. | |
| Title: | “Developmental outcome of children who had choroid plexus cysts detected antenatally” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Francois Bernier |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | July 1, 2001 |
| 12. What factors are linked to a relapse of clinical depression? | |
| A 1994-95 National Population Health Survey suggests 1 in 20 Canadians experienced depression in the previous year. Understanding the factors linked to depression can lessen its effect on its victims. This study aims to identify factors linked to such a relapse. | |
| Title: | “Relapse of clinical depression: test of an integrated psychosocial model” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Keith Dobson |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Social Sciences, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Jan. 2001 |
| 13. Do social, economic, and demographic factors influence access to heart procedures? | |
| Some independent studies have suggested that female sex, minority race, low income, remote location, and increased age may be associated with lower access to heart procedures. This series of three studies aims to gain a better understanding of the association between social, economic, and demographic factors and access to heart procedures. | |
| Title: | “Sociodemographic factors and access to cardiac procedures” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. William Ghali |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Spring/summer 2001 |
| 14. Can mineral supplements improve the health of fibromyalgia sufferers? | |
| Fibromyalgia is a common disorder for which there is no known cure. This study will assess the effectiveness of mineral supplements in treating the disorder. | |
| Title: | “A randomized controlled trial of a nutrient supplement in the treatment of fibromyalgia” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Liam Martin |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | March 31, 2001 |
| 15. How do Aboriginal women describe their health related experiences? | |
| This study will include Aboriginal women in the broader based Alberta Midlife Women's Health Study, a multi-stage, multiphase project designed to describe health as experienced by women aged 40 to 65. | |
| Title: | “Aboriginal midlife women and WHEALTH” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Lynn Meadows |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | April 30, 2001 |
| 16. What complementary therapies do pregnant women use and are their doctors aware of them? | |
| Complementary therapies are therapies used as a complement or alternative to conventional Western medical treatment. This study will address potential health risks regarding the use of complementary therapies. | |
| Title: | “Complementary therapy use in pregnancy” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Maeve O'Beirne |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Feb. 2001 |
| 17. Can a low tech device diagnose sleep apnea? | |
| Obstructive sleep apnea interrupts breathing and causes the patient to wake up to resume breathing. Currently, patients must go to a sleep lab for diagnosis of this disorder. This study will test the effectiveness of a low tech device to use at home to diagnose sleep apnea. | |
| Title: | “High versus low tech to assess sleep apnea” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. William Whitelaw |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | Spring 2001 |
| 18. How can the symptoms of depression be identified? | |
| Depression is a serious public health issue in Canada. This study will test a new technique called interactive voice response telephony to evaluate its effectiveness in identifying the symptoms of depression. | |
| Title: | “Prevention of depression” |
| Principal Investigator: | Dr. Scott Patten |
| Affliated institution: | Faculty of Medicine, U of C |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | July 1, 2001 |