The Health Research Fund is administered by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research on behalf of Alberta Health and Wellness.
(From January 2002 Competition)
| Total Projects Funded: | 16 |
| Total Commitment: | $1.4 million over two years |
| EDMONTON | |
| 1. What are the options for elderly people who want to remain in their homes? | |
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Dr. Hollis will be identifying seniors' needs and solutions for residency options including staying in their own homes. She will also assess types of rehabilitation to prevent a range of problems that diminish seniors' quality of life. | |
| Title: |
"Enabling elderly people to remain at home: the health, economic and social impact" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Vivian Hollis, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
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| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
May 31, 2004 |
| 2. What are the costs to the health system of the various stages of Hepatitis C? | |
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More than 6500 people have tested positive for Hepatitis C in the Capital Health Region between 1995 and 2000. Dr. Jacobs' research will show the direct costs of the disease and will assess the impact of interventions on costs. | |
| Title: | "The determinants of the direct medical costs of Hepatitis C." |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Philip Jacobs, Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta; Institute of Health Economics |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Alberta Hospital; Capital Health Authority; University of Manitoba; Institute of Health Economics. |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |
| 3. Why do some hip and knee replacements not work? | |
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Dr. Johnston will study which pre-existing health conditions make for poor recovery after hip or knee surgery and if there are ways to modify risk factors to improve surgical outcomes. | |
| Title: | "The effect of patient cormorbid conditions on pain and functional recovery after total hip and knee arthroplastics." |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Bill Johnston, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Capital Health Authority |
| Affliated institution: |
Royal Alexandra Hospital, University of Alberta Hospitals |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
December 31, 2003 |
| 4. Can exercise help men with urinary incontinence brought on by radical prostatectomy? | |
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Radical prostatectomies are associated with some degree of urinary incontinence. Dr. Moore will examine an exercise intervention using biofeedback assisted pelvic floor exercises to help restore continence. | |
| Title: | "Treatment of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer: the effectiveness of biofeedback assisted pelvic floor muscle exercises" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Katharine Moore, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Otago, Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Wellesley Hospital, Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Universite de Montreal |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 1, 2004 |
| 5. Can treatment for osteoporosis in hip fracture patients prevent further fractures? | |
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Less than 20% of hip fracture patients receive diagnosis or treatment for osteoporosis, although treatment can reduce refractures by as much as 50%. Dr. Morrish will compare patients who take part in a program for immediate treatment for osteoporosis with patients who receive fall prevention counselling only. | |
| Title: | "Randomized trial of osteoporosis intervention strategies in hip fracture patients" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Donald Morrish, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Capital Health Region, University of Toronto, University of Calgary, Alberta Cancer Board |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
March 31, 2004 |
| 6. What is the long-term outcome for people who attempt suicide? | |
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Dr. Newman's study will track more than 400 people who have attempted suicide in the past to help determine the scope of attempted suicide in Alberta and indicate where preventive programs and policies can be strengthened. | |
| Title: | "Long-term outcome of suicide attempters" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Stephen Newman, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Alberta Health and Wellness |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |
| 7. What are the health risks of working in a poultry barn? | |
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Dr. Senthilselvan will carry out a systematic evaluation of indoor air contaminants and workers' respiratory health in large-scale poultry operations. | |
| Title: | "A prospective evaluation of air quality and workers' health in poultry barns" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan, Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Alberta Agriculture |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |
| 8. Can physicians help motivate people to exercise? | |
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Dr. Spence will evaluate the impact of physician advice for motivating people to exercise. | |
| Title: | "A randomized trial of physical activity advice provided by general practitioners using negative and positive health messages." |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. John Spence, Department of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
Boyle McCauley Health Centre |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
March 30, 2004 |
| 9. How effective is integrated care in developing an efficient health care system? | |
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Integrating health services delivery systems has been proposed as the way to build an effective and efficient health care system, and Dr. Triska's research will provide the first systematic research in Canada to test that theory. | |
| Title: | "Integrated delivery of health care-case studies in Western Canada" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Olive Triska, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta |
| Affliated institution: |
David Thompson Health Region, Calgary Health Region, Capital Health Region, University of Calgary |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
February 1, 2004 |
| CALGARY | |
| 10. How does the care provided to schizophrenics in Calgary compare with care delivered in the United States? | |
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Dr. Addington's research will benchmark Canadian services for schizophrenia treatment against internationally recommended standards of care. | |
| Title: | "Conformance to quality indicators in schizophrenia services." |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Donald Addington, Department of Psychiarty, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Alberta Mental Health Board, Calgary Health Region |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 1, 2004 |
| 11. Can interventions based on strengthening social environment help at- risk teens change their behaviour? | |
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Dr. Ghali will be replicating a successful Australian project to help at-risk teens change their behaviour through a partnership with academics, clinicians and a rural high school. | |
| Title: | "Improving social environments and health of rural teens: a whole-school, community-based approach." |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Laura Ghali, Department of Community Health Sciences (Centre for Health and Policy Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Brooks Composite High School, University of Melbourne, University of Lethbridge, McMaster University, Palliser Health Authority |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |
| 12. Can violence among rural youth be decreased? | |
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Dr. Hall will work with rural youth to determine their understanding of violence, and assess the scope of violence in rural areas and the resources to support teens who have experienced violence. | |
| Title: | "Violence among rural youth: a focus on health" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Barry Hall, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
University of Lethbridge, Chinook Health Region, Palliser Health Region, Sun Country Child & Family Services, Windsong Child & Family Services |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: | June 30, 2004 |
| 13. How does health care for women suffering fractured bones provide opportunities for prevention of osteoporosis? | |
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Dr. Meadows' research goal is to develop a dissemination model for bone health for use by health care givers and patients so that early intervention and treatment can be employed. | |
| Title: | "Midlife women and bone health: exploring social and cultural contexts" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Lynn Meadows, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Calgary Health Region |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |
| 14. What are the true costs of sleep apnea? | |
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Dr. Tsai is looking at the costs incurred to the health system by people with treated and untreated sleep apnea. | |
| Title: | "The effect of continuous positive airway pressure on healthcare utilization and costs among patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a multidimensional study" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. William Tsai, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Calgary Health Region |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
July 1, 2004 |
| 15. What kind of information do cancer patients look for when they seek complementary therapies? | |
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Dr. Verhoef's research will assess cancer patients' understanding of evidence, the role scientific evidence plays in evaluating complementary medicine as compared to conventional medicine, and patient preferences for information about complementary therapies. | |
| Title: | "Assessing the meaning of evidence in cancer patients' evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine" |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr. Marja Verhoef, Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary |
| Affliated institution: |
Tom Baker Cancer Clinic; Canadian Cancer Society (Cancer Information Services); Tzu-Chi Institute for Complementary and Altnerative Medicine, Vancouver; Centre for Integrated Healing, Vancouver |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |
| CROSSROADS REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY | |
| 16. Will a fitness program help with the outcomes from a type 2 diabetes education program? | |
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Ms. Doze will use a specific learning behaviour approach to develop a fitness intervention for diabetes 2 patients and compare the outcomes of the exercise component to a non-exercise diabetes education program. | |
| Title: | "Impact of an integrated community based recreational fitness program on the outcome of a type 2 diabetes education program." |
| Principal Investigator: |
Ms. Sandra Doze, Crossroads Regional Health Authority |
| Affliated institution: |
Calgary Health Region, University of Calgary, University of Alberta |
| Anticipated Project Completion Date: |
June 30, 2004 |