Transforming Intractable Policy Conflicts: A Qualitative Study Examining the Novel Application of Facilitated Discourse (Track Two Diplomacy) to Community Water Fluoridation in Calgary, Canada.

Governments face challenges in resolving complex health and social policy conflicts, such as the community water fluoridation (CWF) impasse in Calgary. Track Two diplomacy, informal dialogues facilitated by an impartial third party, is proposed to address these issues amid epistemic conflict and declining public trust in fellow citizens, science, and government. This study examined Track Two diplomacy's application in Calgary's CWF policy conflict.

Alignment of patient-centredness definitions with real-life patient and clinician experiences: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Patient-centred care (PCC) has come to the forefront for many institutions, funding agencies and clinicians, and is integrated into care. Does a disconnect in understanding still exist between patients, healthcare organizations and clinicians in what PCC means and how outstanding issues might be addressed?

Methods: We conducted interviews and focus groups with self-reported chronic care patients and clinicians providing care to these patients exploring PCC experiences, expectations and practices. These data were initially analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Group medical consultation for osteoporosis: a prospective pilot study of patient experience in Canadian tertiary care.

Background: Delivery of patient-centred care is limited by physician time. Group medical consultations may save physician time without compromising patient experience.

Aim: To assess patient experience and specialist physician time commitment in a group consultation for osteoporosis.

Identification of novel host-oriented targets for Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 using Random Homozygous Gene Perturbation.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global threat to public health. Current therapies that directly target the virus often are rendered ineffective due to the emergence of drug-resistant viral variants. An emerging concept to combat drug resistance is the idea of targeting host mechanisms that are essential for the propagation of the virus, but have a minimal cellular effect.

The use of Random Homozygous Gene Perturbation to identify novel host-oriented targets for influenza.

Conventional approaches for therapeutic targeting of viral pathogens have consistently faced obstacles arising from the development of resistant strains and a lack of broad-spectrum application. Influenza represents a particularly problematic therapeutic challenge since high viral mutation rates have often confounded many conventional antivirals. Newly emerging or engineered strains of influenza represent an even greater threat as typified by recent interest in avian subtypes of influenza.