Service-level barriers to and facilitators of access to services for the treatment of alcohol use disorder and problematic alcohol use: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, substance use health services for treatment of alcohol use disorder and problematic alcohol use (AUD/PAU) were fragmented and challenging to access. The pandemic magnified system weaknesses, often resulting in disruptions of treatment as alcohol use during the pandemic rose. When treatment services were available, utilisation was often low for various reasons.

Primary care for individuals with serious mental illness (PriSMI): protocol for a convergent mixed methods study.

Introduction: People with serious mental illness (SMI) have poor health outcomes, in part because of inequitable access to quality health services. Primary care is well suited to coordinate and manage care for this population; however, providers may feel ill-equipped to do so and patients may not have the support and resources required to coordinate their care. We lack a strong understanding of prevention and management of chronic disease in primary care among people with SMI as well as the context-specific barriers that exist at the patient, provider and system levels.

Assessing Physician's Motivational Communication Skills: 5-Step Mixed Methods Development Study of the Motivational Communication Competency Assessment Test.

Background: Training physicians to provide effective behavior change counseling using approaches such as motivational communication (MC) is an important aspect of noncommunicable chronic disease prevention and management. However, existing evaluation tools for MC skills are complex, invasive, time consuming, and impractical for use within the medical context.

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop and validate a short web-based tool for evaluating health care provider (HCP) skills in MC-the Motivational Communication Competency Assessment Test (MC-CAT).

Understanding national trends in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Canada: results from five sequential cross-sectional representative surveys spanning April 2020-March 2021.

Objective: To examine rates of vaccine hesitancy and their correlates among Canadian adults between April 2020 and March 2021.

Design: Five sequential cross-sectional age, sex and province-weighted population-based samples who completed online surveys.

Setting: Canada.

Evaluating comparative effectiveness of psychosocial interventions adjunctive to opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorder: A systematic review with network meta-analyses.

Background: Guidelines recommend that individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive pharmacological and psychosocial interventions; however, the most appropriate psychosocial intervention is not known. In collaboration with people with lived experience, clinicians, and policy makers, we sought to assess the relative benefits of psychosocial interventions as an adjunct to opioid agonist therapy (OAT) among persons with OUD.

Methods: A review protocol was registered a priori (CRD42018090761), and a comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials (RCT) was conducted from database inception to June 2020 in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Treatment barriers among individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems: Examining gender differences.

Background: Despite the narrowing gender gap in the prevalence of substance use disorders, women continue to be vastly underrepresented in substance use services. Relational factors, family responsibilities, mental health, and stigma may present unique barriers encountered by women.

Aims: The aims of this study were to examine: (1) gender differences in substance use treatment barriers, (2) gender differences in perceptions of stigmatization for seeking substance use treatment, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related stress, and (3) whether perceived stigmatization and mental health symptoms are associated with greater barriers among women.

An international Delphi consensus study to define motivational communication in the context of developing a training program for physicians.

Poor health behaviors (e.g., smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity) are major risk factors for noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs).

Effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in older adults: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: With its legalisation and regulation in Canada in 2018, the proportion of Canadians reporting cannabis use in 2019 increased substantially over the previous year, with half of new users being aged 45+ years. While use in older adults has been low historically, as those born in the 1950s and 1960s continue to age, this demographic will progressively have more liberal attitudes, prior cannabis exposure and higher use rates. However, older adults experience slower metabolism, increased likelihood of polypharmacy, cognitive decline and chronic physical/mental health problems.

Prescriber adherence to guidelines for chronic noncancer pain management with opioids: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This review quantified prescriber adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP).

Method: We searched CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and the Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database from inception until June 3, 2019. Studies that focused on provider adherence to opioids guidelines for CNCP in North America were eligible.

Barriers and facilitators to buprenorphine use for opioid agonist treatment: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: In the context of the opioid crisis in North America, the benefits of evidence-based opioid agonist treatments such as buprenorphine/naloxone have not been optimised due to low uptake. Numerous factors contribute to the underuse of buprenorphine, and theory-informed approaches to identify and address implementation barriers and facilitators are needed. This scoping review aims to characterise the barriers and facilitators at the patient, healthcare professional, organisation and system level according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and identify gaps to inform practice and policy.

Alcohol Medical Intervention Clinic: A Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Model Reduces Emergency Department Visits.

Objectives: Problematic alcohol use accounts for a large proportion of Emergency Department (ED) visits and revisits. We developed the Alcohol Medical Intervention Clinic (AMIC), a Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) service, to reduce alcohol-related ED re-utilization and improve care for individuals with alcohol problems. This article describes the AMIC model and reports on an evaluation of its impact on patients and the ED system.

Telepsychiatry and patient-provider concordance.

Context: Telepsychiatry has become a common modality for the provision of psychiatric consultations to patients in rural regions.

Aims: The aims of this study were to assess and compare patient and provider satisfaction and perceptions of access to care with telepsychiatry.

Methods: Telepsychiatric consultations were given by providers based on an urban tertiary academic health centre to patients located in rural primary care clinics.

Identifying patient-important outcomes in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder patients: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Illicit opioid use has become a national crisis in Canada, with over 65 000 people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in Ontario and British Columbia alone. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a common treatment for OUD. There is substantial variability in treatment outcomes used to evaluate effectiveness of MAT, making it difficult to establish clinically and scientifically relevant treatment effect.

Evaluating comparative effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for persons receiving opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorder: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: The opioid crisis has resulted in increasing rates of death caused by problematic opioid use. Current clinical guidelines recommend that individuals with persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive pharmacological (eg, opioid agonist therapy) and psychosocial (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy) therapy; however, the best combination of pharmacologic and psychosocial components is not known. Our objective of the planned study is to conduct a comprehensive systematic review to assess the relative benefits of psychosocial interventions as an adjunct to opioid agonist therapy among persons with OUD.

Using behavior change frameworks to improve healthcare worker influenza vaccination rates: A systematic review.

Background: Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) is important for protecting staff and patients, yet vaccine coverage among HCW remains below recommended targets. Psychological theories of behavior change may help guide interventions to improve vaccine uptake. Our objectives were to: (1) review the effectiveness of interventions based on psychological theories of behavior change to improve HCW influenza vaccination rates, and (2) determine which psychological theories have been used to predict HCW influenza vaccination uptake.

Examining Perceptions about Mandatory Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers through Online Comments on News Stories.

Background: The aim of this study was to understand online public perceptions of the debate surrounding the choice of annual influenza vaccinations or wearing masks as a condition of employment for healthcare workers, such as the one enacted in British Columbia in August 2012.

Methods: Four national and 82 local (British Columbia) Canadian online news sites were searched for articles posted between August 2012 and May 2013 containing the words "healthcare workers" and "mandatory influenza vaccinations/immunizations" or "mandatory flu shots and healthcare workers." We included articles from sources that predominantly concerned our topic of interest and that generated reader comments.

When knowledge is not enough: changing behavior to change vaccination results.

Why don't health care workers universally embrace vaccination to prevent vaccine preventable diseases and protect themselves and their patients? To address this problem most vaccination campaigns focus on providing education and information to health care workers. While knowledge is a necessary first step, it is likely not sufficient to increase health care worker vaccine uptake. We discuss a novel approach to applying behavior change theories and principles as a framework to plan, guide, and evaluate vaccine promotion interventions, with the goal of enhancing vaccine coverage among health care workers.

Qualitative motivators and barriers to pandemic vs. seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers: a content analysis.

Introduction: Influenza is a major concern across healthcare environments. Annual vaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) remains a key mode of influenza prevention in healthcare settings. Yet influenza vaccine coverage among HCWs continues to be below recommended targets, in pandemic and non-pandemic settings.

Predicting influenza vaccination uptake among health care workers: what are the key motivators?

Background: Health care worker (HCW) vaccination was critical to protecting HCW during the H1N1 pandemic. However, vaccine uptake rates fell below recommended targets. This study examined motivators and barriers influencing HCW pH1N1 vaccination to identify modifiable factors that can improve influenza vaccine uptake.

Factors influencing pandemic influenza vaccination of healthcare workers--a systematic review.

Introduction: Maintaining the health and availability of Health care workers (HCW) is an essential component of pandemic preparedness. A key to protecting HCW during the H1N1 pandemic was influenza vaccination. Numerous researchers have reported on factors influencing H1N1 vaccination behaviour in various HCW groups.

Bipolar patients can safely and successfully receive interferon-based hepatitis C antiviral treatment.

Aim: Patients with bipolar disease are often not considered for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antiviral treatment and are excluded from clinical trials because of the risk of interferon-induced exacerbation of their underlying mood disorder. As this risk has not been well quantified in bipolar patients, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of HCV treatment in this population.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of HCV patients evaluated at The Ottawa Hospital between January 2000 and February 2008 (n=910) was carried out.

Altruism motivates participation in a therapeutic HIV vaccine trial (CTN 173).

This is the first study examining motivation to participate in an HIV therapeutic vaccine trial of Remune and ALVAC. Trial participants (N=49) completed psychological measures at baseline. While 69% reported some personal risk in participating, 100% felt hopeful for societal benefits.

High HIV knowledge relates to low stigma in pharmacists and university health science students in Guyana, South America.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate HIV knowledge and its relation to HIV stigma among health science students and pharmacists in Guyana, South America. This study also evaluated how the Public Health Strengthening in Guyana Project's (PHSGP) HIV/AIDS/STI educational initiatives influenced HIV knowledge levels among health science students at the University of Guyana.

Methods: A total of 119 individuals, consisting of pharmacists (n=42) and health science students (n=77) participated in this cross-sectional study.

Increasing public awareness about hepatitis C: development and validation of the brief hepatitis C knowledge scale.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is silently becoming a major public health problem. Currently, no validated HCV knowledge measures exist. This study aimed to develop and validate a brief measure to assess general knowledge about HCV risk factors, modes of transmissions, and treatment options.

The role of psychological and behavioral variables in quality of life and the experience of bodily pain among persons living with HIV.

With increased life expectancy of individuals living with HIV, quality of life (QOL) has become a focus of treatment. More research is needed to address pain-related QOL and modifiable variables, such as health behaviors, depressive symptoms, and coping styles, which could be included in treatment protocols to improve QOL among individuals with HIV. Objectives of this study were to (1) examine relationships among health behaviors, psychological variables, and QOL, particularly pain-specific QOL, (2) examine the relationships among coping, depressive symptoms, and QOL, and (3) compare QOL scores of individuals with HIV and population-based normative data.