Publications by authors named "Leigh Anne Shafer"
Background: Among women of reproductive age with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we aimed to assess the relationship of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) with IBD-related symptoms, and intestinal inflammation.
Methods: A nested cohort of women in the longitudinal Manitoba Living with IBD Study, ages 18 to 49, were followed for 1 year, with bi-weekly online surveys. This included a validated measure of disease activity; IBD Symptom Inventory (IBDSI), and stool samples obtained at 3 time-points for assessment of fecal calprotectin (FCAL).
Background: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptom Inventory (IBDSI) is a validated patient self-reported measure used to assess IBD disease activity. There have yet to be more granular analyses on which symptoms are most associated with active disease.
Aims: To assess the prevalence of symptoms, and to examine which are most associated with disease activity as measured by a symptom index and objective measure of inflammation METHODS: The Manitoba Living with IBD Study is a prospective study of 156 participants with confirmed IBD who completed bi-weekly IBDSI.
Introduction: Invasive medical procedures such as colonoscopies can cause psychological distress and anxiety. Mycolonoscopy.ca is a multilanguage website that provides online written and video information (individual items reported in prior publications to be highly rated by patients) regarding preparation and what to expect before, during, and after colonoscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Design: Qualitative Survey study.
Objective: One might assume that those with higher and more complete spinal cord injuries are at higher risk of depression and anxiety. The objective of this study was to assess the association between level and severity of injury with the degree of anxiety and depression in chronic spinal cord injury.
Background: Optimal intervals between repeat colonoscopies could improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. We evaluated: (a) concordance between clinician and guideline recommended colonoscopy screening intervals in Winnipeg, Manitoba, (b) clinician opinions about the utility of an electronic decision-making tool to aid in recommending screening intervals, and (c) the initial use of a decision-making smartphone/web-based application.
Methods: Clinician endoscopists and primary care providers participated in four focus groups (N = 22).
Background: In this matched case-control longitudinal study among people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated beliefs about what triggers a flare.
Methods: Adults with confirmed IBD and active disease within 2 years were enrolled in the Manitoba Living with IBD Study and followed biweekly with online surveys for 1 year. The 7-point IBD Symptom Change Indicator was used for participant identification of a flare.
Objective: Positive and negative psychological attributes have been shown to influence disease outcomes in many chronic health conditions. We aimed to evaluate the association between self-efficacy, optimism, health anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty and disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods: Adults with confirmed and recently active IBD enrolled in a prospective cohort study.
Introduction: We aimed to determine both direct (medical) and indirect (lost wages) costs of IBD and the association between the degree of IBD-related disability and extent of IBD-related costs.
Methods: Persons age 18-65 from the population-based University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry completed a survey including the IBD Disability Index (IBDDI) and questions related to employment, missed work (absenteeism), and reduced productivity at work (presenteeism). Administrative health data including surgeries, hospitalizations, physician claims, and prescriptions were linked to the survey and assessed.
Background: We aimed to examine whether an association exists between diet quality, based on the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Healthy Diet Score (HDS), and active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods: Participants were drawn from the Manitoba Living With IBD Study cohort. The Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate the HDS at two time points: baseline and 1-year follow-up.
Background: Flare is a poorly defined term used by patients and clinicians to indicate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) status. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of a single-item 7-point flare indicator relative to other measures of disease flare.
Methods: The longitudinal Manitoba Living with IBD Study followed persons with IBD for 1 year; they completed biweekly online surveys and provided 3 stool samples.
Objectives: The unprecedented worldwide social distancing response to COVID-19 resulted in a quick reversal of escalating case numbers. Recently, local governments globally have begun to relax social distancing regulations. Using the situation in Manitoba, Canada as an example, we estimated the impact that social distancing relaxation may have on the pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Opioid medications are commonly used by Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants following workplace injuries. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of an opioid management policy on opioid prescriptions amongst a WCB-covered population compared to changes in the use of these medications in the general population of a Canadian province.
Methods: We linked WCB claims data from 2006 to 2016 (13,155 claims, 11,905 individuals) to Manitoba provincial health records and compared opioid use amongst this group to 478,606 individuals aged 18-65.
An International Multicenter Comparison of IBD-Related Disability and Validation of the IBDDI.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
December 2021
Background: The IBD disability index (IBDDI) has been shown to be valid and reliable. We compared the distributional and predictive properties of the IBDDI, when collected from five populations of people living with IBD- from Winnipeg, Chicago, Toronto, Hong Kong, and Jerusalem.
Methods: People with IBD from five jurisdictions were invited to complete a survey including the IBDDI, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale, the Work and Social Adjustment Scale, the IBDQ, the Kessler-6 distress scale, and the Stanford presenteeism scale.
Introduction: Checkpoint inhibitor drugs including ipilimumab have been reported to induce intestinal injury.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate the risk of chronic (> 6 weeks) enterocolitis following ipilimumab administration, and the likelihood that an enteritis vs colitis or enterocolitis is seen.
Patients And Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry, and conference proceedings.
Background: We aimed to investigate (1) the stability of inflammatory aspects of diet over 1 year among persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and (2) the impact of change in diet on changes in inflammation and IBD symptoms over 1 year.
Methods: Participants were recruited to the Manitoba Living with IBD Study and completed the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII) were used to calculate the inflammatory potential of the diet.
Introduction: We aimed to validate the Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 (MARS-5) as a tool for assessing medication adherence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to determine predictors of medication adherence.
Methods: One hundred twelve (N = 112) adults with confirmed IBD participating in the longitudinal Manitoba Living With IBD Study were eligible. Demographics, IBD type, surgeries, disease activity (using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptom Inventory and fecal calprotectin levels), perceived stress, and medication use were collected biweekly through online surveys.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers wanted to see how REM sleep affects seizures in people with epilepsy.
- They looked at EEG recordings to measure how long REM sleep lasted and how often abnormal brain activity happened during REM.
- They found that more abnormal activity in REM was linked to having more seizures, which could help doctors understand how a person's epilepsy might progress.
Background: Guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) is often used "off-label" for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is increasingly replacing gFOBT in colorectal cancer screening and may play a role in assessment for significant bowel disease. We examined the concordance of FIT with gFOBT (Hemoccult Sensa II) among inpatients and between day 1 and day 3 gFOBT results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBetter pre-colonoscopy education may lead to improved bowel preparation, decreased anxiety, and a willingness to go direct-to-colonoscopy. We assessed information experiences, needs, and preferences of patients undergoing colonoscopy.A self-administered survey was distributed between 08/2015 and 06/2016 to patients in Winnipeg, Canada when they attended an outpatient colonoscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We aimed to determine how health care utilization indicators in IBD that reflect moderate to severe disease relate to disability later in life.
Methods: Persons in the population-based University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry completed a survey and gave permission to access their Manitoba Health records. Of 2478 people in the Registry aged 18 to 65 years, 854 participated between April 2015 and March 2016.
Background: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to describe AIT and its clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review at a heart failure center in Winnipeg, Canada.
Background: Assessing patterns and trends in new infections is key to better understanding of HIV epidemics, and is best done through monitoring changes in incidence over time. In this study, we examined disparities in geographical trends of HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs (PWIDs), female sex workers (FSWs) and /transgender/male sex workers (H/MSWs), in Pakistan.
Methods: The UNAIDS Estimation and Projection Package (EPP) mathematical model was used to explore geographical trends in HIV epidemics.
Background: Modelling studies have been widely used to inform human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination policy decisions; however, many models exist and it is not known whether they produce consistent predictions of population-level effectiveness and herd effects. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of model predictions of the long-term population-level effectiveness of vaccination against HPV 16, 18, 6, and 11 infection in women and men, to examine the variability in predicted herd effects, incremental benefit of vaccinating boys, and potential for HPV-vaccine-type elimination.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE and Embase for transmission-dynamic modelling studies published between Jan 1, 2009, and April 28, 2015, that predicted the population-level impact of vaccination on HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 infections in high-income countries.