Models of Arthritis Care: A Systems-level Evaluation of Acceptability as a Dimension of Quality of Care.

Objective: To describe a systems-level baseline evaluation of central intake (CI) and triage systems in arthritis care within Alberta, Canada. The specific objectives were to (1) describe a process for systems evaluation for the provision of arthritis care; (2) report the findings of the evaluation for different clinical sites that provide arthritis care; and (3) identify opportunities for improving appropriate and timely access based on the findings of the evaluation.

Methods: The study used a convergent mixed methods design.

Co-design of a patient experience survey for arthritis central intake: an example of meaningful patient engagement in healthcare design.

Background: To describe the process of patient engagement to co-design a patient experience survey for people with arthritis referred to central intake.

Methods: We used a participatory design to engage with patients to co-design a patient experience survey that comprised three connected phases: 1) Identifying the needs of patients with arthritis, 2) Developing a set of key performance indicators, and 3) Determining the survey items for the patient experience survey.

Results: Patient recommendations for high quality healthcare care means support to manage arthritis, to live a meaningful life by providing the right knowledge, professional support, and professional relationship.

A Systematic Review of the Quality of Life for Families Supporting a Child Consuming the Ketogenic Diet for Seizure Reduction.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a nonpharmacologic treatment to reduce seizures with moderate to high success in pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy. Initiated in hospital, parents continue the treatment at home ensuring the ratio of high fat to low carbohydrate/protein is maintained to achieve metabolic ketosis. We conducted a systematic review to examine the quality of life (QoL) for families with a child using the KD for the reduction in epileptic seizures.

The suffering of chronic pain patients on a wait list: Are they amenable to narrative therapy?

: Chronic pain affects one in five Canadians. People with chronic pain frequently experience loss in their lives related to work, relationships, and their independence. They may be referred to a chronic pain program, which aims to strengthen coping through medical intervention and self-management skills.

An Integrative Review of the Literature on Pain Management Barriers: Implications for the Canadian Clinical Context.

Despite decades of pain research, substandard pain management continues to be distressingly prevalent across health-care settings. This integrative literature review analyzes and synthesizes barriers to effective pain management and identifies areas for future investigation in a Canadian context. Three sets of key barriers were identified through thematic analysis of 24 original research studies published in the period 2003-13: patient, professional, and organizational.