Exploring the Needs of Cancer Survivors When Returning to or Staying in the Workforce.

Purpose Cancer survivors have strong personal desires to resume work to feel productive and meet financial needs. However, they may be faced with physical and psychological challenges. This research addresses the question: "What are the needs of cancer survivors when returning to or staying in the workforce?" by (i) examining cancer survivors' perspectives on supports needed when returning to or staying in the workforce and (ii) exploring personal and employment factors that influence the return to work process.

Barriers to and facilitators for use of augmentative and alternative communication and voice restorative devices in the adult intensive care unit: a scoping review protocol.

Background: Mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience profound communication impairment, placing them at risk for poor physical and psychological outcomes. Patient communication strategies such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and voice restorative devices are recommended to facilitate communication. These strategies, however, are inconsistently adopted in ICU practice signaling utilization barriers.

Association Study of OPRM1 Gene in a Sample of Schizophrenia Patients With Alcohol Dependence or Abuse.

Alcohol use disorder is a complex disorder that is influenced by genetic factors. The non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1799971 in exon 1 in opioid receptor was extensively studied in patients with alcohol dependence with mixed findings. Moreover, studies showed that opioid receptor polymorphism might play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

The impact of air pollution on the incidence of diabetes and survival among prevalent diabetes cases.

Purpose: Growing evidence implicates ambient air pollutants in the development of major chronic diseases and premature mortality. However, epidemiologic evidence linking air pollution to diabetes remains inconclusive. This study sought to determine the relationships between selected air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide [NO], fine particulate matter [PM], ozone [O], and oxidant capacity [Ox; the redox-weighted average of O and NO]) and the incidence of diabetes, as well as the risk of cardiovascular or diabetes mortality among individuals with prevalent diabetes.

Articular reductions - how close is close enough? A narrative review.

Intra-articular fractures are a unique subset of fractures as they involve a varying extent of damage to cartilage. The impact of this articular fracture causes significant microscopic and macroscopic changes, as well as biomechanical irregularities, which can lead to further cartilage damage, and ultimately cascade down the dreaded path to arthritis. It is generally believed that an anatomic reduction of an articular fracture is the necessary goal of treatment for these injuries, however it yet to be delineated how perfect this reduction has to be.

Correction to: Project management lessons learned from the multicentre CYCLE pilot randomized controlled trial.

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that one of the authors' names is spelled incorrectly. In this Correction the incorrect and correct author name are shown.

A global picture of family medicine: the view from a WONCA Storybooth.

Background: Family Medicine is a novel discipline in many countries, where the motivation for training and value added to communities is not well-described. Our purpose was to understand the reason behind the choice of Family Medicine as a profession, the impact of Family Medicine on communities, and Family Medicine's characterizing qualities, as perceived by family doctors around the world.

Methods: One-question video interviews were conducted using an appreciative inquiry approach, with volunteer participants at the 2016 World Organization of Family Doctors conference in Rio de Janeiro.

Project management lessons learned from the multicentre CYCLE pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Clinical trials management can be studied using project management theory. The CYCLE pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to determine the feasibility of a future rehabilitation trial of early in-bed cycling in the intensive care unit (ICU). In-bed cycling is a novel intervention, not typically available in ICUs.

The effect of a clinical decision support system on prompting an intervention for risky alcohol use in a primary care smoking cessation program: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) may promote practitioner adherence to evidence-based guidelines. This study examined if the addition of a CDSS influenced practitioner delivery of a brief intervention with treatment-seeking smokers who were drinking above recommended alcohol consumption guidelines, compared with practitioners who do not receive a CDSS prompt.

Methods: This was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in primary health care clinics across Ontario, Canada, implementing the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) smoking cessation program.

Complementary and alternative medicine use in children with asthma.

Purpose: To estimate the overall prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine and specific modalities used among children with asthma, identify predictors of use, and perceived positive or negative effects of therapies.

Results: Of the 161 children enrolled in the study, 76.4% had ever used complementary and alternative medicine.

Treatment preferences of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma: a qualitative study.

Background: Multiple myeloma is a haematological malignancy characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. This study sought to develop an in-depth understanding of patients' lived experiences of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) and its treatment, and to identify which features of treatment were most important to them.

Methods: Qualitative interviews and focus groups (FGs) were conducted with 32 people living with RRMM across Canada.

Multi-stakeholder perspectives on perceived wellness of Special Olympics athletes.

Background: Research to date with children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has previously focused upon specific aspects of health (e.g., physical activity, nutrition).

Quality improvement strategies to prevent falls in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Falls are a common occurrence and the most effective quality improvement (QI) strategies remain unclear.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to elucidate effective quality improvement (QI) strategies for falls prevention. Multiple databases were searched (inception-April 2017).

Characterizing slip-like responses during gait using an entire support surface perturbation: Comparisons to previously established slip methods.

Background: The characteristics of experimentally induced slips (low-friction surfaces and non-motorized platforms) in laboratory settings are influenced by participant gait velocity, contact surface area, and level of friction between the foot and surface. However, motorized platforms that could account for these factors during slip-like paradigms have not been extensively used.

Research Question: How does slip-like perturbations evoked via a motorized platform change gait characteristics and postural stability during overground walking?

Methods: Ten healthy young adults performed 4 overground, self-paced walking trials, with the 4 trial including an unexpected forward support surface translation at heel-strike during steady state walking.

Cognitive profile of non-demented Parkinson's disease: Meta-analysis of domain and sex-specific deficits.

Introduction: Better awareness of the cognitive domains affected in non-demented Parkinson's Disease (PD) should improve understanding of cognitive disease mechanisms. A complete understanding of the cognitive areas impaired in non-demented PD is hindered because most studies use small clinical samples without comparison to healthy controls. This meta-analysis examined cumulative evidence across studies to determine if there were impairments in non-demented PD in the three cognitive domains thought to be most widely affected in PD: frontal executive, visuospatial, and verbal memory.

Challenges in Collecting Big Data in A Clinical Environment with Vulnerable Population: Lessons Learned from A Study Using A Multi-modal Sensors Platform.

Agitation is one of the most common behavioural and psychological symptoms in people living with dementia (PLwD). This behaviour can cause tremendous stress and anxiety on family caregivers and healthcare providers. Direct observation of PLwD is the traditional way to measure episodes of agitation.

Utilization of opioid agonist therapy among incarcerated persons with opioid use disorder in Vancouver, Canada.

Background: Inability to access opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in correctional settings has previously been reported in Vancouver, Canada, and is associated with harms among people with opioid use disorder (OUD), including overdose death. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of OAT utilization within correctional settings among incarcerated persons with OUD in Vancouver.

Methods: Data were derived from three prospective cohorts of people who use drugs in Vancouver between 2005 and 2016.

The BETTER WISE protocol: building on existing tools to improve cancer and chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care for wellness of cancer survivors and patients - a cluster randomized controlled trial embedded in a mixed methods design.

Background: There is a pressing need to reduce the burden of chronic disease and improve healthcare system sustainability through improved cancer and chronic disease prevention and screening (CCDPS) in primary care. We aim to create an integrated approach that addresses the needs of the general population and the special concerns of cancer survivors. Building on previous research, we will develop, implement, and test the effectiveness of an approach that proactively targets patients to attend an individualized CCDPS intervention delivered by a Prevention Practitioner (PP).

A multi-stakeholder perspective on asthma care in Canada: findings from a mixed methods needs assessment in the treatment and management of asthma in adults.

Background: Although several aspects of asthma care have been identified as being sub-optimal in Canada, such as patient education, practice guideline adoption, and access to care, there remains a need to determine the extent to which these gaps remain, so as to investigate their underlying causes, and potential solutions.

Methods: An ethics-approved mixed methods educational needs assessment was conducted in four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec), combining a qualitative phase (45-min semi-structured interviews with community-based healthcare providers and key stakeholders) and a quantitative phase (15-min survey, healthcare providers only).

Results: A total of 234 participants were included in the study, 44 in semi-structured interviews and 190 in the online survey.

Cancer screening inequities in a time of primary care reform: a population-based longitudinal study in Ontario, Canada.

Background: Primary care has been reformed in recent years in Ontario, Canada, with a move away from traditional fee-for-service to enhanced fee-for-service and capitation-based models. It is unclear how new models have affected disparities in cancer screening. We evaluated whether Ontario's enhanced fee-for-service model was associated with a change in the gaps in cancer screening for people living with low income and people who are foreign-born.

Exploring pharmacy service users' support for and willingness to use community pharmacist prescribing services.

Background: In 2012, community pharmacists in Ontario, Canada gained regulatory authority to independently prescribe, including renew and adapt prescriptions. Studies have explored views of pharmacists, physicians and policymakers about pharmacist prescribing but less is known about the views of community pharmacy services users.

Objective: To describe Ontario community pharmacy service users' support for and stated willingness to use pharmacist prescribing services.

Dance for the rehabilitation of balance and gait in adults with neurological conditions other than Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review that examined the effect of dance interventions on balance, gait and functional mobility outcomes in adults with neurological conditions other than Parkinson's disease.

Methods: A systematic search of relevant databases was conducted. Data extraction and methodological appraisal were performed by two independent authors.

Exploring the relationship between stability and variability of the centre of mass and centre of pressure.

Background: There are competing perspectives in the literature regarding the role of movement variability in quiet standing and balance control. Some view high variability as indicative of poor balance control and a contributor to increased fall risk, whereas others view variability as beneficial in providing sensory information that aids balance control.

Research Question: This study aimed to help to clarify the role of variability in balance control by testing two competing hypotheses: that increased variability would lead to instability, or that increased variability would improve stability, where stability is defined as the ability to respond to a perturbation.

Lingual and Jaw Kinematic Abnormalities Precede Speech and Swallowing Impairments in ALS.

Early identification of bulbar involvement in persons with ALS is critical for improving diagnosis and prognosis; however, efficacious diagnostic markers have not yet been identified. The purpose of this study was to determine whether kinematic changes of the tongue and jaw during swallowing, measured using 3D electromagnetic articulography (EMA), predate clinically identifiable symptoms of speech and swallowing impairment in persons diagnosed with ALS. Data were collected from 16 adults diagnosed with ALS and 18 neurotypical controls.

Using the RE-AIM Model of Health Promotion to Implement a Military Women's Health Promotion Program for Austere Settings.

The health concerns for military women who serve in austere environments include feminine hygiene, risk of infection, and limited knowledge of gynecologic conditions, symptoms, and prevention. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Women's Health Promotion Program (WHPP) for Austere Environments that was implemented in the military community setting of a large operational military unit on a southeastern U.S.