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Current Projects

Optimizing Me​dication Management in Community Dwelling Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Principal Investigator: Dr. Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Drs. Aisha Lofters, Sander Hitzig, Tanya Packer, Tejal Patel & Mary-Ellen Hogan

The  primary  aim  of  the  exploratory  multi-methods  study  is  to  increase  knowledge  on  the  prevalence  of, and  associated  risk  factors for, polypharmacy  among  persons  with  spinal cord injury (SCI)  as well as  to  understand  how  medication  management  can  be  optimized  for  this population. This study is divided into two phases. The first phase involves a quantitative analysis of ICES administrative data to understand the prevalence and associated risk factors of polypharmacy for persons with SCI.  The second phase involves a qualitative exploration of experiences with medication management through one-to-one interviews with persons with SCI, their caregivers and clinicians.  The data collected from these two phases will be synthesized to gain an in-depth understanding of optimal medication management for persons with SCI.  The findings from this project will lead to more tailored and effective interventions to help persons best self-manage their medications and will help clinicians/informal caregivers to provide better care. 

​MSc Student: Lauren Cadel 
Research Staff: Amanda Everall, Stephanie Cimino, Maliha Asif
Funders:  Craig H. Neilsen Foundation; Connaught New Investigator Fund at the University of Toronto

Understanding transitions of care across the care journey for older adults with hip fracture and delay in discharge: A qualitative multiple-case study 

Co-Principal Investigators: Drs. Sara Guilcher & Kerry Kuluski
Co-Investigators: Dr. Walter Wodchis 

The goal of this study is to understand the experiences and resource needs of older adults who have experienced a hip fracture or who have been designated alternate level of care across two different health jurisdictions in Ontario. This project uses a multiple case-study design where in-depth interviews with patients, unpaid caregivers, health care providers, and decision makers as well asd document analysis are being conducted.  This research will make an important contribution to the current knowledge about the planning and implementation of care for persons with complex health needs. Exploring experiences with, and perceptions of, transitions from these key stakeholders, will provide a comprehensive understanding of the enabling factors within local contexts to support optimal transitions for persons with hip fractures and complex health needs.

MSc Student: Lauren Cadel
​
Research Staff: Amanda Everall, Joyce Li, Maliha Asif
Funders:  Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; Canadian Institutes for Health Research

Should community pharmacy be “linked”? A pilot study exploring perceptions of the integration of community pharmacy with Health Links in Ontario


​Co-Principal Investigators
: Drs. Sara Guilcher & Jennifer Lake
Co-Investigators: Drs. Katie Dainty & Zahava Rosenberg-Yunger

The aim of this study is to explore different stakeholder perceptions of integrating community pharmacy into the current Health Links model and to identify barriers and facilitators to such an integration. To help accomplish this aim, we are conducting one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, including community pharmacy owners, community pharmacists, clinicians and managers working within and outside Health Links as well as decision-makers (e.g. leaders in pharmacy associations).  Gaining understanding and insights from these stakeholders is critical to improving efforts to optimize delivery of health care and to improve health outcomes through inter-professional collaboration within integrated health models such as the Health Links approach. 

Undergraduate Student: Teagan Rolf Von Den Bauman
Research Staff: Amanda Everall
Funders:  Centre for Practice Excellence, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto

Location
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
144 College Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3M2
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Funding Sources
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Thank you to all our funding sources for allowing us to do what we do!
  • Home
  • Dr. Sara Guilcher
  • THE TEAM
    • Present
    • Past
  • Research
    • Projects >
      • Current Projects
      • Past Projects
    • Publications
    • Events
    • Recruitment Opportunities
  • Resources
  • Contact Us