Conceptualization of medication self-management in community-dwelling adults
Principal Investigator: Dr. Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Drs. Alison Thompson, Lisa McCarthy & Aisha Lofters
The aim of this study is to investigate the conceptualization of medication self-management in community-dwelling adults with experience taking chronic medications. The study uses the mixed-methods, participatory action approach of concept mapping. This research will explore, categorize, and visualize opinions and perspectives surrounding medication self-management. Concept maps of participant view-points with thematic categories arranged spatially by similarity will be created. Results will be stratified by participant-rated dimensions of importance and feasibility, along with participant demographics to explore how conceptualization may vary by social locations (e.g., multimorbidity, gender, age). This exploratory study is a step towards the goal of developing a new theoretical medication self-management framework that can be applied to understand similar populations and improve health care system experiences.
Funders: New Idea Catalyst Program for Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy Research, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
Research Staff: Amanda Everall
MSc Student: Kay James
Principal Investigator: Dr. Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Drs. Alison Thompson, Lisa McCarthy & Aisha Lofters
The aim of this study is to investigate the conceptualization of medication self-management in community-dwelling adults with experience taking chronic medications. The study uses the mixed-methods, participatory action approach of concept mapping. This research will explore, categorize, and visualize opinions and perspectives surrounding medication self-management. Concept maps of participant view-points with thematic categories arranged spatially by similarity will be created. Results will be stratified by participant-rated dimensions of importance and feasibility, along with participant demographics to explore how conceptualization may vary by social locations (e.g., multimorbidity, gender, age). This exploratory study is a step towards the goal of developing a new theoretical medication self-management framework that can be applied to understand similar populations and improve health care system experiences.
Funders: New Idea Catalyst Program for Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy Research, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
Research Staff: Amanda Everall
MSc Student: Kay James
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.
Funders: Centre for Practice Excellence, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
Research Staff: Amanda Everall
Undergraduate Student: Teagan Rolf Von Den Bauman
Optimizing medication 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.
Funders: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation; Connaught New Investigator Fund at the University of Toronto
Research Staff: Amanda Everall, Stephanie Cimino
MSc Student: Lauren Cadel
Optimizing support and service delivery for problem gambling among people living with complex needs
Co-Principal Investigators: Drs. Flora Matheson & Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Drs. Stephan Hwang, Nigel Turner & Wayne Skinner
The main goal of this project is to improve practice and optimize recovery for people experiencing problem gambling (PG) and who have complex health and social needs. This project involves collaboration with a large network of community partners to document current knowledge on interventions that optimize recovery from problem gambling, increase awareness and identify ways to help the health professions feel more comfortable providing care for people experiencing problem gambling within their practices. Qualitative interviews with persons who have experienced PG and are living with complex needs were conducted to understand their experiences and current self-management strategies as well as to determine their interest in, and capabilities with, technology to determine if an app helpful would be a helpful self-management tool. A focus group was also conducted with partnering agency staff to gather their perspectives on client service delivery and support needs. By engaging these groups, we will gain a better understand of the kinds of interventions that might be appropriate for people experiencing problem gambling. This data is being used to co-create an app with, and for, consumers to help with self-management of their symptoms, treatment course, the physical and psychosocial consequences of gambling and lifestyle changes.
Funders: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Research Staff: Amanda Everall
MSc Student: Lauren Cadel
Publications: Self-management strategies for problem gambling.pdf
Co-Principal Investigators: Drs. Flora Matheson & Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Drs. Stephan Hwang, Nigel Turner & Wayne Skinner
The main goal of this project is to improve practice and optimize recovery for people experiencing problem gambling (PG) and who have complex health and social needs. This project involves collaboration with a large network of community partners to document current knowledge on interventions that optimize recovery from problem gambling, increase awareness and identify ways to help the health professions feel more comfortable providing care for people experiencing problem gambling within their practices. Qualitative interviews with persons who have experienced PG and are living with complex needs were conducted to understand their experiences and current self-management strategies as well as to determine their interest in, and capabilities with, technology to determine if an app helpful would be a helpful self-management tool. A focus group was also conducted with partnering agency staff to gather their perspectives on client service delivery and support needs. By engaging these groups, we will gain a better understand of the kinds of interventions that might be appropriate for people experiencing problem gambling. This data is being used to co-create an app with, and for, consumers to help with self-management of their symptoms, treatment course, the physical and psychosocial consequences of gambling and lifestyle changes.
Funders: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Research Staff: Amanda Everall
MSc Student: Lauren Cadel
Publications: Self-management strategies for problem gambling.pdf
Pharmacy communication partnership program pilot study
Co-Principle Investigators: Drs. Lisa McCarthy, Sara Guilcher & Olavo Fernandes
Co-Investigators: Karen Cameron, John Farrell, Philip Lui, John Papastergiou, Gary Wong, Dr. Pauline Pariser
Transitions between community and acute care settings are high risk periods for all patients in terms of medication errors. The PROMPT (Pharmacy Communication Partnership) program establishes formal communication links between hospital and community pharmacists with the goal of sharing clinically relevant information across transitions of patient care to facilitate avoidance and resolution of these errors. The goals of this second iteration of the PROMPT study are based on the findings of a pilot study that took place between February to November of 2016. Through telephone surveys and interviews with both community and hospital pharmacists who participated in PROMPT, the current project explores how well this program works, whether changes are needed to maximize its usefulness, and how such a program might best be implemented. The PROMPT study team brings together scientists, experienced administrators, and recognized health professional leaders from the University of Toronto, local academic health centres, and community pharmacy, who together have the knowledge, resources and influence to realize these goals.
Funders: Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy; Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists; Centre for Practice Excellence, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
Research Staff: Miles Luke, Amanda Everall, Clara Korenvain
Students: Shawn Varghese, Nanar Ghorghorian, Laurel Liang, Jessica Visentin, Taylor Raiche
