Current Projects
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
Alternate level of care: assessing the state of the evidence
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kerry Kuluski and Dr. Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Tara Kiran, Jason Sutherland
This study is using a multi-method and an integrated knowledge translation approach across the three phases to gather and synthesize evidence related to alternate level of care (ALC) best practices and document a set of recommendations and strategies to be tested in a future study. The first phase involves conducting an international scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature to identify evidence on ALC initiatives, strategies and outcomes. The second phase involves conducting one-to-one interviews with key stakeholders (providers, managers and decision-makers) in two geographically diverse regions of Ontario. During the third phase, we will synthesize the evidence from the first two phases in order to outline key recommendations for ALC strategies moving forward.
Funders: Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Research Staff: Lauren Cadel
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kerry Kuluski and Dr. Sara Guilcher
Co-Investigators: Tara Kiran, Jason Sutherland
This study is using a multi-method and an integrated knowledge translation approach across the three phases to gather and synthesize evidence related to alternate level of care (ALC) best practices and document a set of recommendations and strategies to be tested in a future study. The first phase involves conducting an international scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature to identify evidence on ALC initiatives, strategies and outcomes. The second phase involves conducting one-to-one interviews with key stakeholders (providers, managers and decision-makers) in two geographically diverse regions of Ontario. During the third phase, we will synthesize the evidence from the first two phases in order to outline key recommendations for ALC strategies moving forward.
Funders: Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Research Staff: Lauren Cadel
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
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.
Funders: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Research Staff: Amanda Everall, Joyce Li, Maliha Asif
MSc Student: Lauren Cadel
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
