Browsing by Author "Guilcher, Gregory"

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    Co-Creating the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG) Toolkit with End-Users
    (2021-07-16) McLaughlin, Emma; Culos-Reed, S. Nicole; Guilcher, Gregory; Zwicker, Jennifer; Laing, Catherine
    The international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG) support movement among children and adolescents affected by cancer. Knowledge translation efforts are needed to ensure that those who will use and/or benefit from the iPOEG have access to it. This thesis used an integrated knowledge translation approach within the Knowledge to Action (KTA) Framework, to engage end-users (i.e., professionals and patients/families) to: (i) identify the types of resources needed, (ii) co-create resources and content, and (iii) co-create dissemination plans. End-users indicated requiring resources such as posters, infographics, social media posts, and videos, and co-created resource content covering quick tips to get active and movement-related education and information. End-users suggested disseminating the finalized resources (i.e., iPOEG Toolkits) using multiple modalities, including champions within each end-user group, education sessions, group discussions, emails, and social media. Co-creating the iPOEG Toolkit and dissemination plan represents an important phase within the KTA to promote the reach of the iPOEG.
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    Cognitive-Executive Processes and Social Adjustment in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
    (2024-02-14) McDonald, Kaelyn Anjali; Schulte, Fiona; Guilcher, Gregory; Yeates, Keith
    Background: Survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have historically faced serious neurological and social difficulties as a consequence of their treatment with cranial radiation therapy (CRT). However, such difficulties are poorly understood among survivors treated with modern chemotherapy-only protocols. This study aimed to investigate cognitive-executive functioning and social adjustment, as well as factors relating to these outcomes, in this new wave of survivors as compared to survivors of pediatric non-central nervous system (CNS) solid tumours and healthy children. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed survivors aged 8-17 and their caregivers at least two years after finishing treatment. Survivors of pediatric ALL (n=25) and non-CNS solid tumours (n=18) were recruited to the current study, and healthy children (n=33) were included from a previous study. Cognitive-executive outcome measures included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V) Working Memory Index (WMI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI), and social adjustment was measured through the Adaptive Behaviors Assessment System Third Edition (ABAS-3) Social Adaptive Domain. Group comparisons were made using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests, and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to explore potential predictors of these outcomes. Results: Survivors of pediatric ALL scored significantly worse than healthy children on the WMI (ANOVA post hoc p<.001) and a subscale of the Social Adaptive Domain (ANOVA post hoc p=.002). Survivors of pediatric non-CNS solid tumours scored significantly worse than healthy children on the WMI (ANOVA post hoc p=.028) and PSI (ANOVA post hoc p<.001). No significant differences were observed between the two survivor groups. WMI and PSI scores did not significantly predict Social Adaptive Domain scores. Conclusions: These findings highlight difficulties faced by both survivors of pediatric ALL and non-CNS solid tumours which have the potential to cause substantial, ongoing negative impacts on their lives. Future research should investigate the underlying causes of these difficulties in order to inform screening and intervention protocols aimed at improving these children’s quality of life.
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    Health care stakeholder perspectives regarding the role of a patient navigator during transition to adult care
    (2019-06-17) Dimitropoulos, Gina; Morgan-Maver, Elizabeth; Allemang, Brooke; Schraeder, Kyleigh; Scott, Shannon D; Pinzon, Jorge; Andrew, Gail; Guilcher, Gregory; Hamiwka, Lorraine; Lang, Eddy; McBrien, Kerry; Nettel-Aguirre, Alberto; Pacaud, Daniele; Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie; Mackie, Andrew; Samuel, Susan
    Abstract Background Transition to adult care represents a vulnerable period for young people with special health care needs as they navigate multiple life transitions and developmental issues. Patient navigators are a promising intervention designed to facilitate the transfer from pediatric to adult care. However, consistent definitions, key tasks, roles and responsibilities are lacking in guiding the scope of practice and the implementation of patient navigators. Methods Fundamental qualitative description was utilized in this study to identify perceptions from health care providers about implementing a patient navigator service for young people with special health care needs in transition to adult care. A purposive sample of health care providers with a variety of backgrounds within pediatric and adult systems in Alberta, Canada were recruited. Semi-structured interviews with participants were analyzed using thematic analysis to inductively identify perceptions regarding the role of patient navigators. Results A total of 43 health care providers highlighted the need for a patient navigator service to encompass 4 key stages for young people with special health care needs transitioning from pediatric to adult services: (1) identification of young people with special health care needs and families requiring support, (2) preparation for transfer, (3) health system navigation and, (4) post-transfer support. Conclusions The results of this qualitative study provide guidance for the development of patient navigator interventions for young people with special health care needs, as well as provide support for current transition services offered across Canada.
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    The Psychosocial Impact of Sickle Cell Disease in Children
    (2021-09-27) Zwicker, Hailey Marie; Schulte, Fiona; Guilcher, Gregory; Yeates, Keith
    Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder associated with a number of severe biopsychosocial complications. Yet, children diagnosed with SCD have been under-represented in health care research, particularly with respect to the psychological and social consequences of the disease. This Thesis aimed to contribute to the psychosocial SCD research foundation by 1) reviewing existing literature that examined health-related quality of life (HRQL) among children diagnosed with SCD; and 2) investigating social adjustment and the associations with disease, and non-disease related factors in children with SCD. First, a systematic review was conducted where four electronic databases were searched for articles examining HRQL in children with SCD as a primary aim, and results were summarized by narrative synthesis. Sixty-eight articles were included in the final review. Results indicated that children with SCD generally report poorer HRQL, and HRQL may be associated with a number of factors such as, pain, identifying as female, or SCD related complications. Secondly, a retrospective examination of data from a neuropsychology clinic at a tertiary children’s hospital allowed for examination of social adjustment in children with SCD. Social adjustment scores were compared with previously collected data of healthy children and other chronic illness populations, and linear regression models were conducted to assess disease and non-disease related factors as potential predictor variables of social adjustment. Results indicated that children with SCD report similar social adjustment as healthy peers and youth with chronic illness. Parent-proxy reports indicate significantly better social adjustment in youth with SCD compared to those with chronic illness, but no different than healthy peers. Findings from regression analyses indicate that sex, executive functioning, and sociocultural factors may influence social adjustment in this population. Evidence from this work guides future research to incorporate sociocultural factors in future SCD research and encourages the furtherment of psychosocial research in this under-served population.