Browsing by Author "Newton, Janna"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The effects of hyperglycemia on vascular responses in individuals with obesity
    (2019-01) Newton, Janna; Soares, Rogério Nogueira; Murias, Juan M.
    Objective: To evaluate the acute effects of hyperglycemia on the vasculature of lean and obese individuals. Methods: Nine normal-weight (BMI 18.1 to 24.9 kg/m2) and nine individuals with obesity (BMI 30.0 to 39.9 kg/m2) underwent five vascular occlusion tests (VOT) at baseline, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after ingesting 75 g of glucose diluted in 296 mL of water for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was determined as the percent change in brachial artery diameter from baseline (mean of the 1 min diameter recordings prior cuff release) to peak in brachial artery diameter recorded during the 3 min reperfusion period. Results: Brachial %FMD was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at 60 min (7.98 ± 4.33 %) after glucose ingestion when compared to pre (10.9 ± 3.99 %) in the obese group. Lean individuals showed no reduction in %FMD during hyperglycemia Conclusion: Hyperglycemia caused detrimental effects on brachial artery function at 60 min after glucose ingestion.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Exploring Paramedic Perspectives on Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Delivery in Alberta: A Qualitative Study
    (2023-11-16) Newton, Janna; Zwicker, Jennifer
    This project aims to understand the factors contributing to long response times and the poor working environment but also to offer policy solutions. As Alberta is undergoing a substantial restructuring of the EMS system by Alberta Health and AHS, it is crucial that frontline paramedics are heard, and their concerns addressed regarding implemented policies. Nineteen paramedics were interviewed from across Alberta to bring attention to the frontline perspective, which can’t be captured with quantitative data. Participants were asked explicitly about response times, Emergency Department (ED) offloading and staffing. Interviews underwent thematic analysis and coded to understand issues and proposed solutions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Exploring paramedic perspectives on emergency medical service (EMS) delivery in Alberta: a qualitative study
    (2024-04-16) Newton, Janna; Carpenter, Travis; Zwicker, Jennifer
    Abstract Purpose Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Alberta are facing critical challenges. This qualitative study aims to describe and understand the frontline perspective regarding system level issues and propose provider-informed policy recommendations. Methods 19 semi-structured one-on- one interviews were conducted with Primary or Advanced Care Paramedics (PCP/ACP) across Alberta. Participants were asked to share their perspectives, experiences and recommendations in relation to EMS response times and the working environment. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify themes and subthemes. Results Two core themes were identified as areas of concern: poor response times and the EMS working environment, which each influence and impact the other. Within response times, paramedics highlighted specific difficulties with ED offloading, a lack of resources, low-acuity calls, and rural challenges. In terms of the EMS working environment, four subthemes were apparent including attrition, unhealthy culture, organizational barriers and the need for paramedic empowerment. Providers made many recommendations including creating and expanding emergency mobile integrated health (MIH) branches, sharing 811 and 911 responses, and enforcing ED target offload times amongst other suggestions. Conclusions While response times are a key and highly visible problem, there are many critical factors like the EMS working environment that degrade patient care and cause concern amongst frontline practitioners. Multifaceted policy changes are to be explored to reduce disfunction within EMS services, enhance the well-being of the workforce and deliver improved patient care. Specific EMS-oriented policies are important for moving forward to reduce transfers to EDs, but the broader health system which is over capacity is causing downstream effects into EMS must be addressed by government and health administrators.