Sarah Oosman

Policy, Community and Kin: Interventions That Support Rural Healthy Aging

This study examines the interventions that enable rural seniors to remain within their homes and communities as they age. Through semi-structured interviews with 40 rural seniors, the findings reveal a number of actions that facilitate rural aging. This study has important implications for a range of stakeholders from policy makers to community leaders by identifying policy, community, and kin-level interventions that support rural healthy aging in place. In identifying interventions that support rural seniors’ needs, this study provides a fundamental basis to better allocate resources, plan programs, and develop policies that reflect the needs of an aging population.

Falls, mobility, and physical activity after spinal cord injury: an exploratory study using photo-elicitation interviewing

Study designExploratory qualitative study using photo-elicitation interviews.ObjectivesTo identify contributors to falls, as perceived by individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury, and describe the impact of perceived fall risk on mobility and physical activity.SettingParticipants’ home and community environments.MethodsEight individuals with chronic motor incomplete spinal cord injury participated. Participants took photographs of situations that increased/decreased their risk of falling, or depicted how this risk impacted mobility and physical activity. Photographs were discussed in semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to describe participants’ perceptions and experiences.ResultsPhoto-elicitation interviews identified four themes: (1) Perceived challenges were primarily environmental with biological (e.g., reduced strength) and behavioral (e.g., risk-taking) factors also identified. (2) Impact of perceived fall risk included moving slowly, avoiding balance-provoking activities, and feelings of frustration and/or fear. (3) Prevent falls: learn through experience included strategies used to avoid falls, which were learnt experientially and consisted of changes to behavior. (4) Factors mitigating impact of perceived fall risk included character traits (i.e., perseverance, optimism) and a desire for independence.ConclusionsPrimarily environmental factors were perceived to contribute to fall risk and mainly behavioral strategies were adopted to mitigate the risk.SponsorshipPhysiotherapy Foundation of Canada.

Perceived confidence for injury self‑management increases for young men with mild haemophilia with the use of the mobile app HIRT?

Abstract Background Young men with mild haemophilia have unique challenges pertaining to bleed management. They may not always identify musculoskeletal injury requiring medical attention as they do not bleed frequently, potentially resulting in significant health consequences. In response to these challenges, a team of clinicians, researchers and young men with mild haemophilia developed a self-assessment pathway which was converted into a mobile app. Aim This study examined the influence of the mobile app, HIRT? (Hemophilia Injury Recognition Tool) on perceived injury self-management in young men with mild haemophilia in Canada. Methods We used a mixed methods design. The quantitative data, through a self-report questionnaire, evaluated perceived injury self-management strategies and participant confidence levels. Non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar chi-square test were used to determine association between perceived self-management strategies when using and not using the app, with significant levels set at p<0.05. Qualitative data was created using interpretive description and inductive content analysis of recorded and transcribed interviews. Results 12 young men, aged 18-35 years, participated. Perceived confidence levels significantly increased (p=0.004) with the use of the app. Five qualitative themes were identified: accessibility, credibility, the benefit of alarms, confidence and usefulness. Conclusion This study provides promising evidence to support the feasibility and use of HIRT? as an injury self-management tool for young men with mild haemophilia. Future research should prospectively investigate the effect of the app on injury selfmanagement confidence.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour of Master of Physical Therapy Students: An Exploratory Study of Facilitators and Barriers

Purpose: A full 85% of Canadians fail to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, and 69% report being sedentary. Physical therapists are uniquely positioned to promote an active lifestyle; thus, we explored the PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) of Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) students as well as the associated facilitators and barriers. Methods: We used a mixed-methods approach, accelerometry and photovoice (a focus group discussion in which participants discussed self-selected photographs). Accelerometer data were used to quantify PA (light, moderate, and vigorous) and SB. Thematic analysis of the focus group discussion was informed by the socio-ecological model. Results: A total of 26% of participants met national PA guidelines, and mean daily sedentary time for participants was 670.7 (SD 34.4) minutes. Photovoice analysis revealed four main themes related to the facilitators of and barriers to PA and SB: (1) priorities and life balance, (2) commitment and accountability, (3) environment, and (4) MPT programming. Conclusions: A full 74% of participants did not meet the recommended PA guidelines; this is concerning given their immanent roles as health care professionals. Physical therapists are well prepared to prescribe PA to clients. Not only do MPT students need competencies in prescribing PA and exercise, but they may also need to be supported in meeting PA guidelines themselves and limiting SB throughout their studies.