Article
Rehabilitation
Sara J. T. Guilcher, Mary-Ellen Hogan, Qi Guan, Daniel McCormack, Andrew Calzavara, Tejal Patel, Sander L. Hitzig, Tanya Packer, Aisha K. Lofters
Summary: The study found a significant proportion of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury were prescribed opioids in a recent one-year period, with some receiving doses exceeding the maximum recommended by the Canadian opioid guideline. The research also identified risk factors associated with chronic, high-dose opioid use.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sara J. T. Guilcher, Mary-Ellen Hogan, Daniel McCormack, Andrew J. Calzavara, Sander L. Hitzig, Tejal Patel, Tanya Packer, Qi Guan, Aisha K. Lofters
Summary: The study investigated the prevalence of polypharmacy for individuals with NTSCD following inpatient rehabilitation in Ontario, Canada. Results indicated that factors such as being female, lower income, higher comorbidities, lower Functional Independence Measure scores, previous medication classes, and continuity of care with outpatient physicians were associated with post-discharge polypharmacy. Commonly dispensed drugs post-inpatient rehabilitation included antihypertensives, laxatives, opioids, and antibiotics. Additional research on medication therapy management for NTSCD is recommended.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Qi Guan, Andrew Calzavara, Lauren Cadel, Mary-Ellen Hogan, Daniel McCormack, Tejal Patel, Aisha K. Lofters, Sander L. Hitzig, Sara J. T. Guilcher
Summary: This study found that the majority of individuals eligible for Ontario's public drug program who experienced TSCI used opioids in the year following their injury. Being male, having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and using prescription opioids before injury were significantly associated with opioid use in the year after TSCI.
JOURNAL OF SPINAL CORD MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Luke Andrew Turcotte, Ann Alexandra Zalucky, Nathan M. Stall, James Downar, Kenneth Rockwood, Olga Theou, Caitlin McArthur, George Heckman
Summary: This study discovered that the severity of baseline frailty in older adults before receiving ICU care is associated with survival, with an increased risk of mortality as frailty worsens. The survival prediction models adjusted for frailty measures were more discriminative compared to reference models that only considered age, sex, and other factors.
Article
Rehabilitation
Lauren Cadel, Sander L. Hitzig, Tanya L. Packer, Tejal Patel, Aisha K. Lofters, Alison Thompson, Sara J. T. Guilcher
Summary: This study aimed to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of community-dwelling adults with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) in Ontario, Canada, regarding the management of prescribed and unprescribed medications. The findings revealed that medication management is a complex process that does not align with current medication management frameworks. Therefore, it is important to consider the self-management experiences of individuals with SCI/D in future research, practice, and policy.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nancy P. Thorogood, Vanessa K. Noonan, Xiaozhi Chen, Nader Fallah, Suzanne Humphreys, Nicolas Dea, Brian K. Kwon, Marcel F. Dvorak
Summary: This study estimated the incidence, prevalence, and trends of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Canada using national-level health administrative data. The results showed an increasing number of TSCI cases and higher survival rates over the past 15 years, with a growing proportion among the elderly population. This study provides important insights for healthcare planning, prevention strategies, and future research.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ergonomics
Mark J. Rapoport, Justin N. Chee, Nadia Aljenabi, Patrick A. Byrne, Gary Naglie, Frances Ilari, Yoassry Elzohairy, Evelyn Vingilis, Benoit H. Mulsant
Summary: The study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant reduction in injuries and fatalities among drivers aged 80 and over, while no significant changes were observed in other age groups. This illustrates the impact of social distancing recommendations on this population.
ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Mary Solou, Anastasios A. Politis, Ioannis Ydreos, Evangelos K. Papadopoulos, Stamatios Banos, Georgios Savvanis, Maria M. Gavra, Efstathios J. Boviatsis, Lampis C. Stavrinou
Summary: Treatment of spinal cord injury depends on the type and severity of the injury. Early decompression remains a reasonable option, but there is no specific evidence supporting the use of laminectomy alone.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Rolland C. Gillies, Carlos Quinonez, Robert E. Wood, Ernest W. N. Lam
Summary: The study found significant variations in radiography prescription practices among general dentists in Ontario, which did not conform to established guidelines. Factors other than patient needs appeared to influence imaging practices.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Qi Guan, Mary-Ellen Hogan, Andrew Calzavara, Daniel McCormack, Aisha K. Lofters, Tejal Patel, Sander L. Hitzig, Tanya Packer, Sara J. T. Guilcher
Summary: The study found that many individuals with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction in Ontario are prescribed opioids after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Female gender, previous opioid use before rehabilitation, lower continuity of care, increasing comorbidity level, low functional status, and previous diagnoses of osteoarthritis or mental illness were significant risk factors for receiving opioids after discharge. Increasing length of rehabilitation stay and higher income were protective factors against opioid receipt after discharge.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Vasily Giannakeas, Steven A. Narod
Summary: In this cohort study, an increased platelet count was associated with an increased risk of cancer for at least 2 years. The results suggest that individuals with unexplained thrombocytosis should be offered screening for several cancers.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
James H. B. Im, Susan E. Bronskill, Rachel Strauss, Andrea Gruneir, Jun Guan, Alexa Boblitz, Mindy Lu, Paula A. Rochon, Rachel D. Savage
Summary: Loneliness is associated with polypharmacy in older adults, particularly in women, but its relationship with polypharmacy in men is unclear. This study found that severe loneliness was independently associated with polypharmacy in older women but not men.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Aaron Jones, Laura C. Maclagan, Jennifer A. Watt, Michael J. Schull, Liisa Jaakkimainen, Sarah Swayze, Jun Guan, Susan E. Bronskill
Summary: Community-dwelling older adults with dementia visit the emergency department more frequently than other older adults, and the reasons for repeated visits are diverse. This study highlights the complexity of caring for this population and emphasizes the need for comprehensive community and primary care, as well as timely communication between the emergency department and the community.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Naheed K. Jivraj, Karim S. Ladha, Akash Goel, Andrea Hill, Duminda N. Wijeysundera, Brian T. Bateman, Mark Neuman, Hannah Wunsch
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess changes in prescriptions filled for nonopioid analgesics for older postoperative patients in the immediate postdischarge period. The study found an increase in the number of patients who filled a nonopioid analgesic prescription during the study period. Additionally, the percentage of patients with new filled prescriptions for nonopioid analgesics within 7 days of discharge also increased.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hina Ansari, Susan Jaglal, Angela M. Cheung, Paul Kurdyak
Summary: This study aimed to quantify the sex-specific burden of hip fractures among adults with schizophrenia compared to the general population. The findings showed that individuals with schizophrenia have an earlier age of onset and significantly higher rates of hip fractures, highlighting the need for targeted fracture prevention and improved clinical bone health management for this population.
Article
Rehabilitation
Leanna S. Lee, Sander L. Hitzig, Amanda Mayo, Michael Devlin, Steven Dilkas, Crystal MacKay
Summary: This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to physical activity for individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA) from the perspectives of both individuals with LLA and health professionals. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, six themes were identified, including support systems, availability of community resources, and the fit and function of prostheses. These findings provide a foundation for developing patient-centered interventions and physical activity programs to overcome the barriers to physical activity for individuals with LLA.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Gerontology
Kristina M. Kokorelias, Jessica E. Shiers-Hanley, Zoe Li, Sander L. Hitzig
Summary: This review assessed the outcomes of navigation programs for persons with dementia and their family caregivers. The findings indicate that system navigation programs can delay institutionalization and have benefits for caregiver outcomes. However, the results in other domains are less clear, which may be due to the varied approaches within system navigation models of care.
Review
Gerontology
Christine L. Sheppard, Carol Kwon, Matthew Yau, Jorge Rios, Andrea Austen, Sander L. Hitzig
Summary: This article is important for understanding the characteristics of social housing services and older tenants. Through a review of relevant literature, it was found that older tenants are highly vulnerable and that it is important to co-locate services and support staff to identify and connect them to services. It also points out the need for further research on tenancy issues to identify new opportunities for social housing landlords to help older tenants age in place.
CANADIAN JOURNAL ON AGING-REVUE CANADIENNE DU VIEILLISSEMENT
(2023)
Review
Rehabilitation
Marina B. Wasilewski, Jorge Rios, Robert Simpson, Sander L. Hitzig, Lesley Gotlib Conn, Crystal MacKay, Amanda L. Mayo, Lawrence R. Robinson
Summary: Peer support plays a crucial role in the recovery of trauma survivors, providing hope and guidance. Most peer support programs offer one-on-one support in the community, and the success of interventions hinges on knowledgeable peer mentors and active participant engagement.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Stephanie R. Cimino, Lauren Cadel, Sara J. T. Guilcher, Marina Wasilewski, Sander L. Hitzig
Summary: This scoping review investigates the impact of social disconnectedness and perceived social isolation on individuals with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) living in the community. The study found that participant characteristics, social support, psychological well-being, participation in activities, the built environment, and physical health are all factors that influence social disconnectedness and perceived social isolation.
JOURNAL OF SPINAL CORD MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Gerontology
Kristina M. Kokorelias, Hardeep Singh, Stephanie Posa, Sander L. Hitzig
Summary: This study explores the goals of older adults, caregivers, and healthcare providers during hospital-to-home transitions, and how patient navigation can support these goals. Common goals include having someone to rely on and easy access to services. Older adults seek independence, while caregivers and healthcare providers prioritize safety and skill development.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gerontology
Christine L. Sheppard, Matthew Yau, Claire Semple, Candy Lee, Jocelyn Charles, Andrea Austen, Sander L. Hitzig
Summary: Community support services are essential for aging in place, but older adult tenants in social housing struggle to access these services. This study examined the provision of government-funded community support services in 83 seniors' social housing buildings in Toronto, Ontario. The study found that only about one third of older tenants were actually receiving services, despite the presence of 56 different agencies operating within the buildings. The most widely accessed services included food supports, crisis intervention, transportation, caregiver support, and hearing/vision care. The study also identified opportunities for improving service coordination, as multiple agencies offered duplicative services in the same building. Practice recommendations for increasing access to community support services among low-income older adults in social housing are provided.
CANADIAN JOURNAL ON AGING-REVUE CANADIENNE DU VIEILLISSEMENT
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Sander L. Hitzig, Siobhan Donaghy, Susan Wang, Candice Tay, Stephanie R. Cimino, Sylvia Szkudlarek, Stuart Werle, Wendy Lopez-Pollard, Elizabeth Linkewich
Summary: This study examines the lack of data exploring how persons with hand impairment manage food packaging and its impact on eating. Through qualitative interviews with 12 inpatients with hand impairments, it was found that difficulties in opening food packaging, lack of control, eating avoidance, and preferences for packaging and strategies were major challenges for independent eating in hospital settings. The results suggest that designers should consider universal design principles to make packaging more accessible.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Stephanie R. Cimino, Sander L. Hitzig, Vera Fung, Katie N. Dainty, Crystal MacKay, Joanna E. M. Sale, Amanda L. Mayo, Sara J. T. Guilcher
Summary: The study revealed that occupations are crucial components of quality of life for persons with non-dysvascular lower limb amputation, influencing their self-perception and sense of belonging. Rehabilitation professionals should consider the impact of occupations when developing interventions and programs for this population.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Syena Moltaji, Stephanie Posa, Amanda L. Mayo, Sander L. Hitzig, Heather Baltzer
Summary: The purpose of this study is to critically explore the experiences of thumb amputees and define the elements of an ideal thumb prosthesis from their perspective. A qualitative study was conducted with end user stakeholder groups, including patients with thumb amputation, rehabilitation professionals, and prosthetists. The analysis identified six themes, including the impact of thumb loss on function and mental wellbeing, the idiosyncratic nature of thumb amputees, the costs of obtaining a thumb prosthesis, patient frustration and device abandonment, opinions on currently available prostheses, and the ideal design for a thumb prosthesis.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Marina Wasilewski, Abirami Vijayakumar, Zara Szigeti, Sahana Sathakaran, Kuan-Wen Wang, Adam Saporta, Sander L. Hitzig
Summary: The objective of this scoping review was to summarize the literature on barriers and facilitators that influence the provision and uptake of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation. A total of 229 studies were included in the review. The importance rating of this article in English: 9 points.
JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristina M. M. Kokorelias, Jill I. I. Cameron, Nancy M. M. Salbach, Heather Colquhoun, Sarah E. P. Munce, Michelle L. A. Nelson, Julia Martyniuk, Carolyn Gray, Terence Tang, Sander L. L. Hitzig, M. Patrice Lindsay, Mark T. T. Bayley, Rosalie H. H. Wang, Navaldeep Kaur, Hardeep Singh
Summary: This study synthesized the literature on the experiences and needs of South Asian community members impacted by stroke and their family caregivers in high-income countries. The findings highlighted the impact of cultural factors, such as language barriers, on the experiences of South Asian stroke patients.
JOURNAL OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DISPARITIES
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Marina B. Wasilewski, Zara Szigeti, Christine L. Sheppard, Jacqueline Minezes, Sander L. Hitzig, Amanda L. Mayo, Lawrence R. Robinson, Maria Lung, Robert Simpson
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, discharge timelines were accelerated, and patients were moved across different care settings. This study aimed to understand the experiences of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in the COVID-19 care pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Kimberly Devotta, Mandana Vahabi, Vijayshree Prakash, Aisha K. Lofters
Summary: Cervical cancer can be prevented through appropriate screening, but certain groups of women in Ontario, Canada have low screening rates, particularly South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African women. This study examines the use of HPV self-sampling as an alternative to Pap tests for under- or never-screened women in the Greater Toronto Area. The intervention showed that HPV self-sampling is acceptable to some but not all of these women.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mandana Vahabi, Anam Shahil-Feroz, Aisha Lofters, Josephine Pui-Hing Wong, Vijayshree Prakash, Sharmila Pimple, Kavita Anand, Gauravi Mishra
Summary: According to the CDC, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an 84% drop in cervical cancer screening rates. The challenges for cervical cancer screening include the requirement for in-person procedures and the measures to control the spread of the virus. There is limited knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries.
