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Background: British Columbia (BC) is undergoing a curriculum migration. While the new curriculum highlights elements inspired by gifted education practices, there has been little conversation on how gifted education should/could be situated in this new curricular context. Moreover, a shift in the field of gifted education toward more inclusive practices aiming to promote gifted learning for all students has emerged. Taken together, this project highlights a unique juncture that invites a critical examination of the current provincial policy on gifted education and presents opportunities for sustaining better alignment between gifted education philosophy and local policies and practices. Aims: To examine the epistemic understandings of giftedness reflected in BC gifted education policy and to identify incongruence between this policy and the redesigned curriculum. Objectives: (1) To construct a historical and archival account of gifted education policy context in BC, (2) to evaluate the conceptualization of giftedness as reflected in BC policy texts, and (3) to provide insights into how policies and practices might be reconfigured. Methods: This project uses a case study method with a focus on evaluation to generate an in-depth account of the policy context and to develop a critical understanding of potential issues. Research participants include two to three provincial-level policy makers, 60 policy linkers, and two policy informers who have expertise in gifted education. Qualitative data include legislative and supplementary documents, interviews, and memos and field notes. Quantitative data will be gathered through the administration of an online survey. Significance: This project will uncover the merits, issues, and opportunities of gifted education policy in BC and enhance the connectivity between gifted education philosophy and local policy and practices. The results will further contribute to professional development opportunities for teachers and school districts to help improve their supports for students with advanced learning needs within the new curricular context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older people living in long-term care homes are particularly susceptible to loneliness and social isolation, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated further. 'Tochie' is a smart audio device that allows family members to remotely record and send messages, such as daily reminders and comforting recordings, to their loved ones in LTC settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using Tochie to improve resident-family connections, and to investigate user experience, impact and lessons learned., Methods: Participants included 10 residents, nine family members and six care staff from two LTC homes in British Columbia, Canada. A Tochie was provided to each resident to use with their family members over a 4-week intervention period. The research team provided support and gathered feedback from family members and care staff through weekly phone and email correspondence. Qualitative descriptive design was used, including pre- and post-intervention focus groups and interviews held via Zoom and phone to gather participants' experiences with Tochie. Themes were identified through thematic analysis., Results: Three themes were identified: (1) Facilitating emotional connection, (2) Using the device in creative and personalised ways and (3) Structural challenges and supports. Based on these findings, recommendations for future research and practice are provided., Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a rethinking of what it means to 'stay in touch' with loved ones in LTC settings. This study found that Tochie has opened up new opportunities for family connection and provided emotional support for residents. The results of this study offer valuable insights into the implementation of assistive technology in LTC homes to support resident care., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Older People Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Study Objective: The objective of our study was to provide a contemporary description of hysterectomy practice and temporal trends in Canada., Design: A national whole-population retrospective analysis of data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information., Setting: Canada., Patients: All women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indication from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2017, in Canada., Interventions: Hysterectomy., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 369 520 hysterectomies were performed in Canada during the 10-year period, during which the hysterectomy rate decreased from 313 to 243 per 100 000 women. The proportion of abdominal hysterectomies decreased (59.5% to 36.9%), laparoscopic hysterectomies increased (10.8% to 38.6%), and vaginal hysterectomies decreased (29.7% to 24.5%), whereas the national technicity index increased from 40.5% to 63.1% (p <.001, all trends). The median length of stay decreased from 3 (interquartile range 2-4) days to 2 (interquartile range 1-3), and the proportion of patients discharged within 24 hours increased from 2.1% to 7.2%. In year 2016-17, women aged 40 to 49 years had significantly increased risk of abdominal hysterectomy compared with women undergoing hysterectomy in other age categories (p <.001). Comparing women with menstrual bleeding disorders, women undergoing hysterectomy for endometriosis (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-1.44) and myomas (aRR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.94-2.08) were at increased risk of abdominal hysterectomy, whereas women undergoing hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain (aRR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.41-1.53) were at decreased risk. Using Ontario as the comparator, Nova Scotia (aRR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.27-1.43), New Brunswick (aRR 1.25; 95% CI, 1.18-1.32]), Manitoba (aRR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28-1.43), and Newfoundland and Labrador (aRR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10-1.27) had significantly higher risks of abdominal hysterectomy. In contrast, Saskatchewan (aRR 0.75; 95% CI, 0.74-0.77) and British Columbia (aRR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.85-0.88) had significantly lower risks, whereas Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Alberta were not significantly different., Conclusion: The proportion of minimally invasive hysterectomies for benign indication has increased significantly in Canada. The declining use of vaginal approaches and the variation among provinces are of concern and necessitate further study., (Copyright © 2021 AAGL. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the relative frequency and surgical outcomes of laparoscopic myomectomy compared with abdominal myomectomy in British Columbia., Methods: A linked database containing hospital admission, operating room, and emergency room data from 2007 to 2011 from eight Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Region hospitals in British Columbia was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of women who had myomectomy for uterine fibroids. All consecutive women who had abdominal or laparoscopic myomectomy at five hospitals were included in the study. Patients who had submucosal fibroids or hysteroscopic procedures were excluded. Abdominal and laparoscopic myomectomies were contrasted in terms of patient characteristics and surgical outcomes. Statistical significance was assessed using t tests, Wilcoxon, chi-square, and Fisher exact test; a two-sided P value < 0.05 was considered significant., Results: Of eight hospitals offering gynaecologic surgery, myomectomies were performed at five hospitals located in metropolitan areas. Of 436 women undergoing myomectomy, 88 cases (20.2%) were laparoscopic, 342 (78.4%) were abdominal, and 6 (1.38%) were laparoscopic with conversion to laparotomy. Women who had laparoscopic rather than abdominal myomectomies were slightly older (mean 38.7 vs. 37.4 years, respectively, P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in median operative time (106 vs. 95 min), but length of stay was decreased for laparoscopic myomectomies (median 1 vs. 2 days, P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between laparoscopic and abdominal routes in the rates of admission to intensive care, prolonged hospitalization (> 3 days), or rehospitalization., Conclusion: Myomectomies are performed in urban, metropolitan areas in British Columbia, and a significant fraction of myomectomies are performed by laparoscopy. Compared with abdominal myomectomies, laparoscopic myomectomies in pre-selected patients are associated with decreased length of stay and comparable perioperative surgical outcomes.