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This investigation sought to examine the perceptions of individuals with mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury (TBIs) toward healthcare providers across rehabilitation contexts (acute, rehabilitation, and chronic). The mCARE-TBI survey was distributed via Qualtrics throughout the US and Canada. Sixty-four survey responses met criteria for analysis. Participants were ≥18 years old, one-year post onset, reported no unrelated neurological deficits prior to the single TBI, and reported no prior diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The mCARE was the primary outcome measure. Comparisons were made between provider ratings on each question. Significant differences were found between chronic-phase care, compared to acute care and rehabilitation. Group differences were found in transitioning home after discharge and in between each therapy discipline and both nurses and doctors, as well as for really listening and pairwise differences between therapy disciplines and both nurses and doctors. Group effects were found for showing compassion and care and being positive. All disciplines need to improve communication, and transition care/discharge planning. Dismissal of ongoing impairments continues to be an area of perceived concern with doctors in particular. Communication training is needed, particularly for nurses and doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study assesses the differences and similarities between how instruction librarians in Western Canada use Google and how they instruct students to use it. Survey results indicate that these librarians do use Google but can be influenced by faculty to present Google negatively to students. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.)

We explored the effect of the degree of conceptual similarity between a witnessed event and an extra-event narrative on eyewitness suggestibility. Experiments 1A and 1B replicated Allen and Lindsay's (1998) finding that subjects sometimes intrude details from a narrative description of one event into their reports of a different visual event. Those experiments also showed that intrusion rates were even higher when the narrative described the visual event itself. Experiment 2 replicated those findings, but found no more intrusions from a thematically similar versus dissimilar narrative. In Experiment 3 we disguised the relationship between the narrative and visual event, and obtained more intrusions from a thematically similar than dissimilar narrative. In Experiment 4 we obtained a thematic similarity effect when the relationship between narrative and visual event was disguised, but none when it was not. Results are discussed from the perspective of the source-monitoring framework.

Forty-five electronic pathfinders were selected from nine Canadian university libraries to assess their degree of conformity to suggested guidelines in existing literature about pathfinders. Analysis revealed the guidelines were not uniformly followed, leaving some pathfinders more complex and less useful than others. Specific guidelines must be created for electronic pathfinders because they pose particular problems not addressed in the current literature. (AEF)

This article examines decolonization efforts at the Indigenous Authors Collection at the University of Calgary in Canada. The 47-book collection is an example of a decolonization attempt by the University, which aligns with the institution's Indigenous strategy. This project enhanced the Indigenous collection by adding Canadian authors and providing culturally appropriate metadata to increase visibility and access in the library's catalogue. The authors discuss the problems they faced with current metadata standards not allowing the use of special characters, enhancements made, and the implications of cataloguing policies and workflow for other collections. The authors also demonstrate how users view and access their changes and show new ways that users can interact with the collection. They also explore future possibilities that linked data practices offer to display enhanced author information from local authorities and broaden the collection's reach even further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews (1) data documenting Saskatchewan's progress toward teaching disabled students in mainstream settings; (2) four studies showing the attitudes of preservice and regular classroom teachers toward integrating disabled students; and (3) correlates of special education placement in Saskatchewan. (Author/DB)

Background: Serious adverse effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been described for more than decade. Recently, several drug regulatory agencies have advised restricting their use in milder infections for which other treatments are available, given the potential for disabling and possibly persistent side effects. We aimed to describe variations in fluoroquinolone use for initial treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI), acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in the outpatient setting across Canada.Methods: Using administrative health data from six provinces, we identified ambulatory visits with a diagnosis of uncomplicated UTI, uncomplicated AECOPD or ABS. Antibiotic exposure was determined by the first antibiotic dispensed within 5 days of the visit.Results: We identified 4,303,144 uncomplicated UTI events among 2,170,027 women; the proportion of events treated with fluoroquinolones, mostly ciprofloxacin, varied across provinces, ranging from 18.6% (Saskatchewan) to 51.6% (Alberta). Among 3,467,678 ABS events (2,087,934 patients), between 2.2% (Nova Scotia) and 11.2% (Ontario) were dispensed a fluoroquinolone. For 1,319,128 AECOPD events among 598,347 patients, fluoroquinolones, mostly levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, ranged from 5.8% (Nova Scotia) to 35.6% (Ontario). The proportion of uncomplicated UTI and ABS events treated with fluoroquinolones declined over time, whereas it remained relatively stable for AECOPD.Conclusions: Fluoroquinolones were commonly used as first-line therapies for uncomplicated UTI and AECOPD. However, their use varied widely across provinces. Drug insurance formulary criteria and enforcement may be a key to facilitating better antibiotic stewardship and limiting potentially inappropriate first-line use of fluoroquinolones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland decline under post-European settlement and land use change across western Canada has led to mitigation strategies, including wetland creation. Created wetlands can trigger environmental change, including woody species encroachment, in turn altering vegetation and soil. We quantify changes in shrub abundance from prior to wetland creation (1949) until 60 years later (2012) within a Mixedgrass ecosystem of the Verger watershed in Alberta, Canada. In addition, we compare remaining grassland with areas colonized by shrubland on similar ecosites for differences in (1) plant composition, including native and introduced flora, (2) herbage yield and forage accessibility for livestock, and (3) soil properties (surface organic depth, bulk density, mineral nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) concentration). Repeat photos show Shepherdia argentea shrublands increased from 0 to 88 ha (to 1.15% of study area) following wetland creation, with the greatest increase in the last 20 years. Relative to grasslands, shrublands had lower total plant diversity but greater presence of introduced plant species. Shrub patches were 94% lower in herbaceous production, with 77% of shrublands non-utilized by cattle, collectively leading to reduced grazing capacity. Relative to grasslands, shrublands had a thicker soil surface mulch layer, and where cattle were present, had increased mineral soil N and C. Overall, shrub encroachment following wetland creation has markedly altered vegetation and soils in this once grassland landscape, with negative impacts on native plant diversity, herbage production and forage accessibility, and has implications for the management of shrub encroachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, epidemiological evidence suggests cancer incidence and outcomes among Indigenous peoples are a growing concern. Although historically cancer among First Nations (FN) peoples in Canada was relatively unknown, recent epidemiological evidence reveals a widening of cancer related disparities. However evidence at the population level is limited. The aim of this study was to explore cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and outcomes among status FN peoples in comparison with all other Manitobans (AOM).Methods: All cancers diagnosed between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2011 were linked with the Indian Registry System and five provincial healthcare databases to compare differences in characteristics, cancer incidence, and stage at diagnosis and mortality of the FN and AOM cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine mortality.Results: The FN cohort was significantly younger, with higher comorbidities than AOM. A higher proportion of FN people were diagnosed with cancer at stages III (18.7% vs. 15.4%) and IV (22.4% vs. 19.9%). Cancer incidence was significantly lower in the FN cohort, however, there were no significant differences between the two cohorts after adjusting for age, sex, income and area of residence. No significant trends in cancer incidence were identified in either cohort over time. Mortality was generally higher in the FN cohort.Conclusions: Despite similar cancer incidence, FN peoples in Manitoba experience poorer survival. The underlying causes of these disparities are not yet understood, particularly in relation to the impact of colonization and other determinants of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engagement of physicians with their healthcare community or institution should be a central issue in healthcare because it can be translated into improved patient care, enhanced well-being for physicians as well as safer, more effective and less costly healthcare. To accomplish the mission/goal of meaningful physician engagement, we set about to establish a 'charter' for physician engagement. We defined our concept of meaningful physician engagement and customised the engagement spectrum construct for physician relationship with their healthcare community or institution. While recognising the importance of physician leaders within the hierarchical system for efficacy of organisational management, relying only on physicians in formal executive positions is insufficient for developing physician engagement. There is a need for widespread physician engagement across the organisation. The objective is both an improvement in patient care and in physician well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the extent of increase in use and the rate of continuation versus discontinuation of psychotropic agents before, during, and after pregnancy.Methods: Rates of psychotropic use (antidepressants, anxiolytic/sedative-hypnotics, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, lithium, stimulants) among women with a hospital-recorded pregnancy outcome were assessed using databases at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Rate of use was defined as ≥1 prescription over the total number of pregnancies in the 3-12 months before pregnancy, 0-3 months before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or 3 months after pregnancy. Continued use was defined as ≥2 prescriptions with gap ≤14 days. Poisson regression was used to analyze trends.Results: Over the study period, a psychotropic drug was used before, during, or after pregnancy in 41,923 of 224,762 pregnancies. From 2001 to 2013, psychotropic use increased 1.5-fold from 11.1% to 16.2% ( p < 0.0001) in the 3-12 months before pregnancy, 1.6-fold from 6.4% to 10.5% ( p < 0.0001) in the 3 months before pregnancy, 1.8-fold from 3.3% to 6.0% ( p < 0.0001) during pregnancy, and 1.5-fold from 6.2% to 9.5% ( p < 0.0001) in the 3 months postpartum. Among the 13,579 women who received at least 1 psychotropic agent in the 3 months prior to pregnancy, 38.5% stopped the agent prior to pregnancy and only 10.3% continued use throughout pregnancy. Continued use throughout pregnancy was higher (56.9%) among the 6693 women who received at least 2 prescriptions for a psychotropic agent and were at least 80% adherent in the 3 months prior to pregnancy.Conclusion: The use of psychotropic agents increased over 12 years. The safety of continuing versus discontinuing these agents during pregnancy remains uncertain, but we observed a decrease in psychotropic drug use during the pregnancy period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on how classroom activity breaks increase on-task behavior and physical activity levels in students. It mentions about the relationship between physical activity, behavioral issues and academic performance. It discusses that classroom activity breaks (CABs) as beneficial to students' physical activity (PA) levels, classroom behavior and academic success.

We critically evaluate the Canadian Association of Social Workers' Acknowledgement Statement of 2009 to determine whether it is adequate to the task of an ethically genuine public apology, or instead is an expression of personal regret. We compare the statement to other apologies for the same wrong, in order to challenge the social worker's response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: OECD countries over the past two decades have implemented a range of labour market integration initiatives to improve the employment chances of disabled and chronically ill individuals. This article presents a systematic review and evidence synthesis on effectiveness of government interventions to influence employers’ employment practices concerning disabled and chronically ill individuals in five OECD countries. A separate paper reports on interventions to influence the behaviour of employees. Methods: Electronic and grey literature searches to identify all empirical studies reporting employment effects and/or process evaluations of government policies aimed at changing the behaviour of employers conducted between 1990 and 2008 from Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Results: Few studies provided robust evaluations of the programmes or their differential effects and selection of participants into programmes may distort the findings of even controlled studies. A population-level effect of legislation to combat discrimination by employers could not be detected. Workplace adjustments had positive impacts on employment, but low uptake. Financial incentives such as wage subsidies can work if they are sufficiently generous. Involving employers in return-to-work planning can reduce subsequent sick leave and be appreciated by employees, but this policy has not been taken up with the level of intensity that is likely to make a difference. Some interventions favour the more advantaged disabled people and those closer to the labour market. Conclusions: Future evaluations need to pay more attention to differential impact of interventions, degree of take-up, non-stigmatizing implementation and wider policy context in each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigate three hypotheses on the influence of labor market deregulation, decommodification, and investment in active labor market policies on the employment of chronically ill and disabled people. The study explores the interaction between employment, chronic illness, and educational level for men and women in Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, countries with advanced social welfare systems and universal health care but with varying types of active and passive labor market policies. People with chronic illness were found to fare better in employment terms in the Nordic countries than in Canada or the United Kingdom. Their employment chances also varied by educational level and country. The employment impact of having both chronic illness and low education was not just additive but synergistic. This amplification was strongest for British men and women, Norwegian men, and Danish women. Hypotheses on the disincentive effects of tighter employment regulation or more generous welfare benefits were not supported. The hypothesis that greater investments in active labor market policies may improve the employment of chronically ill people was partially supported. Attention must be paid to the differential impact of macro-level policies on the labor market participation of chronically ill and disabled people with low education, a group facing multiple barriers to gaining employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low employment rates of chronically ill and disabled people are of serious concern. Being out of work increases the risk of poverty and social exclusion, which may further damage the health of these groups, exacerbating health inequalities. Macro-level policies have a potentially tremendous impact on their employment chances, and these influences urgently need to be understood as the current economic crisis intensifies. In Part I of this two-part study, the authors examine employment trends for people who report a chronic illness or disability, by gender and educational level, in Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom in the context of economic booms and busts and deindustrialization. People with the double burden of chronic illness and low education have become increasingly marginalized from the labor market. Deindustrialization may have played a part in this process. In addition, periods of high unemployment have sparked a downward trend in employment for already marginalized groups who did not feel the benefits when the economy improved. Norway and Sweden have been better able to protect the employment of these groups than the United Kingdom and Canada. These contextual differences suggest that other macro-level factors, such as active and passive labor market polices, may be important, as examined in Part II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a framework for creating undergraduate internships in academic libraries, specifically those offered in collaboration with subject-based academic departments at universities where no degrees in library science are offered. Very little of the scholarly literature addresses this type of intern-ship in particular, and broadly applicable elements of planning and implementation have not been clearly articulated in the literature. This paper proposes that there are several basic elements to consider regard-less of situation-specific conditions. These include incentives and compensation for the intern, structure of the internship, projects, and documentation. Each element is considered and described, using intern-ships hosted at the Murray Library of the University of Saskatchewan as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a reprint of the article "Reconsidering the lifetime deferral of blood donation by men who have sex with men," by Mark A. Wainberg and colleagues, which appeared at www.cmaj.ca. It analyzes whether men who have sex with other men must be allowed to donate blood in Canada or must be deferred from donation. Meanwhile, the higher seroprevalence for HIV infection of these men might result to greater number of transfusion-related infections if blood screening fails.

An analytical model was developed to explore prospective costs and risks of alternative testing strategies for a marketing system in Canada which markets both genetically modified (GM) and Non-GM wheats. The problem is solved using stochastic optimization, base case results are defined, and sensitivities conducted to evaluate impacts of selected variables. Added costs include: testing, rejection, and a risk premium which is required for handlers to be indifferent between the current and the proposed dual system. Protocols would require testing at the point of loading at the primary elevator, and export elevator, and supplementing this information with some form of grower variety declaration. There are several sources of inherent risks in such a system. For buyers, the cumulative impact of these is the risk of receiving GM content in a Non-GM shipment. For sellers, it is the risk of having a Non-GM shipment rejected. For sellers, the risk of rejection was typically less than 2%, and for buyers, the risk was typically less than 0.02%. Nous avons élaboré un modèle analytique pour explorer les coûts et les risques potentiels de la mise en place de nouvelles stratégies pour analyser le grain si le Canada décidait de commercialiser du blé génétiquement modifié (GM) et du blé non génétiquement modifié (NGM). Le problème est résolu à l'aide d'une optimisation stochastique; des scénarios de référence sont définis et des tests de sensitivité sont effectués pour évaluer l'impact de variables sélectionnées. Les coûts supplémentaires comprennent les coûts d'analyses, les coûts liés au rejet ainsi qu'une prime de risque exigée pour que les manutentionnaires demeurent indifférents entre le système actuel et le système double proposé. Les protocoles obligeraient la tenue d'analyses au point de chargement du silo primaire ainsi qu'au silo terminal, auxquelles s'ajouterait une certaine forme de déclaration du céréaliculteur sur la variété. Ce genre de système comporte plusieurs sources de risques inhérents. Pour les acheteurs, l'impact cumulatif est le risque de recevoir un chargement de blé NGM contenant du blé GM. Pour les vendeurs, c'est le risque qu'un chargement de blé NGM soit rejeté. Pour les vendeurs, le risque de rejet était généralement inférieur à 2%, et pour les acheteurs, le risque était généralement inférieur à 0.02%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of lesser scaup ( Aythya affinis), an abundant duck in the northwestern boreal forest of Canada, have declined markedly over the past few decades. The limnological characteristics of northern wetlands used by lesser scaup and other waterfowl are inadequately documented and the possible effects of habitat quality or other factors on the use of water bodies by scaup are poorly understood. Waterfowl and limnological data, collected on a 38 km2 area roadside study area near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, were used to describe the characteristics of ponds and evaluate potential variables influencing use of water bodies by lesser scaup (and might therefore limit the growth of the lesser scaup population). The specific objectives of this study were to (1) describe and compare the water quality of natural ponds and roadside borrow pits created during highway construction; and (2) evaluate habitat preferences of lesser scaup broods by comparing water quality, physical features and invertebrate abundance in natural ponds and borrow pits that were used or avoided by brood-rearing lesser scaup. Twenty eight water quality, physical and biotic characteristics of ponds were measured in the field or from water samples collected at 48 water bodies. Waters are weakly alkaline, hard, non-saline, and meso-eutrophic. Natural ponds and artificial borrow pits created during highway construction had statistically significant differences ( p<0.05) in ten water quality variables, many of which can be attributed to the origin of the water bodies. Water bodies used by brood-rearing lesser scaup had significantly higher particulate organic carbon ( p = 0.01), particulate organic nitrogen ( p = 0.01), dissolved potassium ( p = 0.04), and density of amphipod crustaceans ( p = 0.01) than those water bodies without lesser scaup. Multiple regression analysis indicated that pond area and depth had a dominant effect on the presence of scaup broods but the effects of other water quality or biotic variables were unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study examined preventive care delivered in Manitoba during the 1990s by 3 different methods --childhood immunizations (by physicians and public health nurses under a government program), screening mammography (through a government program introduced in 1995), and cervical cancer screening (no program). Methods. Longitudinal administrative data, an immunization monitoring system, and Canadian census databases were used. Results. Cervical cancer screening rates remained static and showed strong socioeconomic differences; childhood immunization rates remained high with small socioeconomic gradients. The introduction of the Manitoba Breast Screening Program resulted in rising rates of screening and vanishing socioeconomic gradients. Conclusions. Manitoba government programs in childhood immunization and screening mammography actively helped the provision of preventive care. Organized programs that target population groups, recognize barriers to access, and facilitate self-evaluation are critical for equitable delivery. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93:2086-2092) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportion of gasoline in a barrel of crude oil varies in response to changes in relative product prices. This response is found to be significant and stable using the Cooley-Prescott varying parameter technique on Canadian data for 1956-77. When the price of gasoline increases by 1 % its share increases by 0.28 %. Kerosene and gasoline are found to be substitutes in production while gasoline and residual fuel oil are found to be complements. The US has a different response function with heavier rather than lighter products as substitutes for gasoline in the production process. These variations are attributed to differences in energy product markets and government policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]