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PowerPoint Slides Funding Source: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Government of Canada’s Future Skills program. Faculty no

Background: Health care has evolved to support the involvement of individuals in decision making by, for example, using mobile apps and wearables that may help empower people to actively participate in their treatment and health monitoring. While the term „participatory health informatics“ (PHI) has emerged in literature to describe these activities, along with the use of social media for health purposes, the scope of the research field of PHI is not yet well defined. Objective: To propose a preliminary definition of PHI and define the scope of the field. Methods: We used an adapted Delphi study design to gain consensus from participants on a definition developed from a previous review of literature. From the literature we derived a set of attributes describing PHI as comprising 18 characteristics, 14 aims, and 4 relations. We invited researchers, health professionals, and health informaticians to score these characteristics and aims of PHI and their relations to other fields over three survey rounds. In the first round participants were able to offer additional attributes for voting. Results: The first round had 44 participants, with 28 participants participating in all three rounds. These 28 participants were gender-balanced and comprised participants from industry, academia, and health sectors from all continents. Consensus was reached on 16 characteristics, 9 aims, and 6 related fields. Discussion: The consensus reached on attributes of PHI describe PHI as a multidisciplinary field that uses information technologyand delivers tools with a focus on individual-centered care. It studies various effects of the use of such tools and technology. Its aims address the individuals in the role of patients, but also the health of a society as a whole. There are relationships to the fields of health informatics, digital health, medical informatics, and consumer health informatics. Conclusion: We have proposed a preliminary definition, aims, and relationships of PHI based on literature and expert consensus. These can begin to be used to support development of research priorities and outcomes measurements.

Leadership and Influencing Change in Nursing is designed for a single-semester introduction to the professional nurse’s leadership role as both a care provider and a formal leader. Nursing students will take this course in their third year as they prepare to assume a professional nursing role within the clinical health care environment. An assortment of authors with diverse nursing leadership roles across Saskatchewan and Canada have contributed to this textbook. These diverse voices are focused on providing student nurses with the foundational tools, techniques, and knowledge required to empower them to meet the leadership challenges found within the ever-changing Canadian health care environment. Assembling this information using an online format allows for the material to be updated regularly so as to keep pace with the rapid expansion of knowledge. Other yes

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, University of Regina. x, 163 p. Informal caregivers of people living with dementia experience stressors that are associated with adverse health outcomes. Mobile applications (i.e., apps) could improve the delivery of and increase access to interventions. Although apps for informal caregivers of people living with dementia are available, empirical evidence to support their effectiveness is limited. This study was aimed at addressing these gaps in the research literature by providing a comprehensive review and evaluating the effectiveness of available apps for informal caregivers of people living with dementia. A systematic search and content analysis of available apps were conducted. Sixteen apps meeting criteria were analyzed in the study. Results suggest that the number and type of features present in each app may not be sufficient to address the multifaceted needs of informal caregivers of people living with dementia. For instance, most of the app features related to managing the care recipient’s needs, with few features focusing on the personal needs of the caregiver. Overall, app quality was acceptable, but apps were noted to have low engagement and moderate information scores highlighting potential areas for improvement. Moreover, most of the apps in the review utilized a text-based approach to deliver information as opposed to allowing for user input and feedback. Interviews with caregivers were conducted, and textual data were analyzed thematically to examine the experiences of caregivers in using available apps and their preferences in the development of future mobile apps. Participants noted several needs to consider in developing new apps: recordkeeping and monitoring, provision of information, informal and formal support resources, strategies to manage stress, and social activities for the care recipient. Moreover, participants noted ease of use as a major consideration when developing apps for caregivers. Two selected apps, identified in the review and meeting a predetermined criterion, were evaluated among caregivers of people living with dementia. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two app-using groups (App 1, n = 45; App 2, n = 44) or a control condition (n = 41). Participants in the app-using groups were asked to use their app for a 2-week period, and burden, stress, physical and mental health, and knowledge was assessed before, after the 2-week period, and at a 3- week follow up. Subjective app ratings and information on the usability of apps were collected after the 2-week period. Group comparisons were conducted to examine improvements on outcome measures over time. Contrary to expectation, we did not identify differences between the two app-using groups and the control condition on outcome measures. Given the paucity of studies evaluating currently available apps, the lack of significant differences suggests the need for further studies and improved apps for caregivers. Current apps are simple and, thus, do not seem suitable for fully addressing the complex psychological concern of caregiver burden and stress. Findings from the investigation can help guide caregivers in choosing the apps that best address their needs. Moreover, findings from the investigation can inform future developments of apps to address the needs of caregivers of people living with dementia. Student yes