Cumming School of Medicine

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https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/100023

The University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine was established in 1967 and renamed the Cumming School of Medicine in 2014. The Cumming School of Medicine is a national research leader in brain and mental health, chronic diseases and cardiovascular sciences.

Cumming School of Medicine

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Open Access
Accuracy of portrayal by standardized patients: Results from four OSCE stations conducted for high stakes examinations
(BioMed Central, 2014-5-6) Baig, Lubna A.; Beran, Tanya N.; Vallevand, Andrea; Baig, Zarrukh A.; Monroy-Cuadros, Mauricio
Open Access
Administrative health data in Canada: lessons from history
(BioMed Central, 2015-08-19) Lucyk, Kelsey; Lu, Mingshan; Sajobi, Tolulope; Quan, Hude
BACKGROUND: Health decision-making requires evidence from high-quality data. As one example, the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) compiles data from the majority of Canadian hospitals to form one of the most comprehensive and highly regarded administrative databases available for health research, internationally. However, despite the success of this and other administrative health data resources, little is known about their history or the factors that have led to their success. The purpose of this paper is to provide an historical overview of administrative data for health research in Canada to contribute to the institutional memory of this field. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative content analysis of approximately 20 key sources to construct an historical narrative of administrative health data in Canada. Specifically, we searched for content related to key events, individuals, challenges, and successes in this field over time. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In Canada, administrative data for health research has developed in tangent with provincial research centres. Interestingly, the lessons learned from this history align with the original recommendations of the 1964 Royal Commission on Health Services: (1) standardization, and (2) centralization of data resources, that is (3) facilitated through governmental financial support. CONCLUSIONS: The overview history provided here illustrates the need for longstanding partnerships between government and academia, for classification and standardization are time-consuming and ever-evolving processes. This paper will be of interest to those who work with administrative health data, and also for countries that are looking to build or improve upon their use of administrative health data for decision-making.
Open Access
Adverse childhood experiences and HPA axis function in pregnant women
(Elsevier, 2018-05-28) Thomas, Jenna C.; Magel, Chantelle; Tomfohr-Madsen, Lianne; Madigan, Sheri L.; Letourneau, Nicole Lyn; Campbell, Tavis S.; Giesbrecht, G. F.; APrON Study Team
Open Access
Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Active Aging through the Lens of the 2002 World Health Organization Active Ageing Report: A Policy Framework and the 2010 Toronto Charter for Physical Activity: A Global Call for Action
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2013-12-05) Abdullah, Boushra; Wolbring, Gregor
Open Access
An Analysis of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) Discourse Using an Ability Expectation Lens
(MDPI, 2013-08-22) Noga, Jacqueline; Wolbring, Gregor
Open Access
Are stress-related pathways of social status differentiation more important determinants of health inequities in countries with higher levels of income inequality?
(Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness [Associate Organisation], Wiley [Commercial Publisher], 2022-03-08) Olstad, Dana Lee; Nejatinamini, Sara; Vanderlee, Lana; Livingstone, Katherine M; Campbell, David J. T.; Tang, Karen; Minaker, Leia M.; Hammond, David
We explored socioeconomic gradients in self-rated overall health (SROH) using indicators of materialist (educational attainment and perceived income adequacy) and psychosocial perspectives (subjective social status (SSS)) among adults living in countries with varying levels of income inequality, and the importance of psychosocial stress in mediating these associations. If psychosocial processes at the individual and societal levels correspond, associations between SSS and SROH should be higher among adults in countries with higher income inequality, and psychosocial stress should be a more important mediator of these associations. We used multigroup structural equation models to analyse cross-sectional data from the International Food Policy Study of adults (n = 22,824) in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the United States. Associations between SSS and SROH were not higher in more unequal countries, nor was psychosocial stress a more important mediator of these associations. Inequities in SROH in more unequal countries may not predominantly reflect stress-related pathways of social status differentiation.
Open Access
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: What is the Role of Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Audiologists, Nurses and Speech Language Pathologists According to Academic Literature and Canadian Newspaper Coverage?
(2020-01-20) Villamil, Valentina; Deloria, Rochelle; Wolbring, Gregor
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) increasingly influences products and processes used by social workers, occupational therapists, audiologists, nurses and speech language pathologists (health professionals for short) in general and in their rehabilitation practice. Health professionals are expected to fulfil many roles and within the narrative of AI/ML health professionals can hold multiple roles. We performed a scoping review using the academic database Scopus, the 70 databases accessible through EBSCO-Host and the database Canadian Newsstream through which we accessed 300 Canadian English language papers as sources. We found minimal engagement with the roles of the covered health professionals related to AI/ML whereby nurses were covered much more than the other health professionals. The main role mentioned for all occupations covered in our study was the one of clinical user. Many other roles expected from health professionals such as being advocates for their field and clients or being policy developers, educators and researchers were rarely or not at all mentioned depending on the health professional. Our role narrative analysis of AI/ML related to the covered health professionals reveals significant gaps in need to be filled.
Open Access
Assessing the congruence between perceived connectivity and network centrality measures specific to pandemic influenza preparedness in Alberta
(BioMed Central, 2010-03-10) Hall, Justin N; Moore, Spencer; Shiell, Alan
Open Access
The association between amalgam dental surfaces and urinary mercury levels in a sample of Albertans, a prevalence study
(BioMed Central, 2013-08-29) Dutton, Daniel J; Fyie, Ken; Faris, Peter; Brunel, Ludovic; Emery, JC Herbert
Open Access
Association between routine and standardized blood pressure measurements and left ventricular hypertrophy among patients on hemodialysis
(BioMed Central, 2010-06-24) Khangura, Jaspreet; Culleton, Bruce F.; Manns, Braden J.; Zhang, Jianguo; Barnieh, Lianne; Walsh, Michael; Klarenbach, Scott W.; Tonelli, Marcello; Sarna, Magdalena; Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.
Open Access
The association between sidewalk length and walking for different purposes in established neighborhoods
(BioMed Central, 2012) McCormack, Gavin R.; Shiell, Alan; Giles-Corti, Billie; Begg, Stephen; Veerman, J Lennert; Geelhoed, Elizabeth; Amarasinghe, Anura; Emery, JC Herb
Open Access
Associations between neighbourhood built characteristics and sedentary behaviours among Canadian men and women: Findings from Alberta’s tomorrow project
(Elsevier, 2021-06-03) Nichani, Vikram; Turley, Liam; Vena, Jennifer E.; McCormack, Gavin R.
Evidence of associations between neighbourhood built characteristics and sedentary behaviours is mixed. The study aim was to investigate the associations between objectively-derived neighbourhood built characteristics and self-reported sedentary behaviours among Canadian men and women. This study sourced survey data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (2008; n=14,785), in which sitting and motor vehicle travel times during the last 7 days was measured. Geographic Information System was used to calculate neighbourhood built characteristics within a 400m buffer of participant’s home and a walkability score was estimated. To estimate the associations between neighbourhood characteristics and sedentary behaviours, covariate-adjusted generalized linear regression models were used. Walkability, 3-way intersections, and population count were positively associated with sitting time. Business destinations and greenness were negatively associated with sitting time. Walkability, 3-way, and 4-way intersections were negatively associated with motor vehicle travel time. Sex-specific associations between neighbourhood characteristics and sedentary behaviour were found. Among men, business destinations were negatively associated with sitting time, and 3-way intersections, population count, and walkability were negatively associated with motor vehicle travel time. Among women, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was negatively associated with sitting time. Interventions to reduce sedentary behaviours may need to target neighbourhoods that have built characteristics which might support these behaviours. More research is needed to disentangle the complex relationships between different neighbourhood built characteristics and specific types of sedentary behaviour.
Open Access
The associations between objectively-determined and self-reported urban form characteristics and neighborhood-based walking in adults
(BioMed Central, 2014-06-04) Jack, Elizabeth; McCormack, Gavin R.
Open Access
Associations between the neighbourhood characteristics and body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio: findings from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
(Elsevier, 2020-05-29) Nichani, Vikram; Turley, Liam; Vena, Jennifer E.; McCormack, Gavin R.
This study estimated the associations between neighbourhood characteristics and self-reported body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) risk categories among Canadian men and women. Using data from the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (n=14,550), we estimated 3- and 4-way intersections, business destinations, population count, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a 400m radius of participant's home. Intersections, business destinations, and population count (z-scores) were summed to create a walkability score. Four-way intersections and walkability were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Walkability was negatively associated with obesity. NDVI was negatively associated with high-risk WHR and population count and walkability positively associated with high-risk WHR. Among men, population count and walkability were negatively associated with obesity, and business destinations and walkability were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Among women, NDVI was negatively associated with overweight (including obesity), obesity, and high-risk WC. Interventions promoting healthy weight could incorporate strategies that take into consideration local built environment characteristics.
Open Access
Associations between the traditional and novel neighbourhood built environment metrics and weight status among Canadian men and women.
(Springer : Canadian Public Health Association, 2020-06-08) Nichani, Vikram; Koohsari, Mohammad Javad; Oka, Koichiro; Nakaya, Tomoki; Shibata, Ai; Ishii, Kaori; Yasunaga, Akitomo; Turley, Liam; McCormack, Gavin R.
Objectives: Neighbourhood characteristics can impact the health of residents. This study investigated associations between objectively-derived neighbourhood characteristics, including novel space syntax metrics, and self-reported body mass index (BMI) among Canadian men and women. Methods: Our study included survey data collected from a random cross-section of adults residing in Calgary, Alberta (n=1,718). The survey, conducted in 2007/2008, captured participant’s sociodemographic characteristics, health, and weight status (BMI). Participant’s household postal codes were geocoded and 1600m lined-based network buffers estimated. Using Geographical Information System, we estimated neighbourhood characteristics within each buffer including business destination density, street intersection density, sidewalk length, and population density. Using space syntax, we estimated street integration and walkability (street integration plus population density) within each buffer. Using adjusted regression models, we estimated associations between neighbourhood characteristics and BMI (continuous) and BMI categories (healthy weight versus overweight including obese). Gender-stratified analysis was also performed. Results: Business destination density was negatively associated with BMI and the odds of being overweight. Among men, street intersection density and sidewalk length were negatively associated with BMI and street intersection density, business destination density, street integration, and space syntax walkability were negatively associated with odds of being overweight. Among women, business destination density was negatively associated with BMI. Conclusion: Urban planning policies that impact neighbourhood design has the potential to influence weight among adults living in urban Canadian settings. Some characteristics may have a differential association with weight among men and women and should be considered in urban planning and in neighbourhood-focussed public health interventions.
Open Access
Authors’ opinions on publication in relation to annual performance assessment
(BioMed Central, 2010-03-09) Walker, Robin L.; Sykes, Lindsay; Hemmelgarn, Brenda; Quan, Hude
Open Access
BMI-referenced cut-points for recommended daily pedometer-determined steps in Australian children and adolescents
(Taylor & Francis, 2011-06) McCormack, Gavin R; Rutherford, Jack; Giles-Corti, Billie; Tudor-Locke, Catrine; Bull, Fiona
The purpose of this study was to establish sex-specific criterion-referenced standards for pedometer-determined physical activity related to body mass index (BMI)-defined weight status among youth. We analyzed data from 7-16-year-old boys (n = 338) and girls (n = 337) and used pedometer-assessed physical activity and anthropometric data to derive average steps/day and BMI. Sex-specific criterion-referenced standards for steps/day relating to healthy weight and overweight/obese were determined using the contrasting groups method. Healthy weight children took more steps/day than overweight or obese (boys: 14,413 vs. 12,088, and girls: 12,562 vs. 10,114, respectively; p < .001). The optimal BMI-referenced cut-point emerging flom our sample was 16,000 steps/day for both boys and girls. Our results and those reported elsewhere suggest that youth take insufficient pedometer-determined steps/day to avoid becoming overweight.
Open Access
Canadian Pregnancy Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2011-08-15) Barnabe, Cheryl; Faris, Peter D.; Quan, Hude
Open Access
Causal assessment of dietary acid load and bone disease: a systematic review & meta-analysis applying Hill’s epidemiologic criteria for causality
(BioMed Central, 2011-04-30) Fenton, Tanis R.; Tough, Suzanne C.; Lyon, Andrew W.; Eliasziw, Misha; Hanley, David A.
Open Access
Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: a review of qualitative research
(Elsevier, 2010-07) McCormack, Gavin R; Rock, Melanie; Toohey, Ann M; Hignell, Danica
Given that recent literature reviews on physical activity in urban parks deliberately excluded qualitative findings, we reviewed qualitative research on this topic informed by a published classification scheme based on quantitative research. Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies relied mainly on semi-structured interviews with individuals or in focus groups; only five studies involved in situ observation. Our synthesis aligns with previous quantitative research showing that attributes including safety, aesthetics, amenities, maintenance, and proximity are important for encouraging park use. Furthermore, our synthesis of qualitative research suggests that perceptions of the social environment entwine inextricably with perceptions of the physical environment. If so, physical attributes of parks as well as perceptions of these attributes (formed in relation to broader social contexts) may influence physical activity patterns. Both qualitative and quantitative methods provide useful information for interpreting such patterns, and in particular, when designing and assessing interventions intended to improve the amount and intensity of physical activity.