PaCER Team Projects

PaCER has been involved in over 35 projects since its inception in 2012. 

Current Projects


Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Understanding diverse perspectives on an educational video intended to raise awareness and knowledge of Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI)

Sponsored by: Dr. Eric Smith 
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Healthcare Navigation

Understanding healthcare navigation in Alberta: What is important to healthcare navigators and to people who have been navigated in the Alberta healthcare system? 

Sponsored by: Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU)

Past Projects


2023

IBD and Mental Health – What mental health supports and resources are important to patients receiving an IBD diagnosis?

Sponsored by: Dr. Deborah Marshall; funded by: The IMAGINE (Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects) Chronic Disease Network through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Alberta Health Services (AHS)

Maternal Health – Understanding parent perspectives about newborn screening for Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Sponsored by: Dr. Eliana Castillo; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Maternal, Newborn, Child and Youth (MNCY) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Pediatrics – Experiences of youth living with chronic auto-immune disease in attending or wanting to attend post-secondary education?

Sponsored by: Dr. Deborah Marshall; funded by: Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Child Health Research (ACHRI), Husky Energy Chair i(HEC) in Child and Maternal Health

 

2022

Maternal Health – Patient and family experiences of adverse events in pregnancy in Canada from a multicultural perspective

Sponsored by: Dr. Rohan D’Souza, McMaster University; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Honoring Life Program How young Indigenous persons in Alberta want to be supported to live a life with continued, resilience, meaning and hope

Sponsor: Dr. Richard Oster and Alberta Health Services (AHS) Indigenous Wellness Core (IWC) 
Poster presentations 
2023 Northwest SPOR Collaborative Forum 
Citizen Science for Health Conference 2023

Long Covid - What are the barriers and supports to a return to health from long COVID? A qualitative project designed, developed, and conducted by people with lived experience of long COVID

Sponsor: Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU) and Alberta Health Services (AHS), Neuroscience, Rehabilitation and Vision (NRV) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)
Presentations: 
Publications: Manuscript in progress

Virtual Care - Understanding Virtual Healthcare Experiences of Adults Living with Diabetes and their Caregivers in Alberta, Canada, during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sponsor: Dr. Maria Santana; Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU) 
Presentations: 
Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Conference, Lethbridge, June 20-23, 2023 
Metropolis Social Determinants of Health Conference, Gatineau, Quebec, 2023

Transition of Care - Experiences of Albertans from rural, remote, or isolated communities returning home after being hospitalized (H2H2H)

Sponsor: Tracy Wasylak; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN) 
Presentations: Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Conference, Lethbridge, June 20-23, 2023

 Emergency Care- Family Member and Caregiver Experiences: Waiting in Emergency Departments in Alberta Hospitals

Sponsor: Tracy Wasylak; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

YYC Refugee Health- What are the experiences of newcomers accessing COVID-19 vaccine information and COVID-19 vaccines in Alberta during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Sponsor: Dr. Gabriel Fabreau; funded by: YYC Refugee Health through Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Alberta International Medical Graduate Association (AIMGA)
Presentations: NCRs 
Publications - Community participatory health research: the story of engaging migrant and racialized meat processing workers to reduce public health service inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under review Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health

 

2021

Youth and E-mental Health Tools – Are e-mental health tools working for youth?

Sponsor: Alberta Health Services (AHS) through the e-mental Health for Youth and Young Adults in Alberta Project team

Sponsor: Gina Dimitropolous; Alberta Health Services (AHS) through the e-Mental Health for Youth and Young Adults in Alberta Project team

Transition of care - Transitions from pediatric to adult rheumatology care for juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a patient-led qualitative study

Sponsor: Dr. Deborah Marshall; Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - A patient-led, peer-to-peer qualitative study on the psychosocial relationship between young adults with inflammatory bowel disease and food

Sponsor: Dr. Deborah Marshall; funded by: The IMAGINE (Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects) Chronic Disease Network through Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

 

2020

Accessing needed IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) resources and information post diagnosis: A patient-led Alberta study; sponsored by: Dr. Deborah Marshall; funded by: IMAGINE Network through CIHR

Here to there: Exploring what resources Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients need after diagnosis; sponsored by: Dr. Deborah Marshall; funded by: IMAGINE Inflammation, Microbiome, & Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal & Neuropsychiatric Effects

Unplugging while plugged in: A peer-to-peer exploration of the impacts of dialysis on the mental wellness of patients with chronic kidney disease; sponsored by: Tracy Wasylak; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Kidney Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

 

2018

The Search for Support: Young Adults and their Experiences finding their way with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); sponsored by: Dr. Deborah Marshall; funded by: IMAGINE Inflammation, Microbiome & Alimentation Gastro-Intestinal & Neuropsychiatric Effects

Storytelling in the health care System: Experiences of Indigenous patients, their family and friends looking for support when cancer is diagnosed; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Population, Public and Indigenous Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Your Body, Your Voice: Cancer Screening on the Piikani Reserve, What Works and What Doesn’t; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Population, Public and Indigenous Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Sharing Our Cancer Journey Right from the Start: The Experiences of Métis Settlement Families; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Population, Public and Indigenous Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

When first finding out that a loved one has cancer: The Experiences of Indigenous families and friends; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Population, Public and Indigenous Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Understanding Seniors’ Experiences Living with Malnutrition; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Seniors Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Understanding the Experiences of Patients and their Companions with Managing a Cardiopulmonary Condition; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Cardiovascular Health and Stroke Strategic Clinical Network (SNC)

 

2016

Experiences of people finding their way to manage from crisis to recovery; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Addictions and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Experiences of teens after concussion; sponsored by: ????; funded by: Integrated Concussion Research Program

Understanding parents’ experiences with stillbirth; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Youth Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

 

2015

What is it like for young women who go to Emergency Departments with Chest Pain - the different tracks they take; funded by: the Libin Institute

Patient Experience with IBD and clinic services; funded by: the Calgary Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic

Early stroke experience before the patient reaches the hospital door as part of project to reduce the time ‘from door to needle’; funded by: QuICR - an AIHS Collaborative Research & Innovations Opportunities (CRIO) Team grant

What is it like when you realize that you are just not thinking straight - the early experience with mental illness; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Addictions and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Why do patients decide to become engaged in Health Systems as advisers and researchers; funded by: Calgary South Health Campus

The rocky road and the gifts when couples manage chronic health concerns at home; funded by: St. Elizabeth Health Care, Toronto

 

2014

Transitioning from ICU - a patient and family perspective; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

Experiences of Immigrant women (South American, Russian, and Middle Eastern) seeking diagnosis and support for cancer; funded by: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN)

 

2013

The Hidden Pathways of Chronic Illness - the study of a cross section of chronic patients and their journey to wellness despite health concerns; funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI)

Cancer survivors and their families at Wellspring - a Calgary-based community wellness community of self-help, programs, and services; funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI)

 

2012

Hiding the pain - experiences of people with undiagnosed joint pain; funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI)

Gates people face while waiting for Arthritis knee surgery; funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI)

O Canada! Knee replacement - post-surgical experiences of older South Asian immigrants and their families; funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI)