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“They didn't think we'd live this long”: A qualitative exploration of older adults living with HIV perspectives on geriatric care in Ontario
No full textIntroduction
Advances in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care have increased life expectancy, leading to more older adults living with HIV. This study examines older adults' perspectives on geriatric healthcare needs.
Methods
A community‐based qualitative study in Ontario, Canada, recruited some adults aged 50+ years living with HIV through quota and purposive sampling. Quota sampling was used to include individuals of different ages, genders and ethno‐racial backgrounds to capture a range of experiences. Data were collected via semi‐structured interviews and focus groups, analyzed using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven.
Results
Participants included interviewees (n = 14) and focus group attendees (n = 12). Four themes emerged: (1) lack of knowledge and access to geriatric care, highlighting service challenges; (2) healthcare providers' understanding of HIV and ageing, with stigma concerns; (3) role of social support networks for emotional/practical support; and (4) requirements for improved geriatric care, advocating provider education and greater social care access.
Conclusions
Gaps in geriatric care for older adults with HIV highlight stigma, access issues and the need for education, virtual care and tailored, inclusive healthcare solutions.This work was funded by the The Ontario HIV Treatment Network
A Qualitative Evaluation of the Before Operational Stress Program: A Pan‐Canadian Study of Mental Health Training for Frontline Public Safety Personnel and Healthcare Providers
No full textThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the originalwork is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
© 2025 The Author(s). Stress and Health published by John Wiley & Sons LtdPublic safety personnel (PSP) and healthcare providers (HCP) are routinely exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic
events and are at increased risk of developing mental disorder symptoms and posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI). The Before
Operational Stress program (BOS) is an evidence‐informed mental health and resiliency training programme designed to
mitigate the effects of PTSI. We conducted 41 in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with PSP and HCP who had completed the
BOS program to investigate whether and how the programme benefits mental health, and how the content can integrate with
their personal and professional lives. Data were analysed using team‐based template analysis. The four overarching themes that
emerged were: (1) health journeys; (2) the ripple effect of helping; (3) the destabilising effect of organizational pressures; and (4)
context matters to how the programme was received. Each main theme was developed and supported by multiple subthemes
explored herein. The results indicated BOS was well‐received and helpful to participants at various career stages while
furthering the discourse on mental health in PSP and HCP workplaces; however, difficulties were reported related to persistent
stigma around mental health injuries. Organizational policies and systemic strains appear to be key contextual determinants
and barriers.This study was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) (grant 2122‐HQ‐000405)
Investigating the perception of Black adolescents of policing in Canada: An analysis of Kat Sandler 'Bang Bang' and Makambe Simamba 'Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers'
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Media & Artistic Research, University of Regina. viii, 82 p.The relationship between Black adolescents and policing is distraught, with historical and
contemporary complexities that mirror broader patterns of systemic racism and social inequality.
While studies in this area have explored the experiences of the adult population, the experiences
of Black adolescents remain under researched and documented. To exacerbate the situation, the
relatively sparse existing literature underscoring policing and Black adolescents identified survey
methodology as predominantly used, posing a limitation , while also identifying historic al, media
representation and social relationships as factors influencing Black individual perception of
policing. This study suggests a shift to case study design , investigating the issues of policing and
Black communities through the lens of framing theory and discourse analysis in two Canadian
performances: Kat Sandler’s Bang Bang and Makambe Simamb a’s ‘Our Sons, Lovers
and Little Brothers These plays offer counter discourses that humanize Black individuals and
critique the structural inequalities embedded in policing practices . The study concludes that
theatrical performances play a crucial role in amplifying marginalized voices, challenging
dominant narratives , reshaping public perception and promoting social justice discourse within
and outside the academia. The research examines two complementary theories and performances ,
offering new insight to the subject of policing and contributing to broader discussions on race,
policing and the transformative power of theatre in addressing these issues in Canada and
globally.Studentye
Decolonizing mathematics education by disrupting power through the 4 Rs of Indigenous research
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Regina. xi, 122 p.Many mathematics teachers in Canada are searching for ways to decolonize their teaching
practice and include Indigenous epistemologies and pedagogies in their classroom.
Unfortunately, these same mathematics teachers struggle to find practical ways to do this
decolonizing work that do not reduce complex Indigenous cultural phenomena to simplistic, and
often tokenistic, textbook questions. In this thesis, inspired by the 4 Rs of Indigenous Research
(respect, responsibility, relevance, and reciprocity), I present and enact a 4 Rs pedagogical
framework composed of theoretical approaches (outcomes) and practical teacher actions
(indicators). Instead of focusing on lesson topics/standards, my framework focuses on shifts in
pedagogical actions, designed to support my ongoing journey to decolonize my daily teaching
practice. As I aimed to decolonize my practice by disrupting power dynamics and strengthen
classroom relationships, my primary aim in this research is to understand the value of my 4 Rs
framework for my own professional growth. By thematically analyzing my personal journaling,
anonymous student questionnaires, and critical friend observations, several semantic and latent
themes emerged. The semantic themes are noticeable student voice and choice, comfortability
between the teacher and students, and the powerful use of stories to engage in mathematics. The
latent themes presented and discussed here are teacher anxiety related to time and the positive
effects of blurring the lines between producers and consumers. Based on these thematic findings,
I conclude that the 4 Rs pedagogical framework can be a valuable professional growth tool for
mathematics teachers who want to work towards decolonizing their teaching by disrupting power
and strengthening classroom relationships.Studentye
Exploring professors’ perceptions of generative artificial intelligence in higher education
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in Educational Psychology, University of Regina. vi, 102 p.The invention and widespread adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has
begun to disrupt the field of education, as leading scholars debate its potential to enhance or
hinder learning. GenAI models such as ChatGPT demonstrate remarkable capabilities, evidenced
by its success on the United States Medical Licensing Exam and Uniform Bar Exam, for
example. With over one billion current users and more than one million users within five days of
launching, ChatGPT remains one of the most rapidly adopted consumer applications. ChatGPT’s
ability to amass users at a significantly greater rate than other popular platforms such as
Facebook and Instagram exemplify its widespread adoption, with some of its users inevitably
being students. Many authors claim that GenAI can augment the learning process by acting as a
personalized tutor or improving the quality of students’ work. However, certain authors support
the notion that GenAI may undermine the learning process and pose risks to academic integrity.
By using semi-structured interviews, this study seeks to investigate university professors’
perspectives on GenAI and the implications for policymakers. Specifically, this study focused on
perceptions of GenAI use and academic misconduct, and the underlying assumptions professor’s
hold regarding whether GenAI undermines or augments the learning process.Studentye
Acceptance and commitment therapy for women experiencing infertility: A randomized controlled trial
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, University of Regina. x, 186 p.Approximately one in six Canadian couples are infertile, defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy despite 12 or more months of active attempts to conceive. While the psychological burden is well-established in the literature, currently available and adapted psychological interventions have had minimal effects on infertility-related distress, anxiety, or depression. We examined the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to reduce distress associated with infertility. In Study One, we created the ACT-based intervention in collaboration with a panel of women who had lived experience with infertility. We then conducted a pilot trial with 20 women and used their feedback to refine and update the intervention. Study Two involved a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the updated ACT intervention, recruiting 90 women who were randomized to the intervention or waitlist control groups. This study aimed to rigorously evaluate the efficacy of the ACT program in alleviating infertility-related distress. Among the recruited sample, 71% completed the entire intervention. Among the eighty-five participants who provided at least partial outcome data, the intervention group showed statistically greater improvements in all three primary outcomes: anxious symptoms (B(SE) = -2.3 (1.3), p = .036), depressive symptoms (B(SE) = -3.8 (1.2), p .05) in the intervention condition compared to the waitlist control condition. Effects were maintained at a one-month follow-up. This intervention shows promise as a cost-effective and accessible intervention for individuals experiencing infertility.Studentye
Adverse childhood experiences & stress reactivity
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 143 p.Adverse childhood experiences are linked with adverse mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood, and long-term stress response alterations may contribute to this relationship. Past research suggests robust relationships between adverse childhood experiences and blunted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and heart rate reactivity to stress. However, the influence of adverse childhood experiences on autonomic and psychological stress reactivity within laboratory settings remains under-researched. The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a well-established approach to inducing stress, but comparative control conditions are not as well documented. This study aimed to validate a control TSST (C-TSST) and examine whether adverse childhood experiences predict autonomic and psychological stress reactivity. In this two-part study, participants first reported the number of adverse childhood experiences to which they had been exposed prior to the age of 18 years. Subsequently, a within-subjects experimental design was employed, and eligible participants (N = 58) completed the TSST and C-TSST while physiological (i.e., heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance level) and psychological (i.e., stress appraisals, state anxiety) responses were measured. Repeated measures t-tests showed that, compared to the TSST condition, participants had significantly lower heart rate, skin conductance, and stress appraisal levels along with higher heart rate variability in the TSST condition. These results provide support for the C-TSST as a comparative control condition for the TSST. Simple linear regressions with adverse childhood experiences as the predictor variable and stress reactivity measures as the dependent variables revealed no significant findings. Future research should continue to explore the potentially more nuanced effects of ACEs on stress reactivity with larger and more representative samples
The Oracle’s Dream
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Creative Writing and English, University of Regina. vi, 109 p.The Oracle's Dream is a work of historical fiction set in 5th century BCE Greece, exploring the intersection of myth, history, and the feminine psyche through a feminist-Jungian and historical fiction lens. In this creative writing thesis, I will develop the first 81 pages of my novel. I apply Jungian concepts of the “shadow” and “anima/animus” with a double narrative plot that follows protagonists Nefeli, an Apollonian priestess in training turned hetaera; and her daughter Lena, a young lyricist navigating patriarchal society, grief, and guilt years later following Nefeli’s unexpected passing. The Oracle’s Dream challenges and subverts patriarchal leanings in Jung's theories and aims to rework them as a feminist expression of agency and psychological exploration of repressed parts of the “Self.” Drawing on the work of Susan Rowland for my feminist-Jungian analyses, this thesis also engages with the aesthetic considerations of writing into the tradition of historical fiction and the possibility of engaging with historiographic metafiction, additionally. My aesthetic choices are informed by theorists such as Brayfield et al., Stephanie Young, and Linda Hutcheon, as well as established historical fiction authors Margaret Atwood and Ariana Franklin, who have pushed the boundaries of both these genres through innovative narrative techniques and feminist perspectives. By weaving together historical fact, myth, and doubled narrative, I hope to create a powerful story that not only explores the lives of women in ancient Greece but shows how these narratives hold ongoing relevance to contemporary readers.
Keywords: Ancient Greece, feminist-Jungianism, woman-centred historical fiction.Studentye
Life after/before
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts in Film Production, University of Regina. vii, 40 p.This final thesis defense presents Life After/Before, a docufiction that investigates themes of identity, representation, memory, and self-discovery. The film intertwines fact and fiction, featuring family members portraying themselves in a staged yet emotionally genuine narrative. Drawing on Werner Herzog's concept of ecstatic truth and Charles Eidsvik's notion of cinematic artifice, the project transcends traditional documentary formats to create emotional authenticity.
Structured around the stages of grief, the film engages with theoretical insights from authors like Gilles Deleuze, and David MacDougall, highlighting how mediated memories shape personal and collective understanding. Through a blend of journal, road movie, and family album styles, Life After/Before becomes both a personal archive and a broader commentary on cultural heritage. This project underscores how artistic practices can effectively process complex emotions and histories, revealing the filmmaker as a product of her master’s journey.
Key words: docufiction; memory; identity; staging, heritage.Studentye
New probabilistic approaches for detecting and evaluating concept drift in data streams
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, University of Regina. xxviii, 225 p.In modern applications like online shopping, financial forecasting, and real-time fraud
detection, data distributions frequently shift, causing predictive models trained on
historical data to underperform. This phenomenon, known as Concept Drift (CD),
presents a major challenge in adaptive learning environments, necessitating ongoing
monitoring and adjustment to accommodate evolving data streams. Active drift
detection methods, which track changes in data distribution or model performance,
offer a targeted solution by prompting adaptations only when significant shifts are
detected. However, existing active methods face challenges: distribution-based approaches
may miss subtle drifts or respond to non-critical changes (virtual drift),
while performance-based methods, which detect shifts impacting model accuracy (real
drift), can overreact to transient noise, leading to unnecessary adaptations. These
challenges underscore the need to balance sensitivity and stability in CD detection.
To address these issues, we propose a hybrid approach that combines insights derived
from data distribution through probabilistic measures, such as marginal probability
distribution of input data or classifier confidence, with error-based detection, offering
a more robust and precise solution for managing CD.
The first key contribution is the development of SPNCD, a probabilistic method
leveraging Sum-Product Networks (SPNs) to detect real and virtual drifts by analyzing
shifts in the joint probability distribution of features and class labels. Inspired by
the Bayesian CD definition, SPNCD integrates prediction error, which assesses model
performance, and the marginal distribution, which captures changes in data distribution.
Building on this approach, we then develop the PRDD algorithm, which uses
the classifier’s confidence as an indirect estimate of data distribution similarity, alongside
error rates, to detect real drift with precision and timely response in dynamic
data streams. Based on these foundations, we develop NPRDD, an enhanced method
specifically designed for noisy data environments, which combines cross-entropy-based
surprise measures with predicted class probabilities to distinguish genuine drifts from
noise. We further enhance PRDD with two detection strategies: 1) PRDDW that
uses a sliding fixed-sized window approach to determine the proportion of real-drift
candidates, and 2) PRDDS that adopts a reward-aging mechanism to compute a drift
score based on recent drift events. To ensure the usability of these two methods, we
present a parameter optimization procedure using Bayesian optimization to find robust
default parameter values that generalize well in various scenarios. To validate
each of the proposed methods, we conduct an exhaustive experimental study involving
different synthetic data streams, simulating abrupt and gradual drifts. These studies
also compared our methods to several benchmark drift detectors.
Moreover, we devise a theoretical framework to understand the impact of critical
components of our methods. Also, specifically for PRDDWand PRDDS, we design an
empirical framework to generate 4,000 unique synthetic data streams, define the drift
regions, and present several metrics to assess the performance of the base learners
and detectors; the latter needs to be improved in the literature. The empirical results
show that our methods outperform existing CD detection methods in most cases
in classification and detection-based metrics and rank among the top performers,
underscoring their robustness and practical applicability. Moreover, our experimental
framework provides benchmarks for reproducible evaluations, setting a new standard
for future research in CD detection.Studentye