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Mayday Trigger Phrases in the Fire Service
Get PDF2024This qualitative study aimed to analyze the decision-making process of firefighters in mayday situations. The study utilized SimsUshare, a software program, to present a visual fire simulation for firefighter decision-making. During interviews, participants were presented with trigger phrases in a random order to evaluate their decision-making. Participants were asked if they would proceed, withdraw, or call a mayday when faced with an additional condition. The study focused on male career firefighters from British Columbia and Manitoba, Canada, with ten or more years of experience, and involved 17 participants. The findings of this research identified patterns in how firefighters qualified their reasons for calling a mayday. These patterns included personal medical distress, hole in floor and fire below, which consistently led to mayday calls, reflecting a strong emphasis on safety. The recommendations from this study are that firefighter practices need to focus more on scenario-based training that integrates the development of situational awareness into scenarios that are known to be related to mayday calls and decision making in these contexts
Compassionate nursing in challenging contexts: The importance of judgments
Get PDFThis article was originally published as: Peter, E., Mohammed, S., & Variath, C. (2024). Compassionate nursing in challenging contexts: The importance of judgments. Nursing ethics. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330241272892Background: Nurses’ demonstration of compassion is an ethical and often regulatory expectation. While research has been conducted to examine the barriers and facilitators of compassion in nurses, little is known about how nurses develop and express compassion for patients who may be blamed for their health condition. Unvaccinated COVID-19 patients are an example of such patients.
Research questions: How do nurses provide compassionate care for unvaccinated adults infected with COVID-19? How did the context of COVID-19 vaccination in Canada shape nurses’ relationships with unvaccinated patients?This work was supported by the Toronto COVID-19 Action Initiative
Amplifying value: Assessment of asynchronous embedded library instruction and the influence of faculty endorsements
No full textThis is the Accepted Manuscript version of this paper.
The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in ‘Internet Reference Services Quarterly’, Aug 31, 2024. DOI 10.1080/10875301.2024.2396388“Embedded” librarian programs can take many different forms. At Royal Roads University, librarians embed asynchronously in research-intensive courses via a hosted online forum. Over three to five days, the embedded librarian presents a series of posts on key information literacy topics and invites student questions and comments. This research project undertook to investigate both the general effectiveness of this embedding approach (in terms of student learning and engagement) and the relationship that may exist between instructors’ promotion of the forum and student engagement and/or learning. Quantitative data on student learning and engagement was collected through a pretest/post-test and qualitative data was collected from instructor comments within the LMS course shell. The results of this study indicate that embedding is moderately effective at increasing student knowledge, and that robust instructor encouragement of student participation correlates positively with both student engagement and student learning. We conclude that embedding is an effective information literacy instruction method that can be made more effective through increased relationship-building with faculty and program staff
Examining Assumptions Within the Constructs of Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Traumatic Stress: Amplifying the Voices of Mental Health Professionals
No full text2024Vicarious trauma (VT) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) have been identified as significant occupational risks for mental health professionals (MHPs). These are understood as the resulting negative impacts of working with trauma survivors. Existing research on strategies to prevent or mitigate VT and STS have been somewhat limited, primarily focusing on self-care practices. Such strategies, however, have been found to be inaccessible for some, and inconsistently effective. VT and STS are typically confirmed through symptoms akin to those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including “intrusion”, “avoidance”, and “alterations in arousal, mood and cognition” (IAA). This study aimed to delve into how MHPs interpret these experiences, refraining from assuming them to be mere by-products of trauma exposure through working with traumatized clients. Employing snowball sampling methods, MHPs were invited to participate in three individual interviews to discuss their experiences of IAA and the meaning they assign to these. Rather than presuming IAA to stem from secondary trauma exposure, the research endeavored to engage participants in an exploratory analysis of these experiences. Using the Vicarious Trauma Scale and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale as guides for interview questions, MHPs conveyed that their experiences of IAA did not result from secondary exposure to trauma but rather from the challenges within their professional milieu. Through thematic analysis of the interview questions, it was identified these challenges center around the limited capacity to address client needs, their working in isolation, the undervaluation of their professional expertise, and the ethical challenges within their work environment. Applying interpretive phenomenological analysis of the interview data, MHPs did not perceive their experiences of IAA solely as the negative repercussions of trauma exposure but rather as reasonable, and at times helpful, responses to the systemic complexities of working within contemporary healthcare settings. These responses are examined, and considerations for future research, mindful of these insights, are presented
Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, regarding the "opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis": A nurse's perspective
No full textSubmitted brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health regarding the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis in Canada
Planning for 'good' youth spaces in British Columbia's 53 cities
No full textYouth are not being included in the planning of their communities and it shows through the lack of youth-friendly spaces. This research analyzes secondary sources from all fifty-three B.C. cities to paint a picture of how, or if, youth are being planned for, and if they are being engaged in the process. This includes Official Community Plans and, if the cities have any, youth-related reports. Youth planning is an emerging topic that needs to be discussed more. The definition of youth needs to be clarified as each city differs in the age range that constitutes ‘youth’. Cities are beginning to note the importance of engaging and including youth in their communities. They are also beginning to work on best practices and action strategies to ensure youth and youth spaces are being planned for.Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community Planning in the Department of Community Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vancouver Island University
Decolonizing Frontline Healthcare in a Rural-Urban Indigenous Community Health Center
No full text2024Acknowledging ongoing inequitable access to healthcare for Indigenous Peoples and answering the call for frontline healthcare workers to be continually more decolonizing in their practices, this study seeks to understand the experiences of providers in their decolonizing journey at Central Interior Native Health Society (CINHS). Seven focus group sharing circle participants and six interview participants responded to questions developed by the inquiry team, exploring areas of personal-professional, systemic, regulatory body, and education-level decolonizing practices, focusing on areas of successes or barriers with recommendations toward overcoming these challenges. Six photovoice participants explored how they embed client feedback into their professional practice through photos they took. Knowledge gained was additionally translated through the wisdom of Elders. The study findings stress the importance of moving from performative promises about decolonizing commitments to actioning decolonizing policies and supports directly at the frontlines of healthcare services. Here, providers build strong relationships with patients and work closely with Indigenous communities to co-build health policies and practices. Moving from efficiency metrics to focus on the experiences of patients and providers is integral. With a systems focus on patient and provider experience, healthcare providers are given the resources they need to prevent burnout, staying engaged in close patient-provider relationships and client-empowered care. This study calls for a seismic culture shift in healthcare, one that sets expectations for provider and systems reflexivity, experiential learning. CINHS and all healthcare organizations and providers are called on to be brave and bold, grounded in humility and continually moving towards a decolonizing future
Exploring entrepreneurial challenges and drivers in small cities for poverty reduction by investigating insights of key stakeholders: A case study of Saint John, New Brunswick
Get PDFThis article was originally published as: Pira, M., Fleet, G., & Moir, R. (2024). Exploring entrepreneurial challenges and drivers in small cities for poverty reduction by investigating insights of key stakeholders: A case study of Saint John, New Brunswick. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(7), Article 5011. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i7.5011The potential of entrepreneurship to reduce poverty is closely tied to critical factors such as access to finance, training and education, networks and social capital, and supportive regulatory environments. Understanding and addressing these underlying issues through the lens of the Social Capital theory can help foster an entrepreneurial spirit in cities and mitigate poverty through business and community development. This paper explores the insights and standpoints of key stakeholders about poverty in Saint John and its impact on entrepreneurship. The study uses a quantitative method and analyzes data from surveys with stakeholders. The results show that social isolation, system inflexibility, individual issues, housing, and financial support programs are significant poverty challenges in Saint John, and these issues have implications for entrepreneurship. By integrating Social Capital Theory into policy initiatives, policymakers can enhance community resilience and empower vulnerable individuals. This application of social capital principles provides a holistic framework for designing effective poverty-reduction measures, offering transformative insights applicable not only to Saint John but also to diverse small cities. The study contributes a nuanced understanding of poverty’s impact on entrepreneurship, advocating for inclusive strategies that resonate with the social fabric of communities
A Systems Thinking Approach to Examine Local Food Systems Planning Through a Climate-Biodiversity-Health Lens: A Comox Valley Case Study
Get PDF2024Food systems are highly vulnerable to the effects of anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, food systems contribute significantly to the production of greenhouse gases that drive climate change and negatively impact ecosystems. Such a vicious cycle of cause and effect demands a transition to sustainable food systems, and this is best done through integrated planning and policy perspectives that tackle interconnected socioeconomic and environmental concerns and goals. This research applies systems thinking to map relationships among food systems planning and other sustainability priorities, namely those related to climate, biodiversity, and health. The study engaged stakeholders in the Comox Valley region, British Columbia, to develop a causal loop diagram, which was subsequently analyzed using the Girvan-Newman community detection algorithm to identify closely connected nodes or 'clusters'. The results of this work provide a comprehensive understanding of how local food systems' challenges and opportunities connect and integrate with other local and regional sustainability objectives. The research identified 123 systems nodes, which were organized into five categories: food, climate, biodiversity, health, and governance. The community detection method was applied to reveal 15 clusters among these nodes. The methodology employed in this research, integrating the development of a causal loop diagram, and applying community detection, is novel and contributes to the growing body of literature advocating for an integrated planning approach to address the complex challenges facing local and regional food systems
Unlocking the potential of heritage to create additional housing
Get PDFProtecting our built heritage has been a part of Western society for centuries. Although practices and policies have evolved, ensuring that structures with historic significance remain standing continues to be a priority today. However, traditional heritage conservation is under scrutiny in light of modern-day pressures from rapid population growth and housing limitations. The lack of total housing supply and an insufficient diversity of housing types is fuelling concerns about housing attainability. While many areas look to new construction or green-field development, these approaches are not best suited for every community, and the options available to increase density should be as diverse as the communities that are adopting them.
Converting larger heritage structures to multi-unit residential dwellings or creating gentle density through infill housing on parcels of land with heritage properties are strategies that are underutilized by local governments. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the use of heritage conservation practices and policies, with the goal of providing recommendations for leveraging existing tools and implementing new strategies to better incentivize the transformation of heritage homes to denser forms of housing. Conservation of heritage structures through strategic conversions or infill development are sustainable and less disruptive ways of creating more housing options, offering some change-adverse communities ways to accommodate population growth within their borders.Thesis/major project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community Planning in the Department of Community Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vancouver Island University