A Content Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in Ontario, Canada, October 2001 to March 2011.

Seasonal flu vaccine uptake has fallen dramatically over the past decade in Ontario, Canada, despite promotional efforts by public health officials. Media can be particularly influential in shaping the public response to seasonal flu vaccine campaigns. We therefore sought to identify the nature of the relationship between risk messages about getting the seasonal flu vaccine in newspaper coverage and the uptake of the vaccine by Ontarians between 2001 and 2010. A content analysis was conducted to quantify risk messages in newspaper content for each year of analysis. The quantification allowed us to test the correlation between the frequency of risk messages and vaccination rates. During the time period 2001-2010, vaccination rates were positively and significantly related to the frequency of risk messages in newspaper coverage (r = .691, p < .05). The most commonly identified risk messages related to the flu vaccine being ineffective, the flu vaccine being poorly understood by science, and the flu vaccine causing harm. Newspaper coverage plays an important role in shaping public response to seasonal flu vaccine campaigns. Public health officials should work alongside media to ensure that the public are exposed to information necessary for making informed decisions regarding vaccination.

An innovative approach to recruiting participants for dementia research: primary care and researcher perspectives.

Aim: To describe clinician and researcher perceptions of a new, patient preference focused approach to recruiting patients for research from primary care-based memory clinics. Methods: Memory clinic clinicians completed a survey and key informants completed an individual interview to gather their perceptions of this new program. Results: The majority of clinicians were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with this recruitment approach and indicated that this approach would have minimal negative impact on patient care or create conflict of interest. Key informants valued the program for its patient-centred approach, the integration of research into care and potential for increased recruitment. Discussion: These findings are suggestive of support for this recruitment approach. Pilot testing will inform feasibility, effectiveness and process improvements.

A "Patient Preference" Model of Recruitment for Research from Primary-Care-Based Memory Clinics: A Promising New Approach.

Recruiting persons with dementia for clinical trials can be challenging. Building on a guide initially developed to assist primary-care-based memory clinics in their efforts to support research, a key stakeholder working group meeting was held to develop a standardized research recruitment process, with input from patients, care partners, researchers, and clinicians. Discussions in this half-day facilitated meeting focused on the wishes and needs of patients and care partners, policy and procedures for researchers, information provided to patients, and considerations for memory clinics. Patients and care partners valued the opportunity to contribute to science and provided important insights on how to best facilitate recruitment. Discussions regarding proposed processes and procedures for research recruitment highlighted the need for a new, patient-driven approach. Accordingly, a key stakeholder co-designed "Memory Clinic Research Match" program was developed that has the potential to overcome existing barriers and to increase recruitment for dementia-related research.

Recruitment of participants for dementia research: interprofessional perspectives from primary care-based memory clinics.

Aim: To understand clinician attitudes and the barriers that impede research recruitment from specialized primary care-based memory clinics. Materials & methods: Clinicians completed a survey on attitudes and barriers to research recruitment from memory clinics. Results: Comfort and willingness to recruit for research were low to moderate and were lower for drug trials than for observational and non-drug trials. Respondents believed that it is important to have a standardized recruitment process. Identified barriers provide some insights into the factors that contribute to discomfort and lack of willingness to recruit research participants. Discussion: Findings can inform future efforts to develop a recruitment process that addresses identified barriers, while also providing an opportunity to increase participant recruitment in dementia research.

Recruitment of persons living with dementia from primary care for research is challenging and can be a barrier to study completion. Multispecialty Interprofessional Team (MINT) Memory Clinics may provide a unique opportunity for recruiting patients for research studies. In this study, clinicians completed a survey on attitudes and barriers to research recruitment from memory clinics in primary care. Clinician comfort and willingness to recruit for research were low to moderate. A number of barriers to recruiting patients for research from MINT Clinics were identified and included limited time, workload issues, limited information to share with patients, and their lack of knowledge about and experience with research. These study findings can help to develop a recruitment process that addresses identified barriers and helps to increase participant recruitment in dementia research.

Enabling Advance Care Planning in Dementia Care: A Primary Care Approach.

BACKGROUND: Lack of tools to support advance care planning (ACP) has been identified as a significant barrier to implementing these discussions. AIM: We pilot tested an ACP framework tool for use with persons living with dementia (PLWD) in primary care-based memory clinics and an Adult Day Program; this study describes user and recipient experiences with this framework. METHODS: We used a mixed methods approach. Health professionals completed an online survey following pilot testing and PLWD and substitute decision makers (SDM) completed survey immediately following the ACP discussion assessing their satisfaction (5-point scale) with the framework and exploring potential outcomes. Interviews with health professionals, PLWD, and SDM were conducted to gather more in-depth information on their perceptions of the ACP framework/ discussion. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 12 health professionals, 13 PLWD, and 16 SDM. While PLWD and SDM were satisfied with the ACP discussion (M = 4.0/5), health professionals were minimally satisfied with the ease of use of the framework (M = 2.0/5), acceptability for patients (M = 2.4/5) and feasibility in practice (M = 1.9/5). Sixteen interviews were completed with 8 health professionals, 1 PLWD, and 7 SDM. While health professionals valued ACP, lack of time and training were identified barriers to framework use. SDM felt better prepared for future decisions and PLWD were put at ease, knowing that their wishes for care were understood. CONCLUSION: PLWD and SDM value the opportunity for ACP, and although health professionals identified some concerns with framework administration, they acknowledge the value and importance of ACP. Continuing efforts to refine ACP processes are justified.

Person-centered risk assessment framework: assessing and managing risk in older adults living with dementia.

AIM: This study pilot-tested the person-centered risk assessment framework (PCRAF), a framework for managing risk among persons living with dementia (PLWD) in primary care. METHODS: Healthcare providers (N = 7) piloting the PCRAF completed a survey, rating their satisfaction with the tool, and an interview to gather their perceptions of the PCRAF. PLWD and care partners (N = 12) completed a survey, rating their satisfaction with safety planning. RESULTS: Care providers were very satisfied with the tool; however, patient or care partner inability to perceive or understand safety risks was a challenge. Use of the PCRAF was perceived as an opportunity to empower self-management, gather PLWD and care partner perspectives, reduce burden for care partners and increase understanding of potential risks. Patients and care partners were very satisfied with the way in which they were included in the risk discussion. CONCLUSION: The PCRAF is a promising new tool to reduce risks associated with dementia.

Persons with dementia and care partners' perspectives on memory clinics in primary care.

AIMS: To understand persons with dementia (PWD) and care partners' experiences with the Primary Care Collaborative Memory Clinic (PCCMC) care model. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of PWD (n = 12) and care partners (N = 16) to identify their perspectives of care received in the clinic and suggestions for improvement. RESULTS: PWD and care partners were satisfied with care received within the PCCMC, had positive interactions with and perceived a strong sense of support from team members and felt listened to; the necessity of cognitive testing was recognized but disliked. CONCLUSIONS: The PCCMC care model can address many existing gaps in dementia care as experienced by PWD and care partners.

Exploring Perceptions and Experiences of Food Allergy among New Canadians from Asia.

Introduction. In Canada, perceived prevalence of food allergy surpasses systematic estimates. Canadian immigrants have been found more likely to rate the risk of food allergy as "high" compared to nonimmigrants. Methods. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 3 key informants and 18 allergic individuals of East and Southeast Asian descent in order to capture their lived experience with food allergies. Results. Participants found food allergies to be more common in Canada than in Asia. Participants also agreed that having a food allergy is more manageable in Canada as a result of the policy environment (e.g., food labelling and school policies). In addition, participants had dealt with skepticism and disbelief about their food allergy in Asia, resulting in social exclusion and impacting quality of life. Discussion. Findings demonstrate the need to recognize the varied impacts and experiences of food allergy among new Canadians, given that immigrants represent a large and growing proportion of the Canadian population.