Relational practices for meaningful inclusion in health research: Results of a deliberative dialogue study.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of including people affected by research (e.g., community members, citizens or patient partners) is increasingly recognized across the breadth of institutions involved in connecting research with action. Yet, the increasing rhetoric of inclusion remains situated in research systems that tend to reward traditional dissemination and uphold power dynamics in ways that centre particular (privileged) voices over others. In research explicitly interested in doing research with those most affected by the issue or outcomes, research teams need to know how to advance meaningful inclusion. This study focused on listening to voices often excluded from research processes to understand what meaningful inclusion looks and feels like, and asked what contributes to being or feeling tokenized. METHODS: In this deliberative dialogue study, 16 participants with experience of navigating social exclusions and contributing to research activities reflected on what makes for meaningful experiences of inclusion. Using a co-production approach, with a diversely representative research team of 15 that included patient and community partners, we used critically reflective dialogue to guide an inclusive process to study design and implementation, from conceptualization of research questions through to writing. RESULTS: We heard that: research practices, partnerships and systems all contribute to experiences of inclusion or exclusion; the insufficiency or absence of standards for accountability amplifies the experience of exclusion; and inclusive practices require intention, planning, reflection and resources. CONCLUSIONS: We offer evidence-informed recommendations for the deeply relational work and practices for inclusivity, focused on promising practices for cultivating welcoming systems, spaces and relationships. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This work reflects a co-production approach, where people who use and are affected by research results actively partnered in the research process, including study design, data-generating activities, analysis and interpretation, and writing. Several of these partners are authors of this manuscript.

Qualities of the dying experience of persons who access medical assistance in dying: A scoping review.

Defining a "good death" is complex and grounded in diverse cultural, social, and personal factors. Although there is a significant body of literature exploring the broad concepts of death and dying, there is a dearth in literature that has explored what constitutes a good death for persons undergoing assisted dying such as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). In this scoping review of 19 articles, we explore dying experiences and what a good death entails for people accessing MAiD. Understanding personal values and ideas about positive dying experiences can guide patients, care partners, and clinicians in their preparation toward, and facilitation of, a good death experience particularly among persons who access MAiD.

Being Uncertain: Rural-Living Cardiac Patients' Experience of Seeking Health Care.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Secondary prevention strategies reduce disease progression to heart failure. Rural cardiac patients typically have less access to health care resources to support them in managing secondary prevention, and services to improve quality of life tend to be lacking in rural settings. The study aim was to examine the process that rural cardiac patients go through to access health care and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) following myocardial infarction (MI). In-depth interviews with 11 post-MI participants using Straussian grounded theory were undertaken. Analysis revealed a linear process from hospital discharge to maintaining health. There were five elements: comfort with health information, relationship with health care providers, social support, taking ownership, and availability of/for CR. The core category was "being uncertain." Findings can be used to identify ways to improve access and address uncertainty stemming from a lack of perceived information and supports following discharge.

Cardiac rehabilitation program: An exploration of patient experiences and perspectives on program dropout.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) are effective evidence-based secondary prevention programs that reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, participation remains suboptimal, resulting in under-treatment and greater risk for recurrent cardiac events. Understanding the reasons behind CRP dropout is urgently needed to inform the development of programs that best meet patient needs and support sustained engagement. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify and understand factors impacting CRP dropout from the patient perspective. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was undertaken to examine the experience of 23 patients who dropped out of a CRP within a large urban hospital in British Columbia, Canada. Data were coded, analyzed using the constant comparison technique, and organized thematically. RESULTS: Participants described multiple challenges when attempting to complete CRP. Analysis of the data led to the identification of three main categories: (1) challenges living with CVD, (2) perceived advantages and disadvantages of CRP, and (3) unmet needs during CRP. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: In the practice setting, assessment of readiness to engage in CRP, alongside patient preferences and engagement needs, should be undertaken for maximum CRP uptake and completion. Providing diverse modes of CRP delivery, along with exploring the impact of virtual options as compared to traditional in-person programs, will further advance the CRP evidence and may help address pervasive access barriers.

It's not one size fits all: a case for how equity-based knowledge translation can support rural and remote communities to optimize virtual health care.

CONTEXT: People living in rural and remote British Columbia (BC) in Canada experience complex barriers to care, resulting in poorer health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. Virtual healthcare (VH) can act as a tool to address some of the care barriers, including reducing travel time, cost, and disruptions to people's lives. Conversely, VH can exacerbate inequities through unique difficulties in rural implementation, such as a lack of access to necessary infrastructure (eg internet), social supports, and technological capacity (eg devices and literacy). ISSUE: The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic induced a rapid shift to VH, providing new opportunities for health care while simultaneously highlighting and exacerbating inequities for people living in rural and remote settings. Equity-informed knowledge translation processes can help address these concerns. This commentary reports on an equity-informed knowledge translation process engaged by a diverse group of health researchers, community members, and practitioners in BC. LESSONS LEARNED: Informed by equity principles from the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, this knowledge exchange and translation process led to the co-creation of two practical tools: a set of VH appointment tip sheets and an open access report. Through stakeholder engagement and literature consultation, VH appointments were found to have many benefits for those in rural and remote communities, including expanding access to basic and specialized health services. However, some hesitation was noted when relying solely on these modes of care, as they can lack relationality, clarity, and time to process medical information. The tip sheets resulting from this process are an interactional-level tool developed to address this concern and optimize VH appointments, for rural patients and care providers. They offer the respective stakeholder group insights on how to actively prepare for and participate in inclusive virtual care. On a systems level, there is a continually echoed need for equity-based processes to ensure that VH is striking the balance of meeting rural health needs without exacerbating inequities. Additionally, incorporating the voices of rural and remote community members is essential. To help address this gap, an open-access report was compiled to serve as a small-scale example of integrating rural voices with existing literature to recommend systems-level adjustments. Overall, VH holds promise as an effective tool for addressing inequities experienced by those living in rural areas. To maximize this potential, rural and remote stakeholders must be proactively engaged and listened to throughout the processes of considering, planning, and implementing shifts in the utilization of VH options.

Hospice care providers experiences of grappling with medical assistance in dying in a hospice setting: a qualitative descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Rapid implementation of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) across care settings has challenged providers and organizations, including hospices, to develop and implement new modes of practice. The aim of this study was to examine the effects that legalization of MAiD has had on hospice care provider roles within the non-provider context. METHODS: Eight in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted and a qualitative descriptive approach used to examine hospice care providers experiences in a small western Canadian city. In the study context, patients who choose MAiD are cared for until immediately prior to the procedure when they are transferred off-site to undergo MAiD. Inductive and thematic analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: Participants experienced practical, philosophical, and professional challenges. Despite the overwhelming desire to support patient autonomy and decision-making, some interpreted patient choice for MAiD as rejection of the natural death experience at the hospice. Patient choice for MAiD initiated a new and different pathway of end-of-life care. While participants felt uncertain how best to support patients undergoing MAiD, they shared mixed optimism on how their care provider roles were evolving as their level of experience broadened. While implementation of MAiD was rapid, the introduction of practical and professional supports has remained slow to materialize, leaving many providers to navigate their own personal and professional positions and practices. CONCLUSION: Care providers require a multi-faceted range of clinical, legal, and logistical supports at the practice, organizational, and health system levels, to facilitate care delivery to those requesting and undergoing MAiD and to promote coordinated and holistic patient-centered care. The different pathway for those who chose MAiD may lead care providers to struggle with relational challenges and interpersonal unease. Further research may address how to support those undergoing MAiD within the hospice context.

Factors associated with teletrauma utilization in rural areas: a review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma patients residing in rural areas face increased challenges to accessing timely and appropriate health services as a result of large geographic distances and limited resource availability. Virtual trauma supports, coined 'teletrauma', are one solution offered to address gaps in rural trauma care. Teletrauma represents a new and innovative solution to addressing health system gaps and optimizing patient care within rural settings. Here, the authors synthesize the empirical evidence on teletrauma research. METHODS: A review of literature, with no date limiters, was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) scoping review methodology. The aim of the review was to provide an overview of the current landscape of teletrauma research while identifying factors associated with utilization. RESULTS: Following a systematic search of key health databases, 1484 articles were initially identified, of which 28 met the inclusion criteria and were included for final analysis. From the review of the literature, the benefits of teletrauma for rural and remote areas were well-recognized. Several factors were found to be significantly associated with teletrauma utilization, including younger patient age, penetrating injury, and higher injury or illness severity. Lack of access to resources and clinician characteristics were also identified as reasons that sites adopted teletrauma services. CONCLUSION: By identifying factors associated with teletrauma utilization, teletrauma programs may be used more judiciously and effectively in rural areas as a means of enhancing access to definitive trauma care in rural areas. Gaps in current knowledge were also identified, along with recommendations for future research.

The Canadian Community Utilization of Stroke Prevention Study in Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department (C-CUSP ED).

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Lack of oral anticoagulation prescription in the emergency department (ED) has been identified as a care gap in atrial fibrillation patients. This study seeks to determine whether the use of a tool kit for emergency physicians with a follow-up community-based atrial fibrillation clinic resulted in greater oral anticoagulation prescription at ED discharge than usual care. METHODS: This was a before-after study in 5 Canadian EDs in 3 cities. Patients who presented to the ED with atrial fibrillation were eligible for inclusion. The before phase (1) was retrospective; 2 after phases (2 and 3) were prospective: phase 2 used an oral anticoagulation prescription tool for emergency physicians and patient education materials, whereas phase 3 used the same prescription tool, patient materials, atrial fibrillation educational session, and follow-up in an atrial fibrillation clinic. Each phase was 1 year long. The primary outcome was the rate of new oral anticoagulation prescription at ED discharge for patients who were oral anticoagulation eligible and not receiving oral anticoagulation at presentation. RESULTS: A total of 631 patients were included. Mean age was 69 years (SD 14 years), 47.4% were women, and 69.6% of patients had a CHADS2 score greater than or equal to 1. The rate of new oral anticoagulation prescription in phase 1 was 15.8% compared with 54.1% and 47.2%, in phases 2 and 3, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, the odds ratio for new oral anticoagulation prescription was 8.03 (95% confidence interval 3.52 to 18.29) for phase 3 versus 1. The 6-month rate of oral anticoagulation use was numerically but not significantly higher in phase 3 compared with phase 2 (71.6% versus 79.4%; adjusted odds ratio 2.30; 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 5.96). The rate of major bleeding at 6 months was 0%, 0.8%, and 1% in phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. CONCLUSION: An oral anticoagulation prescription tool was associated with an increase in new oral anticoagulation prescription in the ED, irrespective of whether an atrial fibrillation clinic follow-up was scheduled. The use of an atrial fibrillation clinic was associated with a trend to a higher rate of oral anticoagulation at 6-month follow-up.

Hospice use and one-year survivorship of residents in long-term care facilities in Canada: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hospice care is designed for persons in the final phase of a terminal illness. However, hospice care is not used appropriately. Some persons who do not meet the hospice eligibility receive hospice care, while many persons who may have benefitted from hospice care do not receive it. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of, and one-year survivorship among, residents who received hospice care versus those who did not in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Canada. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used linked health administrative data from the Canadian Continuing Reporting System (CCRS) and the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD). All persons who resided in a LTCF and who had a Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set Version 2.0 (RAI-MDS 2.0) assessment in the CCRS database between Jan. 1st, 2015 and Dec 31st, 2015 were included in this study (N = 185,715). Death records were linked up to Dec 31th, 2016. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: The reported hospice care rate in LTCFs is critically low (less than 3%), despite one in five residents dying within 3 months of the assessment. Residents who received hospice care and died within 1 year were found to have more severe and complex health conditions than other residents. Compared to those who did not receive hospice care but died within 1 year, residents who received hospice care and were alive 1 year following the assessment were younger (a mean age of 79.4 [+ 13.5] years vs. 86.5 [+ 9.2] years), more likely to live in an urban LTCF (93.2% vs. 82.6%), had a higher percentage of having a diagnosis of cancer (50.7% vs. 12.9%), had a lower percentage of having a diagnosis of dementia (30.2% vs. 54.5%), and exhibited more severe acute clinical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The actual use of hospice care among LTCF residents is very poor in Canada. Several factors emerged as potential barriers to hospice use in the LTCF population including ageism, rurality, and a diagnosis of dementia. Improved understanding of hospice use and one-year survivorship may help LTCFs administrators, hospice care providers, and policy makers to improve hospice accessibility in this target group.

Community perspectives of end-of-life preparedness.

While death is a universal human experience, the process of planning for death can be difficult and may be avoided altogether. To understand community perspectives of end-of-life preparedness, we undertook a multimethod study exploring the experiences of 25 community members and 10 stakeholders engaged in end-of-life planning. In addition, card sorting activities and focused discussions with 97 older adults were undertaken to highlight perspectives and needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative description. Overall, the participants perceived many benefits to being end-of-life prepared, however, few community members had engaged in formal planning. Key barriers include concerns about the accessibility and accuracy of information, discomfort when engaging in end-of-life conversations, and perceptions about the cost associated with engaging in formal legal or financial preparations. Areas for further research include the need for studies that capture the cultural dimensions of end-of-life planning and explores the implementation and evaluation of community-based interventions to improve preparedness.

Medical assistance in dying: A political issue for nurses and nursing in Canada.

Death and dying are natural phenomena embedded within complex political, cultural and social systems. Nurses often practice at the forefront of this process and have a fundamental role in caring for both patients and those close to them during the process of dying and following death. While nursing has a rich tradition in advancing the palliative and end-of-life care movement, new modes of care for patients with serious and irremediable medical conditions arise when assisted death is legalized in a particular jurisdiction. In early 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada released its landmark decision Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) ('Carter'), which legalized physician-assisted suicide in particular clinical situations. The new law provided the broad national framework for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Canada but, once the law was passed, provincial and territorial governments and health professional regulatory bodies each had to undertake a process of developing policies, procedures and processes to guide MAiD-related practice specific to their jurisdiction. In this paper, we begin to examine the political ramifications and professional tensions arising from MAiD for nurses and nursing, focusing specifically upon the impacts for registered nurses. We identify how variations in the provincial and territorial literature and regulatory guidelines across Canada have given rise to role confusion and uncertainty among some registered nurses and how this may potentially impact patient care. We then continue to highlight the need for greater political activism among nurses to foster greater clarity in nursing roles in MAiD and to advocate for improved supports for patients and those close to them.

Exploring the synergies between focused ethnography and integrated knowledge translation.

BACKGROUND: Issues with the uptake of research findings in applied health services research remain problematic. Part of this disconnect is attributed to the exclusion of knowledge users at the outset of a study, which often results in the generation of knowledge that is not usable at the point of care. Integrated knowledge translation blended with qualitative methodologies has the potential to address this issue by working alongside knowledge users throughout the research process. Nevertheless, there is currently a paucity of literature about how integrated knowledge translation can be integrated into qualitative methodology; herein, we begin to address this gap in methodology discourse. The purpose of this paper is to describe our experience of conducting a focused ethnography with a collaborative integrated knowledge translation approach, including the synergies and potential sources of discord between integrated knowledge translation and focused ethnography. METHODS: We describe the specific characteristics and synergies that exist when using an integrated knowledge translation approach with focused ethnography, using a research exemplar about the experiences of frail, older adults undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve implantation. RESULTS: Embedding integrated knowledge translation within focused ethnography resulted in (1) an increased focus on the culture and values of the context under study, (2) a higher level of engagement among researchers, study participants and knowledge users, and (3) a commitment to partnership between researchers and knowledge users as part of a larger programme of research, resulting in a (4) greater emphasis on the importance of reciprocity and trustworthiness in the research process. CONCLUSIONS: Engaging in integrated knowledge translation from the outset of a study ensures that research findings are relevant for application at the point of care. The integration of integrated knowledge translation within focused ethnography allows for real-time uptake of meaningful and emerging findings, the strengthening of collaborative research teams, and opportunities for sustained programmes of research and relationships in the field of health services research. Further exploration of the integration of knowledge translation approaches with qualitative methodologies is recommended.

Nurses who work in rural and remote communities in Canada: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, as in other parts of the world, there is geographic maldistribution of the nursing workforce, and insufficient attention is paid to the strengths and needs of those providing care in rural and remote settings. In order to inform workforce planning, a national study, Nursing Practice in Rural and Remote Canada II, was conducted with the rural and remote regulated nursing workforce (registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed or registered practical nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses) with the intent of informing policy and planning about improving nursing services and access to care. In this article, the study methods are described along with an examination of the characteristics of the rural and remote nursing workforce with a focus on important variations among nurse types and regions. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey used a mailed questionnaire with persistent follow-up to achieve a stratified systematic sample of 3822 regulated nurses from all provinces and territories, living outside of the commuting zones of large urban centers and in the north of Canada. RESULTS: Rural workforce characteristics reported here suggest the persistence of key characteristics noted in a previous Canada-wide survey of rural registered nurses (2001-2002), namely the aging of the rural nursing workforce, the growth in baccalaureate education for registered nurses, and increasing casualization. Two thirds of the nurses grew up in a community of under 10 000 people. While nurses' levels of satisfaction with their nursing practice and community are generally high, significant variations were noted by nurse type. Nurses reported coming to rural communities to work for reasons of location, interest in the practice setting, and income, and staying for similar reasons. Important variations were noted by nurse type and region. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of the rural nursing workforce in Canada is continuing to decline in relation to the proportion of the Canadian population in rural and remote settings. Survey results about the characteristics and practice of the various types of nurses can support workforce planning to improve nursing services and access to care.

Sampling Methods in Cardiovascular Nursing Research: An Overview.

Cardiovascular nursing research covers a wide array of topics from health services to psychosocial patient experiences. The selection of specific participant samples is an important part of the research design and process. The sampling strategy employed is of utmost importance to ensure that a representative sample of participants is chosen. There are two main categories of sampling methods: probability and non-probability. Probability sampling is the random selection of elements from the population, where each element of the population has an equal and independent chance of being included in the sample. There are five main types of probability sampling including simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and multi-stage sampling. Non-probability sampling methods are those in which elements are chosen through non-random methods for inclusion into the research study and include convenience sampling, purposive sampling, and snowball sampling. Each approach offers distinct advantages and disadvantages and must be considered critically. In this research column, we provide an introduction to these key sampling techniques and draw on examples from the cardiovascular research. Understanding the differences in sampling techniques may aid nurses in effective appraisal of research literature and provide a reference pointfor nurses who engage in cardiovascular research.

Grappling With the Inclusion of Patients and the Public in Consensus Building: A Commentary on Inclusion, Safety, and Accessibility Comment on "Evaluating Public Participation in a Deliberative Dialogue: A Single Case Study".

Deliberative dialogue (DD) may be relatively new in health research but has a rich history in fostering public engagement in political issues. Dialogic approaches are future-facing, comprising structured discussions and consensus building activities geared to the collective identification of actionable and contextualized solutions. Relying heavily on a need for co-production and shared leadership, these approaches seek to garner meaningful collaborations between researchers and knowledge users, such as healthcare providers, decision-makers, patients, and the public. In this commentary, we explore some of the challenges, successes, and opportunities arising from public engagement in DD, drawing also upon insights gleaned from our own research, along with the case study presented by Scurr and colleagues. Specifically, we seek to expand discussions related to inclusion, power, and accessibility in DD, highlight the need for scholarship that addresses the epistemic, methodological, and practical aspects of patient and public engagement within dialogic methods, and identify promising practices.

Investigating the Prevalence and Predictors of Apathy among the Canadian Long-Term Care Residents: A Secondary Data Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In long-term care facilities (LTCF), apathy is a prevalent issue, leading to cognitive decline, functional impairment, and increased mortality risk. Despite its significance, apathy often remains underrecognized and undermanaged in these settings. Recognizing and addressing the predictors of apathy is critical for early intervention and improved care outcomes. PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the prevalence of apathy and identify its associated risk factors among newly admitted residents in the Canadian LTCF, using the InterRAI Minimum Data Set (MDS 2.0). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of MDS 2.0 admission assessment data between 2015 and 2019, covering 157,596 residents across six Canadian provinces and one territory. Apathy was measured using the Apathy Index of the MDS 2.0, with the biopsychosocial model guiding the analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of apathy was 12.5% (19,758 individuals). The most significant predictors include cognitive impairments, specific age groups, hearing impairments, vision impairments, facility size and location. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study underscore the need for tailored strategies in LTCF to address apathy, considering individual, institutional, and regional variations. Emphasis on environmental and personal factors is crucial in the management and prevention of apathy in these settings.

Use of Antivibration Technology to Reduce Demands for In-Home Nursing Care and Support in Rural Settings for Persons with Essential Tremors: A Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION: With the increased integration of technologies in the healthcare sector, it is important to understand the benefits emerging technologies may play to reduce demands on the health care system. The Steadiwear antivibration glove shows promise for enhancing the independence in functional abilities for persons with essential tremors and for alleviating the need for support from the health care system. The objective of this study was to examine Registered Nurses' (RN) perceptions of the potential for the Steadiwear antivibration glove to reduce the need for in-person support from community healthcare workers. METHODS: Eleven RNs, experienced in providing care in rural communities, participated in a semi-structured interview sharing their perspectives towards use of the Steadiwear antivibration glove in community practice settings. Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke was undertaken. RESULTS: Nurses described the value of this technology to reduce client needs for support for activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, feeding) and independent activities of daily living (e.g., banking, transportation). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced access to this technology may reduce the need for nursing and personal care support from the health system. Therefore the Steadiwear antivibration glove also shows potential to delay and/or prevent the need for more intensive support and mitigate the need for transition to a long-term care facility.

Impacts of Technology Use on the Workload of Registered Nurses: A Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Technology is an integral part of healthcare. With the rapid development of technological innovations that inform and support nurses, it is important to assess how these technologies may affect their workload particularly in rural contexts, where the workforce and supports may be limited. METHODS: This literature review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework describes the breadth of technologies which impact on nurses' workload. Five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Business Source Complete) were searched. Thirty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. A data matrix was used to organize the findings. FINDINGS: The technology interventions described in the articles covered diverse topics including: Cognitive care technologies; Healthcare providers' technologies; Communication technologies; E-learning technologies; and Assistive technologies and were categorized as: Digital Information Solutions; Digital Education; Mobile Applications; Virtual Communication; Assistive Devices; and Disease diagnoses groups based on the common features. CONCLUSION: Technology can play an important role to support nurses working in rural areas, however, not all technologies have the same impact. While some technologies showed evidence to positively impact nursing workload, this was not universal. Technology solutions should be considered on a contextual basis and thought should be given when selecting technologies to support nursing workload.

Chronic scrotal content pain: the experiences of patients undergoing microsurgical spermatic cord denervation.

Background: Chronic scrotal content pain, sometimes referred to as chronic orchialgia, is a common urological condition that gives rise to persistent and often severe painful stimuli to the scrotum and surrounding structures. Despite its relative commonality, accounting for over 2% of urological visits, chronic scrotal content pain is complex to manage and patients may be required to access multiple providers and undergo invasive procedures, including microsurgical spermatic cord denervation (MSCD) surgery. Objective: The objective of this study was to understand the experiences and perspectives of persons with chronic scrotal content pain and accessing MSCD surgery. Design: An exploratory qualitative design, guided by interpretive description and integrated knowledge translation, was adopted. Methods: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with six patients with chronic scrotal content pain who underwent MSCD surgery in a surgical center in Western Canada. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: Analysis of the study data resulted in three core themes: living with chronic scrotal content pain, quality of life, and MSCD procedure and outcomes. We highlight the debilitating nature of pain and the broad impacts upon health, quality of life, and social functioning. Participants described how MSCD surgery offered an effective solution for persistent and debilitating pain. For the participants, MSCD surgery offered hope and the chance to regain their normality. Conclusion: For those with chronic scrotal content pain, access to a pain specialist, along with the adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to pain and early access to MSCD surgery, may improve patient experiences and outcomes. Considering the high prevalence of urological pain, greater interdisciplinary care is needed in order to support more effective and timely management.

Perceptions of COVID-19 risk, vaccine access and confidence: a qualitative description of South Asians in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: In the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), South Asians living in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Greater Vancouver area (GVA) experienced specific barriers to accessing SARS-CoV-2 testing and reliable health information. However, between June 2021 and February 2022, the proportion of people having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose was higher among this group (96%) than among individuals who were not visible minorities (93%). A better understanding of successful approaches and the challenges experienced by those who remain unvaccinated among this highly vaccinated group may improve public health outreach in subsequent waves of the current pandemic or for future pandemic planning. Using qualitative methods, we sought to explore the perceptions of COVID-19 risk, vaccine access, uptake and confidence among South Asians living in Canada. DESIGN: Semistructured interviews conducted with 25 participants analysed using thematic analysis. Throughout this process, we held frequent discussions with members of the study's advisory group to guide data collection (community engagement, recruitment and data analysis). SETTING: Communities of the GTHA and GVA with interviews conducted virtually over Zoom or telephone. PARTICIPANTS: 25 participants (15 from Ontario and 10 from British Columbia) were interviewed between July 2021 and January 2022. 10 individuals were community members, 9 were advocacy group leaders and 6 were public health staff. RESULTS: Access to and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine was impacted by individual risk perceptions; sources of trusted information (ethnic and non-ethnic); impact of COVID-19 and the pandemic on individuals, families and society; and experiences with COVID-19 mandates and policies (including temporal and generational differences). Approaches that include community-level awareness and tailored outreach (language and cultural context) were considered successful. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding factors and developing strategies that build vaccine confidence and improve access can guide approaches that increase vaccine acceptance in the current and future pandemics.Visual abstract can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iXdnJj9ssc3hXCllZxP0QA9DhHH-7uwB/view.