VitalSignsNB is the health-based research stream in the Pathways to Professions (P2P) experiential learning program at the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT). P2P brings together students from different educational backgrounds to work on NB-relevant research projects in a multitude of fields. Over 13 weeks, students participate in a variety of training and mentoring sessions on research and employment skills, in addition to engaging in their assigned research topics.
Read moreThe need to better understand the interactions of legalized cannabis and mental health
“Cannabis is one of the most commonly used recreational substances globally and the second-most used in Canada (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, 2007). Since its legalization in 2018, which permitted the sale (from government sanctioned locations), growth and recreational use for citizens of legal age (Cannabis Act, 2018), its recreational and therapeutic usage has increased (Statistics Canada, 2019). Pain, anxiety, and depression are the most common indications for the therapeutic use of cannabis (Sexton et al., 2016). However, the existing body of literature only supports cannabis’s efficacy in alleviating pain – not symptoms of anxiety and depression (Kosiba et al., 2019).”
Read moreAmbient Activities for an Aging Population
“Residents affected by dementia in long term care (LTC) facilities often experience a lack of engagement and interaction. Whether it is due to the strain put on LTC workers, or extenuating circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, this lack of stimulation can lead to disruptive behaviours and can impact their emotional well-being.”
Read moreCOVID-19 Vaccines In Review
“In late 2019, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) took the world by storm. Cases of this enigmatic and never-before-seen strand of virus engulfed country after country just after the new year, and the rest is history. In January 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread to Canadian shores.”
Read moreShades of an Acculturation Paradigm in Health Care: Race and Ethnicity
“Disparities between diverse population groups in effective healthcare treatments and outcomes may place certain groups at higher risk than others. In spite of development and advances in the healthcare system, prior research has proved the presence of disparities in the use of health services based on race.”
Read moreDoes Time Heal All Wounds?
“Why do wounds not heal in patients with Type II Diabetes? That, as Dr. Johnston puts it, is the “Million-Dollar Question.” Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Rather than being only one error in the healing response that results in the formation of a chronic wound, it is likely a number of issues.”
Read moreAdvancements in Spine Surgery in Atlantic Canada
“Experiencing involuntary spasms or aches in your lower back? Numbness, burning, or tingling down your leg? You are most likely suffering from lower back pain (LBP) or commonly referred to as sciatica, which is pain in the back radiating into the leg. Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common conditions associated with LBP. It is a leading cause of disability and often a reason for patients to undergo spine surgery. Traditionally, spine surgery is done as “open surgery”. However, spine surgery has transformed significantly through technological advancements and new approaches such as minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).”
Read more“It Can’t Be That Bad”: Stigmatization As A Barrier To Receiving Chronic Pain Treatment
“It is normal for many people to experience pain at some point in their life. However, some people experience chronic pain, which is pain that persists for at least three months and can even for years. Individuals with chronic pain are often subjected to negative stereotypes that undermine the legitimacy of their pain experience. These individuals are not only stigmatized by the general public, but also the health professionals who work with them during rehabilitation and treatment. The research by Dr. Diane LaChapelle at the University of New Brunswick examines how perceptions of people with chronic pain are influenced by stereotypes and how these perceptions hinder effective decision-making for the treatment of chronic pain.”
Read moreiGenNB: Intergenerational Living for Community Well-Being
“Intergenerational living is an internationally known co-living model where older adults and seniors share their homes with younger adults to foster a mutually beneficial living arrangement. In exchange for affordable living, the younger adults will provide household services such as snow removal, grocery shopping, running errands, gardening, companionship, and more.
Read this article to learn how iGenNB, a pilot intergenerational living program in New Brunswick, hopes to “improve quality of life, reduce ageism, and lessen the strain on community care services.”
Read moreHow a Mixed Methods Research Design Can Add Meaning to Our Findings in STEM
“The purpose of conducting research is to convey knowledge that is both accurate and applicable outside of a lab setting. Yet, as researchers we often limit ourselves between opting for one of two divided categories: quantitative or qualitative methods.”
Learn more about a mixed methods approach and how that can affect findings in STEM.
Read moreThe Treatment of Two Worldwide Diseases with One Medication
Emma Giberson explores the possibility of treating cancer with Metformin, a medication commonly used to treat diabetes. Highlighting research done by Masters student Lua Samimi, she dives into the significance of versatile medications and how far unconventional thinking can advance our modern idea of treatment.
Read moreSmart Devices and Their Impact on Societal Health
Smart devices that quantify and monitor the motion of individuals are being developed at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. This project has the potential to drastically improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and reactivity of our health care system.
Read moreThe Professional Journey of Dr. Tony Reiman
Dr. Reiman didn’t always dream of entering the medical profession. As a student at UNB taking a double major in Biology and Physics, Reiman’s earlier interests were based in technological development and innovation, rather than medicine. Today, Dr. Tony Reiman is nothing short of a hero in our community. In addition to easing the suffering of cancer patients as an oncologist at the Saint John Regional Hospital, he holds various titles such as Canadian Cancer Society Research Chair and Assistant Dean of Research at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) to name a few.”
Read moreEnhancing the Performance of Canadian Paddlers via Inertial Measurement Units
Josh Goreham is a PhD in Health student studying sport biomechanics at Dalhousie University. He measures sport technique using inertial measurement units, with the goal of helping enhance the performance of Canadian canoe kayak sprint athletes.
Read moreMeasuring Physical Health Needs for Older Adults
Canada’s older adult population, those 65 and older, is increasing; more specifically, New Brunswick has one of the largest older adult populations in Canada [1]. This is concerning because as these individuals age, their ability to live independently may decrease – meaning they will be unable to live on their own.
Read moreObesity: A Hot Topic
You’ve likely heard that we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, but what exactly does that mean? Obesity is a term used to describe excess body fat accumulation to the point in which it is accompanied by adverse health effects. To be classified as obese, one must have a body mass index (BMI) of above 30, which takes into consideration both a person’s height and weight. Statistics Canada estimates that one in four adult Canadians (approximately 6.3 million Canadians) were classified as obese in 2012, an increase of 17.5% from 2003. With rapidly increasing rates of obesity, focus is starting to shift towards addressing this issue.
Read moreTime Perception: A Journey Into the Mind
McFeaters has always had an interest in how the mind works and how basic cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and perception influence human experience and behaviour. Along with Dr. Daniel Voyer, McFeaters began studying time perception of events.
Read moreUnderstanding Research to Build a Better Future
Improving health care, adjusting policies, and allowing research to make an impact is vital for advancing our technologies to meet our new needs. As communities grow larger, and new problems arise, technology must adapt to be effective. People that work on tackling integration of new technology into society are known as Translational Scientists. Dr. Keith Brunt, a Translational Scientist with IMPART labs, and a faculty member in Medicine and Business at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and UNBSJ has first-hand experience in the area of translational medicine and understands its importance for the future.
Read moreUsing Biomarkers to Detect Vaccine Success
The exploration of Biomarkers is a novel field of research, and potentially offers many answers for health researchers. Biomarkers are biological indicators that help confirm whether or not something of interest occurs, for example, they can act as an early predictor of vaccination success, as opposed to waiting longer periods of time to evaluate whether the disease is completely eliminated. Some of the latest research looking into using biomarkers as indicators of vaccine success is done in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Read moreAdapting Health Care to Solve Modern Problems
The Atlantic Student Research Journal sits down with Dr. Erik Scheme to explore how he plans to implement a proactive health care model by building medical technologies to support this new system.
Read more