Baycrest

ONGOING PROJECTS In the coming year, KLAERU will continue to expand its project work across the organization. Four ongoing projects include: PSYCHOLOGY: EVALUATING THE FUNCTIONAL IMPACT OF A MEMORY INTERVENTION PROGRAM The Baycrest Memory and Aging Program (MAP) is designed to help older adults who are experiencing normal age-related memory changes. MAP has been offered at Baycrest since 1997. Drs. Susan Vandermorris, Angela Troyer, and their research team in the Department of Psychology are focused on assessing whether MAP leads participants to positive behaviour changes that, in turn, lead to improved everyday functioning. KLAERU team to recruit 60 study participants to take part in the randomized controlled study. MEDICINE: IMPROVING PERFORMANCE IN DRIVERS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT Led by Dr. Gary Naglie, Chief of Medicine at Baycrest, the research team will be conducting a double-blind randomized trial of older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The study aims to determine if a cognitive intervention designed to enhance executive function and processing speed results in improvements in driving performance, cognition, mood, and quality of life, relative to processing speed training alone or an active control intervention. KLAERU team to conduct cognitive and driving assessments of study participants following the intervention. PSYCHIATRY & CLINICAL ETHICS: BEST PRACTICES IN SEXUALITY AND SEXUAL EXPRESSION IN LONG-TERM CARE Drs. Ken Schwartz (Psychiatry Day Hospital) and Marcia Sokolowski (Clinical Ethics) are developing a manual detailing best practices for dealing with sexuality and sexual expression in long-term care. As part of their work, they will be assessing Baycrest's preparedness for dealing with such issues using questionnaires and focus groups. KLAERU team to develop a study design, submit a research ethics application, recruit participants, collect and manage data. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL, PHARMACY & MEDICINE: EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM As part of a provincial initiative, Baycrest's Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) aims to fight antimicrobial resistance by informing and educating clinicians to use antimicrobials according to evidence-based best practice. This initiative is led by Nina Kassett, ASP clinical pharmacist, Dr. Aidlee Craft, and Dr. Michael Kirzner, attending physicians. Initial data indicate that bacteria at Baycrest are now less resistant to certain antimicrobials. KLAERU team to assist with further quantitative statistical analyses and dissemination of the findings through manuscript preparation. STATISTICAL CONSULTING KLAERU has provided key research expertise and capacity through statistical consultation with researchers across Baycrest. Key service offerings have included research methodology education, study design, statistical analyses, results interpretation, and knowledge dissemination support via poster, presentation, and manuscript preparation. In the past year, KLAERU has provided statistics consulting support to the following research projects: EDUCATIONAL EVENTS As part of its mandate to increase capacity and promote applied and evaluative research at Baycrest, KLAERU provides training in the research process, including research methodology and imple- mentation for health professionals and trainees from all disciplines. In the past year, this has included Baycrest volunteers, nurses, social workers, and therapeutic recreation staff, visit- ing Peking Union Medical College students, and Seneca College nursing and therapeutic recrea- tion students on placement at Baycrest. Educational topics include: Support Type Project Description Statistical analysis Evaluation of mobility assessment using the Goal Attainment Scale Evaluation of a conversion tool to ease transition from the Geriatric Assessment & Treatment Unit to Palliative Care Unit Evaluation of a nutritional intervention in rehabilitation Analysis and modeling of predictors of patient outcomes after slow stream rehabilitation Analysis of patient outcomes after a stroke self-management program Analysis of large-scale population data evaluating learning performance using an e-training software platform Study design & statistical analysis Evaluation of a method to prevent and control the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) Development of a conversion table to convert performance between measures of clinical frailty and palliative performance Study design Design of a qualitative evaluation study of the Memory & Aging Program Design of a qualitative evaluation study of an interdisciplinary gentle fitness program in long-term care Statistical analysis and knowledge dissemina- tion Analysis of imaging and behavioural data examining anxiety symptoms and associated structural neuroimaging abnormalities in amnestic mild cognitive impairment Presentation Topics Basic statistics Identifying a scientific question Turn your idea into a research question* Literature reviews Research team coordination How to start a journal club Critically appraising guidelines* Global research collaborations Characteristics of a quality scien- tific journal article *in collaboration with Baycrest Library Services 8 7 KLAERU HIGHLIGHTS KLAERU HIGHLIGHTS

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