Latest health care research on display at annual showcase

THUNDER BAY – While doctors and nurses work with patients on the front lines, behind the scenes researchers play an equally central role in healthcare delivery, helping to create new innovations and improve the quality of care.

“Our goal is to make our research useful to improve health and care,” said Brianne Wood, associate scientist in social accountability and learning health systems at Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute and NOSM University.

“We have the same goal as clinicians. We want to present the best evidence so that care can be as good as possible.”

Wood was one of eight presenters during the 18th^th annual health and research exhibition hosted by the Center for Applied Health Research at St Joseph’s Care Group.

This is the first time the showcase will be held in person, having been forced to be held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

dr Michel Bédard, scientific director of the Center for Applied Research at St Joseph’s Care Group, said people were delighted to return for a face-to-face meeting as it offered a unique opportunity to disseminate important research.

“We believe research is very important to ensure quality care and to provide a place for people to disseminate their research and research, which is very relevant to Northwest Ontario,” he said. “It also brings together researchers, administrators and clinical staff to discuss and hopefully create a link between the clinical world and the research world.”

A wide range of topics were discussed during the showcase, ranging from research into early childhood care and addictions to elder care and indigenous healthcare.

“There is a very wide range of research being presented at the conference and it is a testament to the great research and work being done in Northwest Ontario,” said Bédard.

One of Friday’s presentations included a study by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute of changes in adolescent and adolescent mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wood, who was part of the study and presented to the showcase, said the study found exactly what everyone expected.

“We found among children and adolescents that mental health presentations in primary care increased after March 2020, and this increase was seen in both boys and girls and across all age groups,” she said.

“I think things are increasing, but we’re also seeing how others in the room are realizing that people are also accessing services outside of primary health care.”

More youth are also accessing in a variety of ways, including virtually, which Wood may be due to the more timely availability of services.

“I think having a variety of options is really important and needs more attention,” she said. “I think virtual options and remote care could improve mental health opportunities. I think it’s about asking young people what they need and getting that across to them.”

Next steps include examining how Northwest Ontario compares to other parts of the province and whether the increase in mental health care perceptions correlates with access to other community or health services, such as hospitalizations or emergency room visits.

And the data found through such studies can be used to improve the quality of care and access to care in the region.

According to Wood, research is about collecting the data, using the useful information, and putting it back into practice.

“These research meetings are great to actually continue this cycle,” she said. “It’s about having multiple perspectives to get insight into the research and different people thinking about how to apply that in practice.”