Canadian Public Research Articles

Public Libraries May Facilitate More Inclusive Programming with the Collaboration of Trained Partners for Patrons with Dementia

A Review of: Dai, J., Bartlett, J. C., & Moffatt, K. (2023). Library services enriching community engagement for dementia care: The Tales & Travels Program at a Canadian Public Library as a case study. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 55(1), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006211065170 Objective – To explore the potential of public libraries to contribute to community-based dementia care, and to examine the lived experiences of users partaking in the program. Design – Case study. Setting – A public library in Montreal, Canada. Subjects – Public library patrons with dementia and their caregivers engaging in Tales & Travels, a program for participants with early- and middle-stage dementia who learn about a new country through multi-sensory experiences. Methods – Semi-structured dyadic interviews with eleven people with dementia and their caregivers, as well as interviews with four program facilitators. Researchers implemented unobtrusive participant observation and thematically analyzed results. Main Results – Researchers discovered two primary themes via thematic analysis of interview transcripts: “community platform” and “librarians’ roles” came out of the data most often when discussing the program. Participants and caregivers felt a sense of familiarity and normalcy in a public library and appreciated the de-emphasis on dementia as the focus of the programming. Librarians felt the partnership with the Alzheimer Society allowed them to push past their uncertainties in their capacity to provide quality programming for this user group and found that collaborative relationship integral to the program’s success. Conclusion – With an intentional setting, collaborative partners with expertise in this user group, and person-centered programming, libraries can be a welcoming location to offer engaging and inclusive programs for patrons with dementia. However, these elements are of a high priority given the vulnerability of the population, and librarians who are willing to be trained in inclusivity, safety, and hospitality should handle programming. Replication of this study in other libraries would strengthen the conclusion of the case study.

Use of Hashtags by Two Canadian Public Libraries: A Comparative Review

This research presents a comparative review of hashtags in tweets posted by the two large Canadian public libraries, Edmonton Public Library (EPL) and Calgary Public Library (CPL), serving communities in the Province of Alberta. The descriptive statistics reveals variation between the two libraries in the number and types of hashtags. Both the libraries used a number of hashtags that had libraries’ names including initialism to contribute to their visibility, and local airport codes or the respective city names to establish their explicit and implicit associations with their geographical area of operations. The paper contributes to literature on the use of hashtags particularly in the context of Canadian public libraries. It will provide evidence-driven insights to other libraries on ways to create hashtags to strengthen their online presence, and digitally share information and promote events, programs and services.

An update on the status of direct testing for Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum for the laboratory diagnosis of syphilis in Canada

Background: In Canada, the recent resurgence of infectious syphilis and rising rates of congenital syphilis have renewed interest in direct detection methods for the laboratory diagnosis of syphilis. The Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) has previously published a series of guidelines for the diagnosis of syphilis in Canada, including the use of direct tests. In the decade since those guidelines were published, laboratory practice has changed. Methods: This systematized review combined a literature search (MEDLINE) of methods for direct detection of Treponema pallidum with an informal survey of current testing practices in Canadian public health laboratories. Results: Direct testing methods have favourable performance characteristics for detection of early syphilis and congenital cases. Although no government licensed commercial nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for syphilis is available in Canada, laboratory-developed tests have been implemented in multiple Canadian jurisdictions. Clinical specimens with the highest yield of positive NAAT results for syphilis include genital ulcers, skin lesions, and oral swabs from primary and secondary syphilis patients. For investigation of congenital syphilis, nasopharyngeal, placenta, umbilical cord, blood, and skin lesions are specimens of choice for direct detection of T. pallidum by NAAT. Conclusions: This update on the status of direct testing highlights the importance of NAAT for the detection of T. pallidum, the reduced role of microscopy-based methods, and the emergence of DNA and genome sequencing as tools for phylogenetic analysis and molecular epidemiology.

Canadian Public Sector Reform: Moving Towards a Neo-Weberian State?

Recent turbulence in governing environments has reinvigorated big questions in the field about the efficacy of various public governance approaches. This article examines the applicability of the Neo Weberian State (NWS) approach to the Canadian case. Our analysis reveals that Canada does not currently meet the NWS requirements. Canada’s decentralized federal system and Indigenous governance dynamics challenge the hierarchy essential to the NWS. As a modest reformer, Canada’s public management reform trajectory has not yielded many of the elements stipulated by the NWS. Canada remains characterized by partial and often asymmetrical incrementalism which we argue points to a hybrid, pragmatic, and negotiated (HPN) approach. Looking at Canada through the lens of NWS raises important questions and considerations for the future directions of Canadian public management, but also identifies further opporutnities to sharpen the NWS approach.

Canadian Public Library Pandemic Response: Bridging the Digital Divide and Preparing for Future Pandemics

This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on computer and Internet access services in Canadian public libraries as well as the implications of this lack of access for people facing socioeconomic barriers, and how Canadian public libraries could address digital divide issues in the post-pandemic era. Recommendations on future pandemic preparedness for public libraries are also discussed in this article. This research project conducted a bilingual (English and French) online survey targeting public library technicians, librarians, and library board members across Canada. From 1,631 research invitation emails sent to public library staff across Canada and three Facebook posts on Canadian public library staff groups, over a one-year period from November 3, 2021, to November 6, 2022. 226 individuals participated in the online survey questionnaire. Findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated social inequalities in Canada, including access to computers and the Internet. The digital divide could lead to poor health outcomes and put existing disadvantaged populations at greater risk in terms of future employment opportunities. The digital divide needs to be addressed so that Canadians in low-income households and those living with disabilities do not get left behind. Importantly, public libraries in Canada have been working tirelessly to equalize access to computers, the Internet, and digital literacy training and support. Their determination, social responsibility, and professional ethics need to be acknowledged. Finally, this article's recommendations for future pandemic preparedness in Canadian public libraries may also be applicable and beneficial to public libraries globally.

Should the Canadian Public Service Worry about the Polarization in the Perceptions of Social Problems?

AbstractThis study analyzes the polarization of perceptions of social problems in Canada to assess if social issues polarization was an element of the environment (Hodgetts, 1964). We analyzed data from the Canadian Election Study collected between 1993 and 2021. We compare urban university‐educated and rural non‐university‐educated Canadians' opinions regarding their perceptions of certain social problems in Canada. Our results show that there are some disagreements between the two groups. However, the data and methods used do not allow us to confirm a trend towards polarization. Polarization over social problems is not yet shaping Canadian public administrations.

A Scoping Review on the Epidemiology of Orthobunyaviruses of Canadian Public and Animal Health Relevance in the Context of Vector Species.

Background: Mosquito-borne orthobunyaviruses are a growing priority for public and animal health in Canada. It is anticipated that disease incidence will increase due to a warming climate, given that habitats are expanding for reservoir hosts and vectors, particularly in Canada. Little is known about the ecology of primary vectors that perpetuate these orthobunyaviruses, including the viral transmission cycle and the impact of climatic and landscape factors. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to describe the current state of knowledge on the epidemiology of orthobunyaviruses relevant to Canada. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines was used to characterize studies focused on vector species. A literature search was conducted in six databases and gray literature. Eligible studies characterized orthobunyavirus epidemiology related to vector species, including viral competency, geospatial distributions, seasonal trends, and/or risk factors. Results: A total of 1734 unique citations were identified. Screening of these citations revealed 172 relevant studies, from which 87 studies presented primary data related to vectors. The orthobunyaviruses included Cache Valley virus (CVV), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), Snowshoe Hare virus (SHV), and La Crosse virus (LACV). Surveillance was the predominant study focus, with most citations representing the United States, specifically, LACV surveillance in Tennessee, followed by CVV and JCV in Connecticut. Orthobunyaviruses were detected in many mosquito species across multiple genera, with high vector specificity only being reported for LACV, which included Aedes triseriatus, Aedes albopictus, and Aedes japonicus. Peridomestic areas were positively associated with infected mosquitoes compared with dense forests. Orthobunyavirus infections, coinfections, and gut microbiota affected mosquito feeding and breeding behavior. Conclusion: Knowledge gaps included Canadian surveillance data, disease modeling, and risk projections. Further research in these areas, especially accounting for climate change, is needed to guide health policy for prevention of orthobunyaviral disease.

La promoción de la salud: de los griegos a la Carta de Ottawa: ¿Un nuevo campo de acción de la Salud Pública?

This article reviews the history of principles, concepts, and applications that fall under Health Promotion (HP), an important component of the field of Public Health. It begins with the proposals and hygiene concepts of the Greeks to promote healthier populations, extending the review through various centuries to the Declaration known as the Ottawa Charter, from 1986. This charter resulted from the first International Conference on Health Promotion held in Ottawa, Canada, with the participation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Canada, and the Canadian Public Health Association. This declaration is considered of utmost importance as it defined the terms, concepts, and strategies for the application and development of the “new Health Promotion.” Health Promotion requires Healthy Public Policies and intersectoral collaboration.

Dia Dabby. Religious Diversity in Canadian Public Schools: Rethinking the Role of Law. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2022, 291 pp.

Dia Dabby. Religious Diversity in Canadian Public Schools: Rethinking the Role of Law. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2022, 291 pp.

Making Sense of AI Benefits: A Mixed-method Study in Canadian Public Administration

AbstractPublic administrators receive conflicting signals on the transformative benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the counternarratives of AI’s ethical impacts on society and democracy. Against this backdrop, this paper explores the factors that affect the sensemaking of AI benefits in Canadian public administration. A mixed-method research design using PLS-SEM (n = 272) and interviews (n = 38) tests and explains the effect of institutional and consultant pressures on the perceived benefits of AI use. The quantitative study shows only service coercive pressures have a significant effect on perceived benefits of AI use and consultant pressures are significant in generating all institutional pressures. The qualitative study explains the results and highlights the underlying mechanisms. The key conclusion is that in the earlier stages of AI adoption, demand pull is the main driver rather than technology push. A processual sensemaking model is developed extending the theory on institutions and sensemaking. And several managerial implications are discussed.

THREE ASPECTS OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE PUBLIC SERVICE

On November 17, 2023, a Senior CSIS Executive presented Three Aspects of Accountability for the Canadian Public Service for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver Executives. The key points discussed were the themes of accountability in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in relation to the federal court, to Canadian citizens, and within the governmental and academic spheres.
 
 Received: 01-07-2024
 Revised: 01-30-2024

Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of Elbow Tendinosis Research in Orthopaedic Surgery

Aim: Elbow tendinosis is the most frequent cause of elbow discomfort. The disease is common in the daily routine practice of sports medicine and orthopedics. However, currently, this issue lacks a multifaceted, methodical, and understandable visual examination. Materials and Methods: Utilizing the Biblioshiny program, the core collection dataset of the Web of Science database's literature on elbow tendinosis from 1970 to April 2023 was compiled and examined. Research hotspots and development patterns were examined in terms of highly influential authors, research institutions, nations or regions, keywords, and referenced publications. Results: According to the search criteria, 526 articles were published by 1817 authors from 839 affiliations, and 47 countries in the Web of Science database. The amount of articles on elbow tendinosis has increased over time, especially after 2000. 55.6% of all articles were published in 2010 and later years. The articles included in this study were published in the United States (n=152, 28.843%), England (n=43, 8.159%), Germany (n=40, 7.59%), Turkey (n= 40, 7.59%) and South Korea (n=28, 5.313%). The United States had the highest total citation number 4493, but Canadian publications had the highest number of average article citations (56.4). Conclusion: Although studies on elbow tendinosis in the field of orthopedics have gained momentum in recent years, they are still insufficient. Although the United States ranks first in terms of publications, it is pleasing for our country that Turkey ranks high.

Financial Characteristics of Outcomes-Based Agreements: What Do Canadian Public Payers and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Prefer?

ObjectivesThis study sought to gain insight into the financial characteristics of outcomes-based agreements (OBAs) considered most suitable to Canadian public payers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the rationale for their preferences. MethodsA total of 17 public payers and pharmaceutical manufacturers participated in semistructured qualitative interviews, which assessed their knowledge of OBAs and their preferred financial characteristics. ResultsPayers identified 5 OBA financial models that they considered both acceptable and feasible, in no preferential order: (1) discontinuation of therapy, (2) rebates for nonresponders, (3) free trial period, (4) adjustable pricing, and (5) blended rebate. Payers had a clear preference for short-term OBAs (<1 year), whereas both payers and manufacturers agreed OBAs with longer durations (up to 5 years) would be manageable if appropriately designed. Six key success factors to design suitable and acceptable OBA financial models were identified, including the areas of interim reporting, easily measurable health outcomes, trusted data sources, engaging unbiased third-party data experts, harmonizing OBA billing methods, and the inclusion of budget caps. ConclusionsManufacturers and payers showed high level of interest in OBAs and a robust understanding of their potential role in supporting timely market access for patients in need, with the caveat that they need to be carefully designed to provide value. Further opportunities for discussion and engagement between public payers and manufacturers are needed to establish how to implement OBAs at a pan-Canadian level and how individual provinces and territories can incorporate them within their existing governance infrastructures.

A Failure to Communicate: Assessing the Low Rate of Materials Challenge and Censorship Reporting Among Canadian Public Libraries

ABSTRACT Record levels of materials challenges have affected libraries in both Canada and the United States in recent years, but despite the apparent swell in censorship efforts, the large majority of challenges go unreported. This study aims to identify factors contributing to the low rate of challenge reporting through a participation survey distributed to over 500 Canadian public libraries. Results indicate low awareness reporting mechanisms is likely the largest obstacle to greater participation, but obstacles related to library policy, including delegation and challenge policy structure, also exist.

The Overreliance on Portable Classrooms in Ontario Schools: New Evidence for the Study of Austerity and Disinvestment in Canadian Public Education

This study investigates the extent of portable classroom use in the province of Ontario between the years 2010 and 2020. The research uses administrative data obtained from the Ontario Ministry of Education and from the 27 largest school boards in the province. The findings reveal that portable classrooms are used as long-term solutions to address enrolment pressures in schools, which is symptomatic of the austerity-driven policies in the funding of Ontario’s public education. In addition to providing new evidence of the effects of funding cuts in education, this study repositions infrastructure planning as a critical concern for education policy research.

Recycling Waste Construction Material and Industry Involvement in University Investigations: Developing a Framework

This study developed novel metrics and utilized content analysis in terms of keywords selected, scholarly publications, and social media posts to identify trends and industry involvement. A data set of publications was created based on collected materials from Scopus and social media and analyzed using statistical tests, rigorous content analysis, and network analysis. The data set was used to develop a framework for assessing the maturity of research topics and a classification system for labeling publications. The framework includes some indicators, such as total publications and a variety of applications, which are assessed based on a scale of 4. The classification system suggests four components: (1) product, (2) construction and demolition waste, (3) additives, and (4) experiments to be considered by authors. The framework and the categorization system may assist academics and practitioners in predicting topic trends and offer a set of indicators for conducting systematic reviews to identify gaps in the literature. Also, total publications as one of the framework indicators reveals that 46% of Canadian publications and 20.7% of US publications exhibited industry involvement compared with 15% of Australian publications and 15% of UK publications. The analysis shows that the top-occurring keyword in the data set is recycled asphalt pavement, which is linked to 22.2% of the data set, followed by recycled concrete and recycled aggregate concrete appearing in 12%. Aside from keywords related to materials, two of the most commonly occurring techniques in the data set of keywords are building information modeling and life cycle assessment, which still need further investigation along with GIS for waste minimization.

Religious Diversity in Canadian Public Schools: Rethinking the Role of Law. By Dia Dabby

Journal Article Religious Diversity in Canadian Public Schools: Rethinking the Role of Law. By Dia Dabby Get access Religious Diversity in Canadian Public Schools: Rethinking the Role of Law. By Dia Dabby. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia Press, 2022. 197pp. $35.95 paper. W Y Alice Chan W Y Alice Chan Centre for Civic Religious Literacy, Montreal, Canada alice.wy.chan@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5678-7605 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Church and State, csad031, https://doi.org/10.1093/jcs/csad031 Published: 10 June 2023

SİGARAYLA MÜCADELEDE TIP EĞİTİMİNİN ROLÜ: TIP FAKÜLTESİ ÖĞRENCİLERİNDE SİGARA KULLANMA SIKLIĞI VE İLİŞKİLİ FAKTÖRLER, ÇANAKKALE

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalance of smoking and related factors among medical students of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Medical School. The results of our research are expected to shape the trainings about smoking prevention starting from our faculty and contribute to Global Health Professionals Survey data and discussions determined by WHO, CDC and Canadian Public Health Association.&#x0D; Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine. The questionnaire including demographic characteristics and Beck Anxiety Inventory was applied between December 2018 - January 2019. The data of the study was analyzed with the statistical package program SPSS 20.0. &#x0D; Results: In this study, the number of medical students reached was 652. 52.6% of the students were female. 30.5% of the medical students were currently smoking. It was found that age (OR: 1.13 95% CI: 1.05-1.21), male gender (OR: 1.9 95% CI: 1.40-2.67) and boarding in high school (OR: 1.5 95% CI: 1.01-2.26) significantly increased the risk of smoking&#x0D; Discussion: The prevalence of smoking was high among Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine students. The rate of smoking was increases during medical education. The literature suggests that smoking physicians cannot be effective in the struggle againts smoking. In medical education, trainings on struggle tobacco and tobacco products is insufficient. In addition, there should be gained to medical students with the knowledge and skills that can protect their own health and then advocate for anti-smoking campaigns in the community.

Issue Information ‐ IPAC

Canadian Public AdministrationVolume 66, Issue 2 p. 278-278 ISSUE INFORMATION - IPACFree Access Issue Information - IPAC First published: 21 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/capa.12478AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume66, Issue2June 2023Pages 278-278 RelatedInformation

Issue Information

Canadian Public AdministrationVolume 66, Issue 2 p. 151-154 ISSUE INFORMATIONFree Access Issue Information First published: 21 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/capa.12479AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Volume66, Issue2June 2023Pages 151-154 RelatedInformation