Health Sciences, Faculty of

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    Registered nurses' experiences working in the emergency fast track area
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2023) Brown, Kennedy N.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Zieber, Mark
    Emergency fast track area nurses have a unique job where they must balance quality care with efficiency in a fast paced, high patient volume environment. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of registered nurses’ experiences working in the emergency fast track area with a focus on quality of care. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study of eight registered nurses working in an urban hospital was completed. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Results: Moral distress was described by participants when they felt unable to provide quality care. Sub themes of moral distress include: stretched to a breaking point, the balancing act, and resiliency. Participants felt stretched to a breaking point by their numerous roles and responsibilities within the fast track area. Participants strived to balance quality care and efficiency. Participants described resiliency through collaboration with other team members, supportive administration, and resetting.
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    Accessing cervical cancer screening in Nigeria: exploring the experiences of Nigerian-born immigrant women in Canada
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022-12) Fadodun, Oluwadamilola A.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Zieber, Mark
    This research study explored the experiences of women eligible for cervical cancer screening (CCS) in accessing CCS services in Nigeria. The goal was to develop an in-depth understanding of these experiences in order to provide facts that could inform policies and interventions that will improve the utilization of CCS services among Nigerian women. This descriptive study utilized naturalistic inquiry and an intersectionality theoretical lens for understanding women’s access to CCS and its possible intersection with socially constructed categories, which could have influenced these women’s experiences. Ten (10) Nigerian-Immigrant women who met the set eligibility criteria were recruited for interviews using purposive sampling and snowballing. Data was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. The study’s findings detail overarching themes that best capture the experiences of participants with accessing CCS programs in Nigeria. Future research is needed to engender best practices for the planning of CCS programs.
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    Experiences of depression among African immigrant men in southern Alberta, Canada
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022) Agyapong, Daniel; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Kellett, Peter
    The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of depression among African immigrant men in Southern Alberta. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design using focused semi-structured interviews with ten African immigrant men. Thematic analysis showed that African men went through episodes of sadness and frustrations due to intersection of challenges post-migration, which negatively impacted both their physical and mental health. However, instead of seeking professional help, they employed a series of coping mechanisms to mitigate, tolerate, or overcome the mental distress. It was evident that African men’s cultural constructions around masculinity influenced how they perceived, interpreted, and expressed their mental distress. Culture and masculinity also shaped their strategies for coping with the mental distress and behaviour towards help-seeking. It is recommended that stakeholders and policy makers apply cultural safety approaches to support African immigrant men to enhance their mental well-being.
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    Exploring women's experiences and gender relations in rock climbing: a participatory action research photovoice study
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022) Davis, Erin; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Oosterbroek, Tracy
    Success in rock climbing relies on a combination of athletic skills and traits often hegemonically defined as feminine (grace, balance, petite) and masculine (strength, endurance, muscular). Because climbing requires this balance of traits and skills, there are few differences found in the physical and psychological capabilities of female and male rock climbers. Despite this, individuals who identify as women often experience gender discrimination and feel they are treated differently than male peers in rock climbing communities—showing that gender relations in rock climbing are impaired by societal gender stereotypes and sports ideology rather than actual differences in climbing ability. Using photovoice methods, five women were provided with a medium to capture their experiences regarding gender relations in rock climbing. The research aims to inform rock climbing associations and influence future organizational programs to increase women’s climbing participation and enhance women’s experiences in the climbing community.
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    Exploring the impact of childhood adversity on maternal anxiety and smoking: the All Our Families community cohort study
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022) Swanepoel, Lisa-Marie; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Currie, Cheryl L.
    The primary focus of this thesis was to investigate the impact of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on two pregnancy outcomes: 1) anxiety symptoms and 2) smoking status. The second objective was to determine whether partner support moderated these associations. Secondary statistical analyses were performed using All Our Families (AOF) study data collected between 2008-2010 in Calgary, Alberta (N = 3,362). Thesis results were non-significant, illustrating that maternal ACEs had no effect on anxiety symptoms and smoking status in pregnancy among a moderate to high socioeconomic status sample. Given that neither of the focal associations under study show statistical significance, partner support as a moderator could not be investigated. It is likely that the moderate to high socioeconomic characteristics of the AOF sample were health protective and ameliorated the negative effects of maternal ACEs on anxiety symptoms and smoking in pregnancy.