Author Archives: mdsouza

Melba D’Souza has been engaged in integration of self-management and self-care towards equity oriented care and development with marginalized groups, intersectoral partnerships and client advocacy. She has harnessed collaboration with diverse populations and the application of intersectionality and health promotion which are closely aligned and aimed at promoting inclusion, social justice, critical cultural analysis, examining access to health care, and inequity of racialized groups. She maintains strong connections and passion in the areas of immigrant health, cultural diversity and health promotion in cancer care. Her discovery fosters teaching that embraces self-management, digital communications and critical consciousness through active dialogues, community of inquiry, and a safe environment. She is working in longitudinal research with people and advocates to improve information, peer support, and health navigation, especially in cancer care.

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Title of the project
Enhancing cancer navigation for newly diagnosed, treated and post-treatment of people living
with breast cancer in interior region of British Columbia.
Short title
Cancer navigation experiences of people living with breast cancer Project abbreviation: Cancer Navigation and Reported Outcomes (CNRO)
Dear Participant,
My name is Melba D’Souza, RN, Assistant Professor at Thompson Rivers University. I am inviting you to consider taking part in the research study.
The study will conduct breast cancer navigation with surveys and interviews for a person who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer to understand cancer navigation experiences. Breast cancer navigation refers to individualized assistance provided to people through the breast cancer continuum to navigate the healthcare system. The professional navigator helps guide the person through the physical, psychological, emotional and mental challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. The breast cancer navigation can help you make informed decisions and help you access the support you need.
The study will conduct breast cancer navigation for six months offered through an online platform. During the breast cancer navigation surveys and interviews will be conducted. The participant responses will be completely coded after data collection, meaning identifiable information will be removed, so feel free to respond honestly.
If you wish to participate or have any further questions about the research study, please provide your contact information and preferred mode of communication by email or mobile text below.
I look forward to your participation in this breast cancer navigation.
Thank you for your interest,
Kind regards,
Melba
Contact: Melba D’Souza, School of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, Mobile: 604-751-6672, Email mdsouza@tru.ca

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SSHR Xchange Grant: Knowledge Mobilization

support — Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Community Engagement and Knowledge Translation Summit on Emotional Wellness and Navigation Services for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers

March 2021 – April 2022

Objectives and Outcomes

The research objectives included:

We are exploring evidence-informed continuity of care through the findings of experiences and challenges of cancer survivors for a better quality of life.
We organize a community engagement and knowledge translation summit on emotional wellness and navigation services for cancer survivors and caregivers.

The research outcomes included:

We are developing recommendations and policies on improving psychosocial and emotional wellness and navigation services for a better quality of life.
It understands the strengths and gaps of emotional wellness and navigation services among cancer survivors and caregivers.

Summary

The Community Engagement and Knowledge Translation Summit (CEKTS) disseminated the research findings related to emotional wellness and navigation services relevant to community stakeholders. The CEKTS synthesized the findings, evidence and recommendations of contextually informed continuity of care strategies and practices that supported knowledge translation. This activity helped promote research, training, and advice on emotional wellness and navigation services and strengthen the community stakeholder collaboration within the SSHR mandate. Addressing emotional wellness and navigation services for survivors and caregivers within an increased workforce diversity may increase equity, inclusiveness, satisfaction, and better quality of life. The CEKTS mobilized knowledge into practice through knowledge makers, community engagement and community partnership for cancer survivors and caregivers. Community awareness, education, and communication play a prominent role in seeking emotional wellness and navigation services for cancer survivors and caregivers. This research has influenced the continuity of care model for developing social, economic, and developmental policies towards promoting a better quality of life. We conducted a community engagement and knowledge summit through a series of partnership and collaborative summits. The CEKTS was designed to have a community stakeholder collaboration with survivors, caregivers, social workers, health care professionals, clinical partners and researchers with a primary care, collaborative and shared governance approach, lived experiences, and new knowledge related to emotional wellness and navigation services in local communities. Community stakeholders were engaged in the findings, initiatives and processes towards developing contextually informed and relevant strategies for improving the quality of life of cancer survivors and caregivers. The results of this CEKTS helped to inform emotional wellness and navigation services in the context of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness in Kamloops and the interior region of British Columbia.

Internal Research Fund – Knowledge Synthesis

women sitting on the beach enjoying sunset — Photo by Briana Tozour on Unsplash

A Systematic Review on Breast Cancer Survivorship and Support for Immigrant Women with Breast Cancer.

January 2020 – December 2021

Purpose and Goal

The purpose of this research was to develop better understanding of the current scientific literature on the meaningfulness and effectiveness of breast cancer survivorship and support for women with breast cancer and to share current evidence-informed knowledge. This study aims to understand in-depth the contextual factors that shape survivorship and social support from the perspective of systematic reviews. Framed by evidence synthesis principles and systematic reviews, this study draws perspectives of survivorship and support in the literature studies to develop recommendations for continuity of care.

We have pursued the following research objectives:

To provide contextual research literature information about breast cancer survivors.
To advance our understanding of the relationship between equity-seeking groups, the acculturation process, and the client’s attitudes and beliefs on what supports their healthy- being from knowledge synthesis.
To identify the literature on social, economic, and cultural barriers and facilitators in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship from knowledge synthesis.
To identify and develop future culturally acceptable, appropriate survivorship and support interventions and services perceived as safe and accessible for cancer survivors and their families with knowledge mobilization.

Summary

The research activities have aligned with British Columbia’s health system priority services for patients with complex medical conditions to focus on research designed to improve health outcomes. This research aligns with BC Cancer to enhance access to effective primary and community care to enable research on practice, surveillance, and service delivery innovations and initiatives designed to improve accessibility and quality of primary and community care. The research activities focused on synthesizing a systematic review of breast cancer survivorship and support for women with breast cancer, leading to an expert consultation and stakeholder engagement. Outcomes were conceptualizing a systematic current literature review of breast cancer survivorship and support care, identifying areas of challenges in breast cancer survivorship related to evidence-informed knowledge and practice. The outcome was to initiate a support system through informed decision-making, synthesizing knowledge and practices on breast cancer survivorship. Collaborative, supportive care contributes to future research for person-centred care, afford research capacity building, academic, clinical and community partnerships, and valuable student training.

Health Research Cluster Grant – Clinical Research

The Financial Burden and Outcomes of Existing Oncological Care in Kamloops B.C. and Alternative Prophylactic Patient Engagement and Care Examination. A Breast Cancer Case Study.

March 2020 – October 2021

Objective

The specific objectives of this study are as follows: To develop a model for a prophylactic patient engagement and care system using a literature review of relevant models and integrated with priorities via an environmental scan. To provide a cost analysis of the proposed model vis-à-vis the status quo, such as treating most post-therapy cases acutely in hospital, emergency room visits, admissions and associated treatments. We explore the perceptions, knowledge, practices, and experiences among women diagnosed and treated with breast cancer in the community.

Summary

This project is community-oriented and participatory action research using a patient engagement in care model. An embedded case study using a mixed-methods design was used to assess relevant patient-oriented and patient-reported outcomes as a piece of essential information. The phases of the COPR were Phase 1: Conducting an environmental scan, a literature review, and collaborating with community stakeholder partners towards exploring women’s needs. Phase 2: Consultation with service providers, knowledge users, stakeholders and decision-makers to understand and analyze the situation and develop the Breast cancer care program based on practical and feasible strategies. Planning the community stakeholders participatory design, mentoring student research assistants and developing data collection methods. Phase 3: Determining the feasibility and sustainability of the breast cancer program, such as interventions, education, navigation, advocacy, and survivorship. Implementing the methodology framework, plan for recruiting participants, and communicating with stakeholders. Phase 4: Conducting data analysis, validating findings and triangulation with women participants and organizing the community stakeholder’s engagement workshops, sharing results, recommendations, and research reports. Outcome measures were validated, triangulated and used as evidence-informed supportive cancer care in consultations with stakeholders. The Research Ethics Board approved the study at Thompson Rivers University, Interior Health Authority and BC Cancer. The participants were informed about the study purpose, procedures and rights. Knowledge mobilization and translation is a critical phase of the community participatory approach. Research team members participated in ongoing dialogue to decide the best methods of communication with the most significant impact for participants. Knowledge mobilization initiatives were focused on sharing findings with multiple audiences’ community members, knowledge holders, and knowledge users to advance practical outcomes and increase understanding about the needs and concerns of cancer survivors in supporting them. Findings from this knowledge synthesis research were shared through interactive knowledge mobilization summits at local and regional community events in British Columbia.