This research used a mixed-method approach to examine motivational factors contributing to Aboriginal student retention at the University of Northern British Columbia. To explore academic motivation in the context of Self-Determination Theory, 20 Aboriginal participants completed in-depth interviews. The participants also completed an acculturation questionnaire to explore whether cultural orientation was an interceding factor in academic motivation. Five intriguing findings emerged from the data. First, Aboriginal students were motivated to succeed by the desire to contribute to the well-being of the participants’ home Aboriginal community, or to the broader Aboriginal community. Second, the participants viewed a university education as a means to self-growth, which they perceived as necessary to fulfill a needed role in the Aboriginal community. Third, home community support and institutional support were important factors in motivating students to stay in university and earn a degree. Fourth, participants perceived that their university experience supported their autonomy. Finally, in comparison with more acculturated participants, less acculturated participants were more likely to feel academically unprepared for university, were more likely to attend post-secondary education transition programs, were more likely to use academic resources at the university, and were more likely to return to their home Aboriginal community after graduation. This research showed that Self-Determination Theory, traditionally tested using quantitative methods, can be effectively explored using a qualitative approach. This research also showed that examining cultural orientation within a motivational framework contributes to our understanding of the influence of cultural dynamics on academic motivation in Aboriginal student populations.
This study analyzed 13 stories of successful individuals who have serious mental illnesses (SMI). Those who are diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar, or major depression, are more likely to be unemployed, and if working, have higher turnover, and work part-time in low paying jobs. Despite this, there are highly-educated and professionally-successful individuals with an SMI. I conducted a content analysis of published autobiographies of successful individuals who describe their experiences of navigating school, work, and their SMIs, to explore what major themes emerged from this group. My results suggested all the individuals faced significant challenges as a result of their disability but were able to use coping strategies including a strong drive, a belief that they could achieve their goals, a determination to face obstacles, and a drive to achieve their goals. In doing so, these individuals have shown that success in education and employment is possible despite their challenges.
Following Russian/Soviet colonization, Indigenous Siberian Eveny less frequently engage in hunting and reindeer herding—land-based activities central to their culture. Research suggests that an inability to engage in key cultural activities may hamper Indigenous peoples’ capacities to construct meaningful existences (i.e., fulfilling lives with purpose), but this has not been empirically investigated among Eveny. I conducted 14 semi-structured interviews on traditional land-use and meaning in life with Eveny men in Batagay-Alyta (Sakkyryr), Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia. Half of the participants lived in the village; the other half were nomadic herders. Both herders and non-herders described meaningful existences, but the groups often acquired meaning from different sources. Some sources (i.e., family, finances, reindeer) were deemed important by both groups. My findings illuminate what makes life meaningful for some Eveny, and can help policy-makers better address their unique needs.
A substantial amount of quantitative literature documents the prevalence and incidents rates and causes of diabetes among First Nations, but few qualitative literature documents exist exploring First Nations perceptions about diabetes and its causes. This study utilized the Two-Eyed Seeing framework to explore Yekooche member’s perceptions about diabetes. The research objectives of the research were: 1) to understand how Yekooche members define diabetes; 2) to explore Yekooche perceptions of diabetes; and, 3) to examine their beliefs and understanding of diabetes education and diabetes educational materials. This qualitative research addressed these objectives through interviews conducted with Yekooche First Nation. Analysis of the interviews generated findings which are presented in story form, providing insights into how participants understand the causes about diabetes, their experience with diabetes related complications, their fears and concerns of children developing diabetes, and the unexpected finding of their experiences with the effects of clear-cutting on their health.
Dietary transitions and acculturation of different ethnic and immigrant subpopulations in western countries are associated with change in diet patterns and increased obesity risk. Loss of the “healthy immigrant effect” have been observed in such populations, so further research is critical. The study objectives were to a) explore dietary patterns for a sample from various ethnic backgrounds in northern British Columbia, b) examine the association between dietary patterns and healthy body weight status. A cross-sectional survey instrument including a food frequency questionnaire was developed to collect data from 444 participants. Two predominant patterns were identified and termed “western” and “prudent” dietary patterns. There was a positive association between a “western” diet pattern and increased BMI (p < .05). Men had higher adherence to “western” diet patterns, and higher risk of overweight and obesity (p < .05). Interventions promoting adherence to prudent diet and retention of ethnic food habits are warranted.
Managers and care providers in the health sector are expected to deliver safe, efficient and effective services within a resource constrained, complex system. Services are provided through execution of multiple processes. Healthcare organizations tend to be structured in functional based silos with process improvement efforts often focused on individual processes within the discrete silos. This silo based improvement approach fails to take into account upstream and downstream processes executed and managed in other silos. A patient’s journey will typically include processes from multiple silos and therefore, improvement efforts need to focus on end-to-end processes if the goal is to deliver a positive patient experience. In order to optimize processes in a complex adaptive system like healthcare and to effect meaningful change a combination of management disciplines is required. This research explored the use of Business Process Management (BPM), Business Architecture (BA) and Business Process Management Ontology (BPMO) as a comprehensive, integrated approach to design, redesign, evaluate, improve and monitor the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of medication management processes in a multi-site healthcare organization. The contribution of the research was threefold. First, identified benefits of applying BPM, BPMO and BA to increase organization capacity and improve the end-to-end process of medication management; second, demonstrated the application of an ontology and the business layer of enterprise architecture used in other sectors could be successfully utilized in the healthcare sector; and third, developed a process reference model for medication management processes in acute care and long term care facilities.
This research couples a global scale targeted systematic review with the perspectives and experiences of mental health service providers in Terrace, British Columbia. A targeted systematic review was conducted exploring mental health and well-being impacts of resource extraction globally. Findings informed qualitative interviews with mental health service providers in Terrace, BC. Main themes from service providers are systemic issues in health care, poor access to mental health services for children and youth, mental health risk factors, social determinants of health, and industry’s lasting influence and legacy. Synthesis of the findings from the systematic review and interviews with service providers indicates providers concerns aligned with the global literature. A synthesis combines the two phases of research. Insights from this work suggest a greater consideration of the social and mental health impacts of industrial projects is necessary, and there is need for equitable access to mental health resources for all ages.
