A recent survey found a lot of uncertainty on the topic of running and knee joint health. The cross-Canada survey of 831 health practitioners and members of the public was conducted by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist Dr. Michael Hunt and his colleague, Dr. Jean-Francois Esculier. Results of the survey found that many respondents were not sure whether running was good or bad for knee joint health.
The legalization of recreational cannabis use in Canada, scheduled for October 17, 2018, is raising concerns about whether more people might start driving while high. It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Canada, but a recent study led by Dr. John Staples, a Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher who studies traffic safety, found the risk of a fatal traffic crash increased on the day of the annual cannabis celebration called ‘4/20’. Staples shares insights on common questions about cannabis-impaired driving.
Breathing is such an automatic process that it can be easily overlooked. Yet, for many asthma sufferers, that is not always the case. To help asthma patients manage their symptoms, health care providers often instruct them to use an Asthma Action Plan (AAP). AAPs have traditionally been paper-based, but a new study led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researchers is testing the efficacy of an electronic AAP (eAAP) with text-based reminders.
Despite the best intentions of health care providers, patients who reside in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside often fall through the cracks in the health system. Many patients have multiple chronic health conditions, substance use and mental health issues, and often live on the street. As medical director of Vancouver Community Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist Dr. Ronald Joe sees these challenges firsthand.
Imagine being able to lower the impact of unhealthy thoughts through visualization. Technological advances are bringing health care one step closer to managing mental health conditions that are difficult to treat with medications using videogame-like computer software.
Imagine having a sunburn all the time. This is the reality for patients with autoimmune diseases that cause blistering. But hope is on the horizon. Research findings of primary investigator and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist Dr. David Granville and his team have revealed the culprit that exacerbates blistering and prevents healing.
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) supports health improvements and innovation through its Knowledge Translation Challenge, a program run in collaboration with Providence Health Care. This competition challenges health care practitioners to translate research discoveries and evidence into everyday practice with the aim of improving patient care. The challenge brings together practitioners who do not have knowledge translation experience and researchers who provide knowledge translation mentorship and resources.
