Digital interventions for concussion: Connecting youth and their families to care

Concussions are very common among children and adolescents. While many recover without complication, a third of those who sustain a concussion will experience symptoms that last months or years after injury. Children and adolescents who experience a slower than typical recovery report lower quality of life. This means they have increased physical and mental health concerns, more family stress, and reduced participation in valued activities (e.g., school, sports). Despite the prevalence and negative impacts of concussion, treatment options are lacking and often inaccessible (e.g., expensive, only located in major city centers). My research aims to create accessible treatment options for children and adolescents who sustain concussions. I will develop and test digital health interventions that support children, adolescents, and their families with their recovery (e.g., psychoeducational websites and smart-phone app-based behavioral interventions). This research will improve the lives of the many Canadian youth and families who have been impacted by concussion. This knowledge will be shared with other researchers and healthcare providers to improve concussion care.

“HIV Made Me Fabulous:” Utilizing film for knowledge dissemination and stigma reduction

Co-lead:

  • Valerie Nicholson 
    BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Team members: 

  • Allison Carter
    SFU
  • Lori Brotto
    Women’s Health Research Institute
  • Nicole Prestley
    Women’s Health Research Institute
  • Melissa Nelson
    Women’s Health Research Institute
  • Juno Roche
    Sophia Forum
  • Edmond Kilpatrick
    SFU
  • Florence Anam
    Africa for MSF
  • Marvelous Muchenje
    ViiV Healthcare
  • Azra Bhanji
    SFU

People who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV during condomless sex. However, women living with HIV continue to face HIV-related stigma. “HIV Made Me Fabulous” is a short film (https://youtu.be/QamnyGc0gtY) grounded in current HIV science that invites audiences to understand the physically and emotionally charged experience of living and loving with HIV from a woman’s perspective. This project aims to disseminate the film to advance public understandings of sexuality and HIV, to reduce HIV-related stigma and improve the health of women living with HIV. 

Our team will:

  1. Host four virtual film screenings and facilitated discussions, and assess impacts among priority target audiences (i.e. women with HIV, providers/policymakers, the general public).
  2. Use findings from the screenings to develop a film discussion guide to support others (e.g. HIV support groups, care providers, gender equity leaders) to screen the film and facilitate safe, informed, and evidence-based discussions.
  3. Widely disseminate the film and discussion guide via YouTube, social media, and community/academic forums. Mixed methods will be used to evaluate the reach and impact of this innovative, arts-based, technology-driven KT project.