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The Community Pediatric Research Group at the Misericordia Community Hospital has been involved in a wide variety of research projects. Our main areas of interest and expertise include maternal and child health, community based research and mixed methods research.
Current research projects include:
1. Mother Earth Children's Charter School (MECCS) Longitudinal Study
This three year study evaluates the efficacy of culturally compatible education as provided by MECCS on the academic achievement and mental and physical health of Aboriginal children enrolled in the school's program. Education level is positively associated with health status and health behaviors and is an important determinant of socio-economic status and income, both of which are key determinants of health. Education contributes to health by providing children and their families with the knowledge and skills needed for problem solving and by giving them a sense of control over their life circumstances. This innovative approach to aboriginal children's education, if successful, will provide a model for the development of culturally compatible education for Aboriginal children in Alberta. The research question asks, "what is the effect of culturally compatible education on children's: academic achievement, mental health, physical health, health habits, and school attendance?" A mixed methods research approach is being utilized to answer the question. Quantitative measures are complemented by the qualitative, visual narrative inquiry that follows.
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Lola Baydala, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Misericordia Children's Health Centre and The Stollery Children's Hospital
2. A Visual Narrative Look at the Mother Earth's Children's Charter School: A Pilot Study
This research project focuses on the links between visual images, school narratives and our understanding of young indigenous people's stories about the interrelatedness of health and learning on identity development. Through the use of photographs, fieldnotes, conversations, stories, journals, and chronicles with this small pilot sample we cultivate and refine a holistic way of seeing what matters in the lives of those who attend MECCS. By having participants document their personal experiences visually we can listen, look and see, perhaps for the first time, what matters in the lives of people living within the MECCS community. This will then guide the larger research project [Mother Earth Children's Charter School (MECCS) Longitudinal Study] aimed at providing valuable insights on how culturally compatible education affects student health, health habits, attendance and school achievement.
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Lola Baydala, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Misericordia Children's Health Centre and The Stollery Children's Hospital
3. Miyonistohtamowin - Towards an understanding of healthy families: An Enoch Cree Nation Family Health Working Group Initiative
In response to the number of babies born to cocaine-addicted mothers at the Misericordia Community Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta), members of the Enoch Cree Nation, Enoch Cree Nation Health Centre and the Misericordia Community Pediatric Research Group are collaborating on developing, implementing and evaluating programming for pregnant and / or parenting women who struggle with substance abuse as well as programming for their children. Currently, a needs assessment is being conducted to seek input from pregnant / parenting women, service providers and Elders in the community.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Lola Baydala, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Misericordia Children's Health Centre and The Stollery Children's Hospital Patrick Bernard, executive director, Enoch Health Centre
4. A Visual Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Two Children Living with Obesity
Working within the Life Skills for Kids clinic at the Misericordia Community Hospital, the pilot study will begin with a focus on children's experiences of living with obesity. The study will include explorations into the experiences of two children as shared and understood through visual images that they will have created. Specific attention will be given to how these stories may inform future research in the clinic as well as the evaluation of the Life Skills for Kids clinic. The purposes guiding this pilot project are: · to understand the experiences of children who have chosen to participate in the Life Skills for Kids program; to study the Life Skills for Kids program and how it contributes to improved health for children; and, to refine the idea of visual narrative method for educational study, paying particular attention to ethical issues in work children.
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Marni Pearce, Research Associate, Misericordia Children's Health Centre
5. Life Skills Training (LST) Substance Abuse Prevention Program for Aboriginal Children and Youth
The objectives of this project are (1) to extensively review and adapt the Life Skills Training (LSTİ) drug and alcohol prevention program for Aboriginal children and youth at Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation School in central Alberta and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of the adapted LSTİ program. Drug and alcohol abuse has been identified as a major problem in many First Nation communities. Substance abuse is associated with significant morbidity and mortality including suicide and self inflicted injury, motor vehicle accidents, drowning, accidental poisoning and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. However, there are currently no effective school based substance abuse programs in place in the majority of Alberta First Nation communities. LSTİ is an effective 3 level elementary and middle school evidence based program that has been shown through numerous, randomized controlled trials to reduce alcohol use and multiple substance abuse among young people. LSTİ has not been implemented or evaluated in a Canadian Aboriginal population. As a first step and in keeping with Aboriginal research protocols all 3 levels of the LSTİ program will be extensively reviewed and adapted to ensure it reflects and incorporates Nakota Sioux Nation cultural teachings. The adapted LSTİ program will then be implemented and evaluated as part of the Alexis school curriculum.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Lola Baydala, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Misericordia Children's Health Centre and The Stollery Children's Hospital Dr. Carmen Rasmussen, Pediatric Neurosciences, Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Alberta
6. Feasibility Study for a Controlled Randomized Trial Comparing Ritalin and Neurofeedback Therapy in the Management of ADHD
The objectives of the project are: a) to determine the feasibility of conducting a full, randomized, controlled study to examine the efficacy and tolerability of neurofeedback (NF) therapy in the treatment of ADHD (Combined Type). This will include an assessment of ability to recruit an adequate number of subjects, subject retention and reasons for drop-out, and the adequacy of the proposed placebos (eg. placebo medication, sham NF); b) to compare changes in performance, attention and behaviour between NF therapy and SHAM NF (including an evaluation of the utility of quantitative electroencephalographic data obtained from the EEG Spectrum program); c) to assess maintenance of benefits from treatment upon short-term (i.e. 3 month) follow-up.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Lola Baydala, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Misericordia Children's Health Centre and The Stollery Children's Hospital Dr. Liana Urichuk, Director of Research, Child and Adolescent Services Association
Research contact:
Dr. Merle Kennedy, Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health Research Associate
Phone: (780) 735-2117 Fax: (780) 735-2794
Misericordia Children's Health Centre
16940 87 Ave. Edmonton, Alberta T5R 4H5
Email: merlekennedy@cha.ab.ca
The Children's Health Centre at the Misericordia Community Hospital includes a multidisciplinary team of caregivers who are dedicated to the health and well being of children and their families within the context of their own communities.
Areas of expertise included asthma education and care, pediatric environmental health, ADHD, neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, enuresis, encopresis, breastfeeding, weight management, general pediatrics and post-graduate education.
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