NorthBEAT: exploring the service needs of youth experiencing early psychosis in Northern Ontario.

Introduction: Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) is critical for best outcomes. Among 369 diseases, psychosis is among those causing the greatest disability. Evidence-based interventions for youth in early stages of psychosis (EPI programs) have prevented chronic disability. Yet, EPI is frequently inaccessible for youth living in rural communities. Moreover, Indigenous youth often face more precipitous situations given inadequate staffing, and culturally unsafe care. The NorthBEAT (Barriers to Early Assessment and Treatment) project sought to understand the service needs of youth with psychosis in Northern Ontario. The goals were: (1) to describe the mental health of a subset of adolescents receiving EPI care; (2) examine Indigenous youth as a significant and vulnerable population; (3) to understand the barriers and facilitators for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth receiving EPI. Methods: Mixed methods (structured and narrative interviews) included: psychometric scales interviews with youth, and narrative interviews with youth, their family, and service providers Data validation workshops were held with participants. Results: Structured interviews with 26 youth (M = 17 years) found the participants functioning moderately well with duration of untreated psychosis ranging from 1 to 96 months (M = 26 months). No significant differences were found in functioning or duration of psychosis between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Narrative interviews were conducted with 18 youth, 11 family members, and 14 service providers. Identified barriers were a lack of knowledge about psychosis among service providers, a disconnected system leading to delays in treatment, help not wanted by youth, expansive geographical context. Service needs were: finding the right point of access, support for families, pre-crisis intervention, reduced stigma for youth and their families, and an EPI approach to care. Discussion: Rural and northern youth face similar barriers to accessing EPI as urban youth. However, northern youth face additional unique challenges due to expansive geographical context, limited resources and lack of knowledge about services.

Long-term treatment outcomes in a First Nations high school population with opioid use disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To assess for long-term positive effects of buprenorphine treatment (BT) on opioid use disorder (OUD) at a Nishnawbe Aski Nation high school clinic. DESIGN: Postgraduation telephone survey of high school students between March 2017 and January 2018. SETTING: Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: All 44 students who had received BT in the high school clinic during its operation from 2011 to 2013 were eligible to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Current substance use, BT status, and social and employment status. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of the 44 students who had received BT in the high school clinic were located and approached; 32 consented to participate in the survey. A descriptive analysis of the surveyed indicators was undertaken. Almost two-thirds (n = 20, 62.5%) of the cohort had graduated from high school, more than one-third (n = 12, 37.5%) were employed full time, and most (n = 29, 90.6%) rated their health as "good" or "OK." A greater percentage of participants who continued taking BT after high school (n = 19, 61.3%) were employed full time (n = 8, 42.1% vs n = 4, 33.3%) and were abstinent from alcohol (n = 12, 63.2% vs n = 4, 33.3%). Participants still taking BT were significantly more likely to have obtained addiction counseling in the past year than those participants not in treatment (n = 9, 47.4% vs n = 1, 8.3%; P = .0464). CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that offering OUD treatment to youth in the form of BT in a high school clinic might be an effective strategy for promoting positive long-term health and social outcomes. Clinical treatment guidelines currently recommend long-term opioid agonist treatment as the treatment of choice for OUD in the general population; they should consider adding youth to the population that might also benefit.

Brain injury from a first nations' perspective: teachings from elders and traditional healers.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of knowledge about how cultural ideas affect First Nations peoples' perception of rehabilitation needs and the ability to access services. PURPOSE: The study explored the perceptions of treating and healing brain injury from First Nations elders and traditional healers in the communities served by Wassay-Gezhig-Na-Nahn-Dah-We-lgamig (Kenora Area Health Access Centre). METHODS: A participatory action approach was used, leading to a focus group with elders and traditional healers. Findings, established through a framework analysis method, were member checked prior to dissemination. FINDINGS: Four themes arose from the data: pervasiveness of spirituality, "fixing" illness or injury versus living with wellness, working together in treating brain injury, and financial support needed for traditional healing. IMPLICATIONS: Funding is required for traditional healing services to provide culturallysafe and responsive occupational therapy services to First Nations individuals with brain injury.

From health care to home community: an Aboriginal community-based ABI transition strategy.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To explore the barriers and enablers surrounding the transition from health care to home community settings for Aboriginal clients recovering from acquired brain injuries (ABI) in northwestern Ontario. RESEARCH DESIGN: Participatory research design using qualitative methods. METHODS: Focus groups conducted with clients with ABI, their caregivers and hospital and community health-care workers. The Framework Method of analysis was used to uncover emerging themes. FINDINGS: Six main categories emerged: ABI diagnosis accuracy, acute service delivery and hospital care, transition from hospital to homecare services, transition from hospital to community services, participant suggestions to improve service delivery and transition, and views on traditional healing methods during recovery. DISCUSSION: A lack of awareness, education and resources were acknowledged as key challenges to successful transitioning by clients and healthcare providers. Geographical isolation of the communities was highlighted as a barrier to accessibility of services and programmes, but the community was also regarded as an important source of social support. The development of educational and screening tools and needs assessments of remote communities were identified to be strategies that may improve transitions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that the structure of rehabilitation and discharge processes for Aboriginal clients living on reserves or in remote communities are of great concern and warrants further research.

Planning without facts: Ontario's Aboriginal health information challenge.

The majority of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people living in the Canadian province of Ontario have less access to quality health care than the population as a whole. Yet improving the situation is hampered by the lack of an information system that documents fundamental facts about Aboriginal people's health status and services utilization. Without a means to collect such data, these knowledge deficits will persist, making the planning and provision of culturally appropriate services impossible. The Ontario Health Quality Council commissioned a study to (1) review data collection systems in other Canadian jurisdictions and (2) determine what Ontario needs in order to have a comprehensive Aboriginal health information system. The study involved a review of 177 policy and technical documents and interviews with 20 key informants in Ontario, as well as Canada's other provinces and territories. Results showed that the capacity to document Aboriginal peoples' health and service utilization varies significantly, depending on existing provincial/territorial health data sets and the ability to cross-link health data using unique identifiers. Some jurisdictions can locate Aboriginal data using health cards, health benefits payment information, or vital statistics identifiers; others rely on linkages using federal or provincial Aboriginal registry and membership lists. All have the capability to conduct geographical analyses to identify health and service utilization for communities or regions that have significant Aboriginal populations. To improve health information in Ontario, Aboriginal people's collective entitlements to information about their communities must be recognized. The authors outline implications of a set of principles that Canada's First Nations have adopted, commonly referred to as OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession), on the collection, storage, use, and interpretation of health data. Only through negotiation with Aboriginal peoples can health information systems be established that meet their needs, as well as those of decision-makers and care providers.

Rehabilitation challenges for Aboriginal clients recovering from brain injury: a qualitative study engaging health care practitioners.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of health care practitioners working with Aboriginal clients recovering from acquired brain injury (ABI). RESEARCH DESIGN: Participatory research design using qualitative methods. METHODS: Fourteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The Framework Method of analysis was used to uncover emerging themes. FINDINGS: Five main categories emerged: practitioners' experience with brain injury, practitioners' experience with Aboriginal clients, specialized needs of Aboriginal clients recovering from brain injury, culturally sensitive care and traditional healing methods. These categories were then further divided into emergent themes and sub-themes where applicable, with particular emphasis on the specialized needs of Aboriginal clients. DISCUSSION: Each emergent theme highlighted key challenges experienced by Aboriginal peoples recovering from ABI. A key challenge was that protocols for rehabilitation and discharge planning are often lacking for clients living on reserves or in remote communities. Other challenges included lack of social support; difficulty of travel and socio-cultural factors associated with post-acute care; and concurrent disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that developing reasonable protocols for discharge planning of Aboriginal clients living on reserves and/or remote communities should be considered a priority.

The effects of nursing turnover on continuity of care in isolated First Nation communities.

Many of Canada's northern First Nation communities experience difficulty recruiting and retaining appropriate nursing staff and must rely on relief nurses for short-term coverage. The latter often are not adequately prepared for the demanding nature of the practice. This study examined the consequences of nursing turnover on the continuity of care provided to residents of three Ojibway communities in northern Ontario. The findings are based on a review of 135 charts of oncology, diabetes, and mental health clients, and on interviews with 30 professional and paraprofessional health-care providers who served the communities. Nursing turnover is shown to detrimentally affect communications, medications management, and the range of services offered; it also results in compromised follow-up, client disengagement, illness exacerbation, and an added burden of care for family and community members.

Addressing the realities [correction of realties] of health care in northern aboriginal communities through participatory action research.

To address concerns about disruptions in the continuity of health care delivered to residents in three remote aboriginal communities in northern Ontario, Canada, the local health authority initiated a study in collaboration with the department of Health Canada responsible for ensuring that aboriginal reserves receive mandatory health services, and an inter-disciplinary team of researchers from two universities. The study focussed on the delivery of oncology, diabetes and mental health care, specifically, as well as systems issues such as recruitment and retention of health human resources and financial costs. The paper discusses the procedures involved, the benefits derived and the challenges encountered in doing this as a community driven participatory action research project. It also summarizes the findings that led to community formulated policy and program recommendations.

How clients choices influence cancer care in northern Aboriginal communities.

OBJECTIVES: To illustrate how personal choice, or client self-reliance, is a determining factor in the management of cancer patients' care in northern Aboriginal communities. STUDY DESIGN: Multiple-site study done in the northwestern part of the Canadian Province of Ontario. METHOD: In-depth interviews with professionals and paraprofessionals involved in community-based delivery of cancer care. RESULTS: Study details how perceived care options, gender, awareness of disease and treatment, reaction to system-linked problems in care delivery, as well as cultural preferences influence clients' choices and care outcomes. CONCLUSION: The study underlines the interdependence between personal choice and the health care system; "bad" experiences with the system cause clients to disengage from care, while client disengagement results in reduced care options.