Good News:
Bringing Health Research to Island Life
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Welcome to the fall edition of
Good News, brought to you by
Island Health’s Research team!
Inside This Issue:
- Local Research in Action: Results
that are Improving Care
- Patient Research Workshop: You
Asked…
- The Researcher Next Door: Dr.
Steve Burnett
- People Power: Research Needs
You!
- Health Research Opportunities
Local Research in Action:
Results that are Improving Health and Care
“Selfies” and stroke symptoms
In June of this year, the Times Colonist featured a story about a woman who
recorded her stroke symptoms on her smartphone. Stacey Yepes wanted to
show doctors what was happening to her in order to get a diagnosis, and
testing confirmed that she had suffered a mild stroke or TIA (transient ischemic
attack). It’s a good thing Stacey had a video “selfie”: it’s not uncommon for
Emergency Departments to misdiagnose mild strokes. Their symptoms mimic
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many other conditions, including migraines, and there is currently no way to
distinguish the mimics from the real strokes without expensive and timeconsuming imaging. Mild strokes can be forerunners of full-blown strokes in 1
out of every 10 cases, but if diagnosed in time, only 1 in 50 will progress to full
stroke. How can we separate the true mild strokes from the mimics in time to
provide patients with the right treatment and prevent stroke?
Enter the SpecTRA Stroke Project at Island Health
Island Health is uniquely positioned to solve this problem. In 2012, Dr. Andrew
Penn—a stroke neurologist and medical lead at Victoria General Hospital—
received a four-year, $9.6 million dollar research contract to develop a fast and
effective tool that will help doctors diagnose mild strokes. Island Health’s
Stroke Rapid Assessment Unit holds the largest single-site database of
prospective, TIA, mild stroke, and mimic patients in the world, with over 14,000
patients. Using the stories that these patients tell to describe their symptoms,
Dr. Penn and his team have isolated patterns and keywords that they will use
to predict whether someone has had a mild stroke. The next step in their
research is to look for protein patterns in their patients’ blood. Combining these
“selfie” stories with a protein blood test, the team will develop a tool for doctors
to distinguish mild strokes from other conditions early enough to treat them.
Treating Patients Right
Once the test and the tool have been developed, says Dr. Penn, “We can
prevent 80 strokes every year on Vancouver Island – 4,000 across Canada –
through early diagnosis that allows us to give the right patient the right
treatment at the right time.” Reducing stroke burden and improving care are all
part of a day’s work for Dr. Penn and his team!
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Seated left to right: Dr. Martin Wale (Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director,
Medical Affairs and Research); Dr. Andrew Penn; Dr. Gordon Hoag (Medical Director,
Laboratory Medicine) and the SpecTRA team. Not pictured: Kristine Votova, Project
Manager. Photo courtesy of Genome Canada.
Patient Research Workshop: You Asked…
… and we’re doing our best to find answers!
This spring, we hosted a workshop to identify common concerns and questions
about dementia care, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, early psychosis and
schizophrenia, and stroke. We collected questions of importance to patients and
their caregivers, and the research team has taken the top questions forward to see
if any of them might lead to new, patient-generated research. Here’s an example
of what we’re working on:
You asked: Should there be a study that compares
marijuana to current medications used to treat
spasticity in people with Multiple Sclerosis?
What we’ve learned: The Research team consulted with
neurologist Dr. Kristen Attwell-Pope and Dr. Mohamed Gheis,
and identified a recent systematic review on the efficacy and
safety of using medical marijuana to treat symptoms of MS,
epilepsy, and movement disorders (see Barbara S. Koppel, John
C.M. Brust, Terry Fife, et al. Neurology 2014; 82; 1556-1563).
This review found that treatment with marijuana taken orally
(through the mouth) and THC (the main active ingredient in
marijuana) was probably effective in treating spasticity in MS
patients. In addition, it was probably effective in treating central
pain or painful spasms (including spasticity-related pain). It was
uncertain whether smoked marijuana was effective in reducing
pain. The authors conclude that marijuana should be studied
further to learn more about its ability to affect spasticity and that
it should be prescribed when evidence is available. They suggest
that the recent decriminalization of marijuana should “encourage
researchers to continue seeking answers to the benefits of
marijuana use in patients who have neurological illnesses.”
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What’s Next: Island Health has partnered with the University of
Victoria and the Salt Spring Island Economic Development
Corporation to discuss the potential for this research and to
explore funding opportunities for a clinical trial that compares the
effectiveness of medical marijuana to existing approved
medications for spasticity in MS patients.
Stay tuned for future updates as we pursue collaboration, funding,
and results to see if research can answer this question for you!
The Researcher Next Door: Dr. Steve Burnett
Q: Tell us about your current research.
I’m an orthopaedic surgeon at ReBalance MD, a
musculoskeletal clinic in Victoria. My research is
focused on clinical outcomes studies in hip- and
knee-replacement surgery, which are two of the
most common surgeries performed by orthopedic
surgeons.
Q: How does evidence from your research
impact the health and wellbeing of the Island
community?
Clinical research is important because it validates the outcomes of the surgeries
we’re doing locally, and confirms that our outcomes are on par with the rest of
Canada and North America. With this information in hand, Vancouver Island
patients can be assured that they don’t have to leave the island to have access to
good surgery.
Q: Do you have any advice or tips on how to avoid orthopedic health issues?
I would encourage people to maintain an active lifestyle, whether it’s low-impact
walking, swimming, or cycling, or high-impact running and aerobics. I would also
advise people that while musculoskeletal complaints are common, they shouldn’t
be ignored! ReBalance MD is creating a complete musculoskeletal wellness
program in Victoria, using a multidisciplinary approach to address these issues.
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Q: What’s your favourite thing about living here?
The weather! Especially this past summer. I love being able to doing things with my
family, including outdoor activities. It’s a great place to live.
People Power: Research Needs You!
Did you know that over half of
clinical research trials in North
America are unable to enroll enough
participants? These trials may close,
move to other locations, or discover
results that aren’t relevant to our
unique population. In order to
support local research study
opportunities, we need you! Today’s
research ensures a healthier
tomorrow for study participants, their
families, and Island communities.
In order to expand and support local study opportunities, in 2013 Island Health
launched the Permission to Contact (PTC) for Research program to connect
researchers with people who want to become partners in health research and in
their own care. The Permission to Contact program creates a registry of people
who would like to learn more about current study opportunities in the region.
What are the goals of the PTC program?
- Patients as research partners: we want to involve patients in research
aimed at identifying ways to improve health care and its delivery
- Research-readiness: we aim to enhance researchers’ abilities to identify
potential study participants
- Staff engagement: we seek to engage health authority staff in research
activities to create a culture of learning that will enhance care and improve
practice.
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How does it work?
When entering an Island Health care site, patients are asked for their
permission to:
- Collect and store some of their personal data such as name and contact
information;
- Access their Island Health record to screen them for study eligibility; and
- Contact them with information on research studies for which they may be
eligible.
Can I participate?
Yes! Over 5,000 people across the Vancouver Island region have already
signed up for the PTC program – if you’d like more information, please contact
Rebecca Barnes, Research Engagement and Outreach Project Manager
([email protected]) or 250-519-7700 x12718.
Health Research Opportunities
Vancouver Island has a vibrant health research community that includes Island
Health, our Island universities, and community-based research organizations.
Victoria has 10 clinical sites comprised of specialists, GPs, research nurses, and
coordinators, collectively known as the Island Clinical Research Collaborative.
To learn more about these sites, see this factsheet. Below, you’ll find further
details about some of the studies currently seeking participants in the region.
Type 2 Diabetes
Area: Diabetes
Purpose: This study will assess the use of
metformin in women with Type 2 Diabetes in
pregnancy.
Eligibility: Individuals must be pregnant and
between 6 and 22 weeks gestation, diagnosed
with Type 2 Diabetes, currently taking insulin
Contact: Karen Coles, Study Coordinator, 250519-7700 extension 13630 or
[email protected]
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Mental Health SelfManagement &
Treatment Adherence
Area: Mental Health
Purpose: This study will explore the effect of
receiving information about causes of mental
illness for people diagnosed with bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective
disorder. This study will not offer genetic
testing, and does not seek to determine the
causes of mental illness.
Eligibility: We are looking for men and
women who are:
-interested in learning more about the causes
of mental illness
-fluent in English
-At least 19 years old
-can provide written consent
-have one of the following diagnoses:
1) Schizophrenia
2) Schizoaffective disorder
3) Bipolar Disorder
This study is being conducted at the Eric
Martin Pavilion, Victoria Mental Health Centre.
The study will involve 2 in-person visits, and
completing questionnaires at two different time
points at home.
Participants will receive $10 for each
completed interview and questionnaire, for a
total of $40.
Contact: Please contact Rolan by phone at
250-519-5300 local13738 or via email to:
[email protected]
Family Physical
Activity Study
Area: Physical
Activity
Purpose: This study will examine whether
different strategies help to promote familybased physical activity.
Eligibility: Families living in Victoria with at
least one children between the ages of 6 and
7
12 who is getting less than 60 minutes of
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each
day. Same-sex couples are equally
encouraged to participate.
Contact: Alison Quinlan, [email protected] or at
250-472-5288
Note: This research study has received
ethical approval from the University of
Victoria’s Research Ethics Board. The
Research Ethics Board of Vancouver Island
Health Authority has not participated in the
ethical approval of this research study, and
recommends that you direct any questions or
concerns about the study to [email protected] or
250-472-4545.
New Parent Physical
Activity Study
Area: Physical
Activity
Purpose: To determine whether or not
certain strategies administered immediately
post-partum can help to improve physical
activity levels among new parents in the first
eight months post-partum.
Eligibility: Common law or married couples
who reside in Victoria, BC and who are
expecting their first child or have just had
their first child within the past two months.
Same-sex couples and surrogate parents are
equally encouraged to participate.
Contact: Alison Quinlan and/or Shabnam
Almasi at [email protected] or at 250-472-5288
Note: This research study has received
ethical approval from the University of
Victoria’s Research Ethics Board. The
Research Ethics Board of Vancouver Island
Health Authority has not participated in the
ethical approval of this research study, and
recommends that you direct any questions or
concerns about the study to [email protected]
or 250-472-4545.
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PREVENT study
Area: Alzheimer’s
Disease
Purpose: This study is a research project at
the University of Victoria that aims to identify
those at risk of memory decline and
Alzheimer’s disease by focusing on various
lifestyle, health, and biological indicators.
Eligibility: If you or someone you know has
been physician-diagnosed with Mild Cognitive
Impairment or Alzheimer’s disease, please
contact the PREVENT Study research office
immediately.
Contact: PREVENT Study, 250-853-3839 or
[email protected]
Note: This research study has received ethical
approval from the University of Victoria’s
Research Ethics Board. The Research Ethics
Board of Vancouver Island Health Authority
has not participated in the ethical approval of
this research study, and recommends that you
direct any questions or concerns about the
study to [email protected] or 250-472-4545.
High Dose Vitamin D
Area: Cancer
Purpose: This is a pilot study of safety,
tolerability, and treatment benefits of high
dose vitamin D supplementation.
Eligibility: If you or someone you know has
stage four colorectal cancer, please contact
InspireHealth for more information.
Contact: Study Coordinator, 604-734-7125,
or [email protected]
Note: This research study has received
ethical approval from the Western
Institutional Review Board. The Research
Ethics Board of Vancouver Island Health
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Authority has not participated in the ethical
approval of this research study. If you have
any questions or concerns about the study,
please call 1-800-562-4789.
ASSERT-II study
Area: Cardiovascular
Purpose: The study aims to implant patients
with a continuous electrocardiogram monitor
which will scan for undetected atrial fibrillation
(AF). The study is sponsored by the Population
Health Research Institute.
Eligibility: Elderly persons who have certain
cardiovascular risk factors, heart enlargement
and no history of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be
eligible to enroll. Patients who fit this
description have a risk of developing AF, which
increases stroke risk.
Contact: Deborah Parfett, Study Coordinator,
250-595-0400, or [email protected]
CASPER study
Area: Cardiovascular
Purpose: The study will help to evaluate the
current medical testing strategy for unexplained
cardiac arrest (UCA) and compare unexplained
cases in the hopes of determining what caused
them. The study is sponsored by the Diamond
Health Care Centre and Dr. Andrew Krahn.
Eligibility: Persons who have experienced an
unexplained cardiac arrest (UCA) or are firstdegree relatives of a person who has
experienced a UCA may be eligible to enroll.
Enrolled patients will have their health records
collected and added to the CASPER database,
and will be asked to donate a blood sample to
the CASPER biobank.
Contact: Fritha Munday, Study Coordinator,
250-595-0400, or [email protected]
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GLORIA-AF study
Area: Cardiovascular
Purpose: The study aims to observe the
effectiveness of anticoagulants in patients with
atrial fibrillation (AF). The study is sponsored
by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Eligibility: Persons who have been newly
diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) within the
last 3 months may be eligible to enroll.
Contact: Deborah Parfett, Study Coordinator,
250-595-0400, or [email protected]
ICY-AVNRT study
Area: Cardiovascular
Purpose: The study aims to determine the
effectiveness of focal cryoablation (freezing) for
treating AV node reentrant tachycardia
(AVNRT). The study is sponsored by
Medtronic.
Eligibility: Persons who have been diagnosed
with supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and
are planning to undergo their first
electrophysiology study and cardiac ablation
may be eligible to enroll.
Contact: Fritha Munday, Study Coordinator,
250-595-0400, or [email protected]
REFINE-ICD study
Area: Cardiovascular
Purpose: The study aims to compare the
effectiveness of treating patients who have
experienced a heart attack (also called an MI
or myocardial infarction) with either internal
cardiac defibrillator therapy or standard
therapy. The study is sponsored by the
University of Calgary.
Eligibility: Persons who have experienced a
heart attack within the last 15 months may be
eligible to enroll.
Contact: Deborah Parfett, Study Coordinator,
250-595-0400, or [email protected]
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Have you been asked
to participate in a
clinical trial?
Area: All
Purpose: The BC Clinical Infrastructure
Network is conducting a survey to understand
how to improve clinical trial recruitment by
addressing participant perspectives. This
survey is a chance for people to provide
feedback to researchers across BC and
Canada.
Eligibility: If you have participated in a clinical
trial, if you have declined to participate, or if
you are the parent of a child who has
participated, you are eligible to fill out this
survey.
Contact: The survey is accessible online at:
www.bccrin.ca/survey
> Visit our Website > Unsubscribe > Talk to us!
Research and Capacity Building Program
Memorial Pavilion, Kenning Wing 1
Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria V8R 1J8
[email protected] / 250-370-8261
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