Seminars

Pediatric Sleep Health Education Curriculum in Pediatric Residency Programs Across Canada: A Quantitative Study

Dr. Hargun Sidhu, PGY2

Supervisor: Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett

Sleep is important for children’s physical health, mental health and overall function. Pediatrics residents need to receive education about sleep health and sleep disorders in order to address these issues in practice, and to achieve competency requirements outlined by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. This study aims to investigate sleep health education in Pediatrics residency programs in Canada through a survey of program directors. We hope to identify areas of improvement for survey design and dissemination. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the gaps in sleep health education for pediatric residents and the Royal College competencies on sleep health for Pediatrics residents 
2. Areas for feedback: Study Design and Methods

Open Access Publishing Waivers – an update from the Health Sciences Library

Neera Bhatnagar, Public Services & Systems, Health Sciences Library
Jennifer McKinnell, Director, Health Sciences Library

This session will provide a brief update on the research support initiatives in the Health Sciences Library. In particular, it will offer an overview of the publishing landscape focusing on article processing charges (APC) and the recent waiver and discount initiatives the University is offering through publisher agreements with the libraries. Various aspects related to APC waivers, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, and the challenges that researchers may encounter will also be discussed. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the APC waivers and discounts available to the McMaster community and to ask your questions.

PedsPearls Clerkship Guide – Measuring the Impact of an Educational Resource for Pediatric Clerkship

Dr. Emily Hutchings, PGY2

Supervisor: Dr. Vicky Breakey

The study aims to implement a learning resource for McMaster Pediatric Clerks that helps to improve learner engagement and understanding of the PUPDOC learning objectives. In addition, we hope to identify areas of improvement in the guide before finalizing and distributing the guide to medical schools across Canada.

Learning Objectives:

1. Approach to evaluating an educational resource 
2. Implementation of focus groups 
3. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative research as it relates to this project

Pediatric Environmental Health Histories: A Scoping Review and Descriptive Analysis

Dr. Sarah Kimber, PGY2

Supervisors: Drs. Elif Bilgic (Associate Professor, Pediatrics, McMaster) & Anna Gunz (Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University)

There is currently little to no consensus with regards to the best way in which to take a paediatric environmental health history. Given the ever increasing importance of environmental health, particularly as the effects of climate change become more apparent, this is an essential, emerging area of research to protect child health. This presentation will examine the work done to date on a new scoping review, the purpose of which is to examine the existing paediatric environmental health history taking tools.  Ideally this work will lead to a descriptive analysis of the available literature and allow for future validation and increased usage of these tools in the clinical environment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the importance of the emerging aspects of paediatric environmental health.
2. Understand the current state of environmental health history taking tools.
3. Consider possible search strategies and eligibility criteria to assist with review.

Trends in incidence of pediatric NAFLD: a 25 year analysis

Dr. Rohil Dureja, PGY2

Supervisor: Dr. Nikhil Pai

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterised by excessive lipid deposition within the liver and affects both children and adults. Data on trends in pediatric incidence, impact of pediatric NAFLD on healthcare costs, and how early onset disease progresses to end-stage liver cirrhosis remains unclear. We aim to address these gaps using health population data. Our primary objective is to determine trends in incidence of pediatric NAFLD between 1995-2018 in Ontario.

Learning Objectives:

1. Current research on pediatric NAFLD and rationale for research
2. Aims and objectives of study 
3. Understanding the methodology required for an ICES research study 

Research Data Management (RDM) – Best Practices and McMaster Supports

Presenters: Isaac Pratt, PhD and Danica Evering, MA – Research Data Management Specialists

Description: In this seminar for Pediatrics Researchers, learn about research data management (RDM) best practices and how investing a small amount of time in organizing your data now can save you a lot of time and prevent future headaches. We will also introduce the new Digital Research Commons Pilot and share McMaster tools and supports for data planning, storage, security, organization, preservation, and sharing. Both CIHR and the NIH have new requirements for Data Management Plans (DMPs) and Data Deposit—learn how to meet these requirements and further streamline your research practice.

An analysis of the rate and patterns of language interpretation service use at McMaster Children’s Hospital

Dr. Sara Markovic, PGY2

Supervisor: Dr. April Kam

The aim of our review is to identify patterns and frequency of use of language interpretation services for paediatric patients at McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH). Our goal is to compare the rates of use prior to, and following implementation of VOYCE, an on-demand video-interpretation service piloted at MCH since October 2022.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify changes in frequency of use of language interpretation following VOYCE implementation.

2. Identify trends in time of day, duration and purpose of interaction, and choice of language. 

Retrospective Cohort Study of AIHA at McMaster Children’s Hospital

Dr. Sureka Pavalagantharajah, PGY2

Supervisor: Dr. Vicky Breakey

This project is part of a larger North American study. The purpose of this research is to develop a retrospective cohort study describing the diagnostic evaluation, treatment strategies, and outcomes of pediatric AIHA.

Learning Objectives:

1. Brief review of AIHA
2. Understanding the need for research in this population

All you need to know about imputation of missing data in trials in pediatric trials

Dr. Lehana Thabane, Professor, Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact

This talk is about imputation of missing data in pediatric trials: What you need to know about what imputation is, why it is necessary, what the current practice looks like, what the best methods to impute are, what it cannot do, and how to prevent the need for it.