Current Research Projects
The
BE-WEL in CR-AF Study: Behavioural Weight Loss Treatment for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Obesity in Cardiac Rehabilitation -
The purpose of the BE-WEL in CR-AF study is to develop and test a small-changes behavioural weight loss approach for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and obesity attending a cardiac rehabilitation program. This two-part study consists of (1) a qualitative investigation to explore barriers and facilitators to behavioural weight loss treatment among patients with AF and obesity, and (2) a randomized controlled trial to test whether patients who receive the behavioural weight loss component during their cardiac rehabilitation program, are more likely to lose 10% of their body weight than those who do cardiac rehab alone.
Recruitment for this study is complete and data collection is ongoing.
If you have any questions, please contact behmed@ucalgary.ca.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Intranasal Oxytocin in Improving Pain and Function Among Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
This RCT is evaluating the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin versus placebo in improving outcomes among women with chronic pelvic pain. The primary objective is to investigate oxytocin’s efficacy in reducing pain among women with chronic pelvic pain. Secondary objectives include investigating oxytocin’s efficacy in improving emotional function, physical function, and sleep among these women.
Recruitment for this study is complete and data collection is ongoing.
For any questions regarding this study, please contact behmed@ucalgary.ca
Psychosocial Predictors of Outcomes Following Bariatric Surgery
This prospective study investigates the roles of various pre-surgical psychosocial variables on weight-loss and quality of life changes after bariatric (weight-loss) surgery. Patients complete a number of questionnaires inquiring about psychological distress, eating behaviours, and social factors (e.g., social support) prior surgery, and are following for 12-months after surgery. Understanding predictors of outcomes following bariatric surgery will help in patient selection, resource allocation, and identifying at-risk patients for appropriate psychosocial intervention to support outcomes after surgery.
APrON: Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes & Nutrition Study
APrON is an ongoing prospective cohort study that recruited pregnant women early in pregnancy. The vision of the study is to improve the health and long-term potential of mothers and newborn babies in Alberta.
For more information, please visit the APrON study website.
Completed Research Projects
Small Changes in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): A Community-based Adaptation of the Small Changes Behavioural Weight Loss Treatment Approach for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients with Comorbid Obesity
The purpose of the Small Changes in PsA study investigated a small-changes behavioural weight loss approach for patients with PsA and obesity. This two-part study consisted of (1) a qualitative investigation to explore barriers and facilitators to behavioural weight loss treatment among patients with PsA and obesity, and (2) a randomized controlled trial to test whether patients who participate in the behavioural weight loss program are more likely to lose weight compared with those who receive treatment as usual from their community rheumatology clinic.
This study was done in collaboration with our principle investigator, Dr. Michelle Teo and co-investigator Dr. Lesley Lutes.
If you have any questions about this study, please contact Tamara Williamson or Sydney Seidel.
The iPROTECT Study: Developing and testing an online intervention to improve the uptake and maintenance of personal protective behaviours against COVID-19
Funding for this project was received by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities Grant. The purpose of this project is to design, develop, and test a brief web-based intervention to improve adherence to personal protective behaviours related to COVID-19 prevention among the Canadian general population, with a focus on physical distancing, face masks and vaccination, and to examine the differential effect of this approach among young adults (25 and younger) and males who are at higher risk for non-adherence to protective behaviours.
Please contact Sydney Seidel for any questions.
The BE-EMPOWERED Study
The Bariatric Outcome Enhancement - Evaluating a Mindfulness-based Program for Optimizing Weight loss and Reducing Eating Disorder Symptoms (BE-EMPOWERED) Study is a 3-phase program of research working to evaluate and optimize a brief mindfulness-based intervention among pre-surgical bariatric patients. This study followed the ORBIT Model by Czajkowski et al. (2015) for developing and testing behavioural treatments.
Phase I results have been published on an open access journal.
The Mindfulness And Tai chi for Cancer Health (MATCH) study
The MATCH study is an innovative preference-based comparative effectiveness trial examining Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery and Tai chi/Qigong for a host of psychological, physical, and biological outcomes in cancer survivors.
For more information visit the study website.