Browsing by Author "Rickards, Tracey"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A coordinated community response to domestic and intimate partner violence experienced by immigrant and newcomer women in new Brunswick - needs assessment report
    (2016) Holtmann, Catherine; Torri, Maria Costanza; Rickards, Tracey; Matta, Crestina
    This 36 month project aims to improve service responses for immigrant and newcomer women who are victims of domestic and intimate partner violence (D/IPV) in New Brunswick. Through partnerships, a coordinated community response will be developed between provincial government departments, domestic violence support-service providers, immigrant serving organizations and community partners, incorporating the lens of immigrant and newcomer women’s experiences throughout the project. The learnings from this project will be integrated into future provincial strategies to address D/IPV experienced by immigrant and newcomer women.
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    Breast cancer in young women: examining meanings post contralateral prophylactic mastectomy
    (University of New Brunswick, 2017) Huckins, Megan; Wilkins, Krista; Rickards, Tracey
    Breast cancer is the malignant growth of cells originating in breast tissue. Breast cancer primarily occurs in women aged 50-69; however, 18% of cases occur in women under 50 years of age. The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer exerts significant stress on young women’s sexuality, including reproduction, femininity, and relationships. Surgical removal of breast tissue is commonly used to treat breast cancer. Increasingly, young women with unilateral breast cancer are choosing to have both breasts surgically removed. This is known as contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Research studies on sexuality in young women with breast cancer who have undergone CPM are limited, suggesting a gap in knowledge related to the psychosocial needs of these women. This qualitative research study used van Manen’s Phenomenology to examine the research questions: 1) What meanings do young women with breast cancer ascribe to their experiences post CPM 2) What meanings do young women with breast cancer ascribe to their sexuality post CPM? A total of seven women diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer, aged 31 to 52 were interviewed and asked to describe their experiences of sexuality post CPM. The essence of these young women’s experiences of sexuality post CPM is described as “My body is scarred, but for that I am stronger”. The essence is supported by the three following themes: 1) My breast decision: Empower me to make informed treatment decisions about my breast health; 2) Defining a new normal for intimacy post CPM; and 3) Supporting me in coping with my chest without breasts. The uncovered meanings in this study will provide healthcare professionals with knowledge and understanding of the psychosocial needs of these women, and elicit information to inform and advance practice to improve quality of life of young women diagnosed with breast cancer.
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    Community health worker experiences with people who use drugs: a phenomenological study
    (University of New Brunswick, 2020) Wilbur, Kimberly Anne; Rickards, Tracey
    People who use drugs (PWUD) are a marginalized population at risk of developing often treatable and preventable health conditions; however, they avoid traditional health care systems and providers. Community Health Workers (CHWs) make up an unrecognized grass roots workforce that demonstrates a unique ability to engage the often homeless, urban population of PWUD. Collaboration between CHW and Community Health Nurses (CHNs) presents a valuable partnership opportunity. This study seeks to increase our understanding of the lived experiences of CHWs working with PWUD. To this end, the Giorgi (1970) Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Method (DPPM) was applied for both the collection and analysis of qualitative audio-recorded interview data from four CHWs who work with PWUDs and are employed by non-profit organizations in Saint John – New Brunswick. The descriptions are viewed through the disciplinary lens of Vollman, Anderson & McFarlane’s (2004) Community-As-Partner Theoretical Model (physical environments, education, safety and transportation, politics and government, health and social services, communication, economics and recreation). The findings include general structural descriptions (GSD) that are considered the essences or meaning of the experiences and include “a safe space”, “do more with less” and “educate us to educate them.” The findings have the potential to inform nurses and other health care providers with greater understanding and insight in relation to CHWs and how best to support and facilitate their work with PWUD as a highly complex and vulnerable population in the community.
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    Information, services, and support needs of people experiencing memory loss: qualitative findings
    (2017) Bulman, Donna; Rickards, Tracey; Henry, Justine; McCloskey, Rose; Deitch, Patricia
    Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) are increasing in incidence globally; by 2031 there will be 937,000 people living with dementia in Canada (Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, 2017a). The burden associated with living with dementia is multi-faceted and involves the lives of multiple people. Since 1978, the Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick (ASNB) has been dedicated to helping people and their families live with ADRD. The values of “C” – caring, “A” – accountability, “R” – respect, and “E” – excellence have helped to guide the ASNB in helping to alleviate the personal and social consequences of ADRD through support, education, and advocacy. As researchers with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) we were asked to obtain a ‘snapshot’ of the current services available for people living with ADRD and their families in NB and of family informal caregiver satisfaction with these services. The three objectives of this project were to 1) examine family informal caregiver’s experiences in obtaining services for their family member within the health care and social support systems through in-depth semi-structured interviews, 2) examine health care provider’s (HCPs) experiences in obtaining appropriate services for clients experiencing ADRD and their informal caregivers through in-depth semi-structured interviews, and 3) conduct a secondary analysis of electronically-available data collected by the ASNB to describe usage patterns of the First Link Program since its introduction in June 2015. In this report the first two objectives of this project are addressed. A separate report will address the third objective. What follows is the report of our findings from the many consultations with the ASNB and in-depth interviews completed with informal caregivers of people with ADRD and HCPs from around the province. We interviewed 19 informal caregivers of people living with ADRD and 19 HCPs who work directly with people experiencing ADRD. Words of the participants, both informal caregivers and HCPs have been interwoven throughout the document (in italics) to bring to life the very real experience of dealing with ADRD in New Brunswick. The proposed research was reviewed by, and is on file with, the UNB Research Ethics Board prior to commencing data collection. We have done our best to protect the identity of the participants, respecting their right to privacy.