Dr. Louise Racine Shines in Research Grant Competitions

Dr. Racine’s project, Indigenous Palliative Care in Saskatchewan: Exploring Access, Needs, and Challenges, will explore the lack of access to palliative care for Indigenous populations living in rural and remote areas of Saskatchewan. Specifically, Dr. Racine and her team will work with the Thunderchild First Nation to explore their needs and challenges of access to culturally respectful palliative care in their community. “We are hoping the results from this research will help us design and implement culturally competent palliative services with the goal of increasing access and utilization of palliative care”, said Dr. Racine. “We also believe the research has the potential to improve quality of life and care that is culturally respectful and inclusive of Indigenous values on death and dying.” The Thunderchild First Nation and the Saskatchewan Hospice Palliative Care Association will support this project.

“I am extremely pleased with the result of this grant competition, as our team ranked 1^st overall for the sociocultural health pillar,” said Dr. Racine.  This grant aligns with one of the research signatures of the University of Saskatchewan with the aim of improving Indigenous health outcomes in the province of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Racine is delighted to have received this funding for her project, Breast Cancer Barriers and Facilitators among Islamic/Muslim Refugee Women in Canada. Her project will look at knowledge, attitudes and behaviors associated with breast cancer self-examination, breast awareness and the use of early screening programs among Islamic/Muslim women in the Saskatchewan. “This research will give us a better understanding of the perceived vulnerability, perceptions of risks, barriers to and benefits of screening practices, confidence in performing Breast Self-Examination (BSE) and motivation in doing BSE among Islamic/Muslim immigrant and refugee women, who recently migrated to Canada,” said Dr. Racine.

Dr. Racine received a President’s SSHRC Insight Grant for her project, A Postcolonial Analysis of Cultural Competency and Cultural Safety in Study Abroad Programs among Undergraduate Students in International Placements, which will explore the influence of international practicum in shaping undergraduate students’ skills and knowledge in regards to cultural safety. “Currently the research that is out there, contradicts itself, so my team is interested in looking at the value of students studying abroad and how their experiences help them develop an understanding of other cultures and power relations related to gender, class and race,” said Dr. Racine.

Awarded for their project, Therapeutic Landscapes in Downtown Neighbourhoods: Exploring Aboriginal Urban Residents of Saskatoon, Dr. Racine and her team will work alongside the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre to look at Indigenous perspectives on urban planning and how these perspectives can be implemented to improve health outcomes of First Nations and Metis peoples living in Saskatoon. “Similar to my SHRF CID grant, this grant also aligns with one of the research signatures areas at the U of S – with the aim of improving Indigenous health outcomes in Saskatchewan,” said Dr. Racine.

The use of Remote Presence (RP) technology has been in place in the College of Nursing since 2012. By using RP technology at College of Nursing distributed sites, nursing students living in La Ronge, Ile-a-la-Crosse and Yorkton, Saskatchewan, are connected to faculty located at College of Nursing campuses in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Remote Presence in nursing education removes geographical barriers and supports students to ‘learn where they live’.

Although the College of Nursing has been using the technology for over five years, not a lot of research has been conducted to determine its’ effectiveness. Dr. Racine and her team will use the WNRCASN grant for their project, Exploration of Undergraduate Students’ Experiences with Remote Robotic Presence, to learn more about the perceptions of students interacting with remote presence technology at College of Nursing distributed sites. “Despite nursing’s strong history of using technology-mediated delivery models, very few nursing schools rely on remote presence robotics to deliver nursing programs,” said Dr. Racine. “Remote robotic delivery may be the way of the future, but the primary concern resides in the lack of evidence associated with the use of remote presence in nursing education. Results will contribute to addressing a gap in knowledge related to students’ experiences with robotic technology.”

Congratulations Dr. Racine on the receipt of these two internal grants and three external grants – they are sure to keep you busy for the next while!