Spring 2021 Research Update

When working as an occupational therapist and addiction counsellor, Niki Keipek increasingly realised that many people who have high social capital, such as wealth and social status, were protected from experiencing negative consequences associated with substance use. To Dr. Keipek it was troubling that people's experiences of problems were essentially perpetuated through stigmatising beliefs - while some people were protected from negative consequences, others were having supports withheld to facilitate "hitting rock bottom."

Dr. Keipek started to explore substance use by people who used regularly but had not been through an addiction treatment program or experienced legal charges in order to learn about resources and strategies people use to control use. She has since begun to question the ways in which other activities come to be viewed as immoral, illegal, unhealthy, and non-sanctioned and to examine inequities that lead to engagement in these activities, and that influence how the activities (and people) are judged. Going forward, Dr. Keipek is looking to use her research to contribute to policies about harm reduction in hospitals, standards of practice for professional regulation, and national discussions around decriminalisation. Her hope is that other occupational science researchers and students will work together to expand research about non-sanctioned activities and further examine how certain ways of doing, being, becoming, and belonging are situated in contemporary society.

In a recent seminar entitled Framing occupation as inherently "good" Dr. Keipek presented her work in Occupational Science that confronts a tendency of occupational therapy literature to focus exclusively on health promoting and positive aspects of daily activities. She explores ways in which occupations (activities) can be unhealthy, illegal, have undesired consequences, be used to oppress others, and have meanings not exclusively positive.

Current Studies
Dr. Keipek's research explores substance use in the context of people's daily lives, considering both advantages and disadvantages. She seeks understanding about people's engagement in socially non-sanctioned activities, particularly among hidden populations, in order to challenge existing stigmas and to inform policy. Learn more.

Dr. Parisa Ghanouni
SSHRC Connection Grant
Title: Getting together and staying together: An initiative to enhance social inclusion and belonging among individuals with autism.
Awarded: $15,000

Dr Niki Kiepek (Co-PI)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Project Grant
Opioid use after first prescription for low back pain in the emergency department.
Awarded $359,549 (2021-2024).

Dr. Sorayya Askari
Faculty of Health Research Development Grant
"How do people with neurological conditions experience cognitive fatigue?". (MS society of Canada, the NSHA acquired brain injury program, Cornerstone Occupational Therapy and the clinic of Dr. Gord Gubitz will support this study.)
Awarded: $5000

Dr. Parisa Ghanouni
Faculty of Health Research Development Grant
"Improving social participation among older adults with ASD: The role of technology".
Awarded: $5000

J Zed (PI) L Shaw, C O’Keefe, J Harris - OT Co-Applicants
Living Laboratory Grant Application
Virtual Integrative IP Access (VIIA): Advancing medical and Interprofessional (IP) education through a Virtual Family Medicine (FM), Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Department of Family Medicine.
Awarded: $5,000.

When many Canadians were told they'd be working from home back in March, few thought it would be long-term. However, over a year later, many Canadians are still working from home. Now, an occupational therapist is advising people if they haven't set up a proper home office, they should. Karen Joudrey, occupational therapist and program co-ordinator of the School of Occupational Therapy at Dalhousie University, joins Devon Peacock on Global News Radio. Hear the interview.

Occupational Science is building momentum in Occupational Fields. Introduce yourself to Occupational Science Research being conduct by School of Occupational Therapy faculty in these recorded presentations.