SRS Student Research Project Proposals

A number of studies have explored the effect of music as an intervention/distraction strategy for pain management. Recent physiotherapy student research in Saskatchewan (2024) has identified statistically significant positive benefits from listening to preferred music compared to no music; for the timed tolerance to experimental cold pressor pain. Recently published research in the Journal Nature Scientific Reports(2024) has identified the significance of individual music genre preferences for optimal pain relief. The aim of this student project is to explore this phenomenon further.

This project will comparatively test the timed response of healthy participants to experimental cold pressor (ice water) pain in; a) control (non-music) trials; and b) music trials. The music trials will involve randomisation into either a preferred music group, or alternatively, to a group where participants will listen to a specific music genre group that will be randomly allocated to each participant. With supervisor support, the student will review literature, help design the trial methodology, assist with ethical submission, recruit participants, use a standardised methodology, gather and analyze data, and prepare final report. They will also create a poster/slide show of the outcomes of this study for presentation to the School.

Nature Scientific Reports Manuscript - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72882-2 

• Express Interest

A number of studies have explored the effect of laughter/humor as an intervention/distraction strategy for pain management (1). The results are promising and there may be potential for utilising humor/laughter as a co-intervention/distraction while patients are being managed in the physical therapy setting. This needs to be explored further.

Recent physiotherapy student research in Saskatchewan (2024) and New Zealand (2012) has respectively identified positive benefits from listening to preferred music; as well as watching a humorous video for the timed tolerance to experimental pain. While the humorous video was promising - it was open to interpretation as to whether it was interesting or not. Laughter Yoga (2) is now also proposed to have considerable benefits on mood and stress. The intervention fundamentally works on watching/listening to laughter - as well as participating actively in laughter and is available in a number of online resources and video formats.

This project will comparatively test the timed response of healthy participants to experimental cold pressor (ice water) pain in; a) control (non-laughter) trials; and b) laughter trials. Identifying the benefit of laughter as a pain modulating strategy in patients undergoing rehabilitation would hold promise for an easily applied intervention.

1) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-laughter-may-be-the-best-pain-medicine/
2) https://www.laughteryoga.org/

• Express Interest

In 2019 Dr. Milosavljevic published "Visual estimation of shoulder posture: accuracy and reliability across five planes of motion". 63 PT students individually estimated shoulder ROM from images projected on to a classroom screen. Overall accuracy was poor to fair with mean errors ranging from 5° to 17° for a given estimate. It is unknown whether these results would hold true for other students and whether experienced clinicians would greater levels of accuracy. To reach a wider group of potential participants with differing experience and skill sets we will create an online survey instrument or tool which would allow local and distant clinicians and other cohorts of students at different institutions the opportunity to take part in such a comparative study. We will use the same image set used previously and embed this with a timed survey in an-online tool which would allow clinicians and students to participate remotely. We will work with IT services at the U of S to design such a survey instrument embedded in RedCap or similar software. The student and supervisor will work with IT services through iterations of what needs to be included and adjusted. We will seek recruitment from the current cohort of PT students to undertake this online visual survey. Their feedback regarding use will be valuable and results compared to previous. The student will review the literature, help design methodology, gather and analyze data and prepare reports.

• Express Interest

The project follows an identified critical priority area guided by Elders and the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) Health Services Board, in order to address access challenges to pediatric rehabilitation in three specific northern Indigenous communities. The project focus will include analysis of data from healthcare providers who serve in two of these communities, to better understand their perspectives of barriers and facilitators for children and their families to access appropriate services and supports, opinions on using remote technology, as well as culturally safe practices. Depending on student interest, there may be opportunity to learn and use the remote presence technology. The information gained will ultimately lead to the development of an interprofessrion pediatric rehabiltiation service model of care in Northern Cree First Nation Communities.

• Express Interest

Post-operative protocols for total knee replacement are generally effective for most patients, but some individuals still face the frustrating challenge of a "stiff knee." This condition can arise from various factors, often left unknown. The “stiff knee” has signficant impacts on daily functioning, yet effective treatments remain limited. A new rehabilitation protocol utilizing standard exercise equipment has been developed and is currently in practice, but has yet to be formally evaluated. This project offers a unique opportunity to conduct a literature review on a clinically relevant topic, learn the innovative protocol, and assess its effectiveness through data collection, including follow-up interviews with patients who have participated in the program. Depending on student interest, there is potential for clinical experience or shadowing to further interact or observe patients with a stiff knee and see the protocol in practice.

• Express Interest

Animal-assisted interventions, integrating a highly-trained rehabilitation dog (Loki), are an innovative approach to outpatient pediatric rehabilitation. Following the integration of Loki into outpatient therapies at Wascana Rehabilitation, an evaluation of the experiences of the included healthcare providers and staff was an important next step. Healthcare providers were interviewed in focus groups and provided insight into their experiences working with Loki. The student will conduct some literature review/synthesis, prepare and analyze qualitative data and participate in preparation of a manuscript for publication. This work will provide critical information on the integration of service dogs into rehabilitation and provide deeper insight into the experiences of the providers working with them.

• Express Interest

Following an expansion of 15 seats for the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program, the School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS) has recently introduced several new clinical placement opportunities. Placement sites include elementary schools, primary care centres and long-term care facilities. An in-depth, strengths-based evaluation of these placements and the experiences of the included students, administration and clinical instructors is needed. The student will have the opportunity to be involved in the development and implementation of surveys and focus groups that will be sent to a variety of collaborators and stakeholders involved in the creation and delivery of these placements. The student will be involved in developing survey and focus group questions, qualitative data analysis and preparation of data for presentation. This work will provide critical information on experiences related to these new clinical placements, leading to the improvements of existing placements and informing development of unique clinical opportunities in the future.

Collaborators on this project include Liz Rackow and members of the clinical instructor team.

• Express Interest

The School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS) has a number of academic polices and procedures which provide a framework to guide our programs and ensure alignment with our institutional and professional values, competencies and goals. Academic policies are an important part in establishing clear expectations, promoting fairness, accountability, integrity and equity, and support academic rigor within the SRS for students, staff and faculty. Recently, our academic policies have been undergoing a review process. Student engagement is an important aspect of ensuring these policies meet the diverse needs of our students, promote effective learning practices (teaching and assessment), support student-centered learning, and centre Indigenization, anti-oppression and anti-racism.

The student will have the opportunity to develop a student-engaged evaluation of current academic policies under review and will participate in data collection, analysis and presentation of findings to different stakeholder groups. This project will contribute meaningfully to the experiences of students within the SRS and have lasting impacts in the development of policies and procedures within the school.

Collaborators on this project will include Dr. Sarah Oosman and Carrie Stavness.

• Express Interest

Background: Building on a pre-existing MPT-specific SoTL research project (“Building a pathway to decolonizing teaching & learning experiences in the USask Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) Curriculum”), we are piloting a new inquiry-driven, anti-oppressive approach of ‘ungrading’ to assess MPT student learning and growth in essential professional practice, reflective practice, and clinical reasoning skills.

Research topic: This is a Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) research project that invites MPT research student(s) to engage as ‘research partner(s)’ as we explore the impact of implementing an inquiry-driven, anti-oppressive approach to assessing professional practice growth and development (including reflective practice and critical reasoning) in Module 2.

General duties. The MPT student researcher will be involved in various research related activites including, but not limited to: co-developing research tools (semi-structured interview and/or focus group discussion questions, survey), writing & communication (ethics, literature review, reports, abstracts, manuscript), recruitment activities, facilitation of interviews/focus groups, collecting and analyzing data, and basic research administrative duties to support organization and logistics of the project.

 Collaborators on this project will include Carrie Stavness.

• Express Interest