Featured Projects

  

Small Steps for Big Changes

Small Steps for Big Changes is a lifestyle counselling program that can help people make lasting dietary and exercise changes in order to lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. The primary purpose of Small Steps for Big Changes is to help you make changes to your exercise and diet and to stick to these changes long-term.

For more information, see the program website.


  

Exercise Guidelines Promotion & Implementation in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury (EPIC-SCI): A Randomized Controlled Trial

Our lab is conducting a 6-month study looking at the effects of exercise on health and well-being among adults with spinal cord injury who live with chronic neuropathic or musculoskeletal pain. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to 6-months of home/community-based exercise or a 6-month waiting list. If you have a spinal cord injury and would like to take part, please contact the investigators below to determine if you are eligible for the study:

View more information


  

Integrated Knowledge Translation Guiding Principles for Conducting and Disseminating Research with the Spinal Cord Injury Community

This project aims to rigorously co-develop, co-implement, and evaluate the first integrated knowledge translation (IKT) guiding principles for conducting and disseminating research in partnership with spinal cord injury (SCI) stakeholders. This multi-phase project includes several sub-studies that address the development, implementation and evaluation of the IKT guiding principles.

For more information, see the OSF website or contact Femke Hoekstra.


  

A Behavioural Intervention to Promote Participation Among Family Support Providers of People with Spinal Cord Injury

This study examines a behavioural intervention to promote participation in daily and social activities among family and friends who support people with spinal cord injury (SCI). This intervention aims to address barriers to participation through brief, Motivational Interviewing and behaviour change theory-based behavioural counselling sessions. The findings from this research will help to inform much needed resources for family and friends who support people with SCI.

For more information, contact Rhyann McKay.


  

Reframing Negative Exercise Thoughts

This research study explores the unhelpful thoughts that we have from time-to-time when deciding to exercise. For example, sometimes we feel too busy, and automatically think, “GAH! There’s just not enough time in the week to exercise!!” This thought has truth to it – you are busy – but you may have automatically jumped to the conclusion without considering the whole situation. Maybe you are busy, but not as busy at you feel? The point is, did you really think through the decision? The purpose of this research study is to examine whether a counselling technique called reframing can help individuals identify and challenge their negative exercise thoughts.

For more information, email postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Sean Locke


  

Canadian Disability Participation Project

The Canadian Disability Participation Project is a SSHRC-funded Partnership Grant focused on enhancing sport and exercise, mobility, and employment participation among Canadians with physical disabilities. Kathleen Martin Ginis is the Principal Investigator.

Visit CDPP.ca for more information.


  

Exploring Women’s Experiences In A Prediabetes Community-Based Exercise Intervention

This study explores women’s experiences throughout their participation in the Small Steps for Big Changes lifestyle counseling program, a community-based exercise intervention for individuals who are living with prediabetes. Interviews with participating women aim to provide an understanding of women’s attitudes, beliefs, experiences and behaviours related to engaging in a lifestyle community program. This will help better understand the facilitators and barriers to intervention engagement and completion, as well as exercise adherence over the course of one year.

Want to learn more? Email postdoctoral fellow Dr. Corliss Bean


  

Factors that influence quantity and quality of physical activity participation among people with spinal cord injury who don’t use a wheelchair

Sarah Lawrason, PhD student at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) and Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis, Professor at UBCO, are conducting a study aimed at understanding factors that influence the quality and quantity of physical activity for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who ambulate/walk more often than not. The purpose of this study is to develop resources for people with SCI who are ambulatory to participate in quality physical activity.

For more information, see the SCI Action Group Canada website.


  

Understanding How Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Approaches Support the Implementation of Health Research

This study is examining research teams over time who are using IKT approaches. We aim to understand research partnerships and the ways IKT supports knowledge user engagement as well as the implementation of health research. Findings from this research can be used to support the establishment of quality research partnerships that close the gap between research and implementation.

Want to learn more? Email postdoctoral fellow Dr. Miranda Cary.