Research Interests

My program of research aims to explore the relationships between people and technology within healthcare and educational contexts. My passion for technology is expressed in two streams: Health Informatics and Technology-Enhanced Learning

• Digital health, mHealth (apps, websites), health informatics, consumer informatics, infodemiology (social media research) user user-centred design, and participatory design

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• Artificial intelligence and the use of LLM (Large Language Models) in healthcare and research

• Technology-enabled and enhanced learning in nursing education (Virtual Simulations and escape rooms)

• Population health (health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management (stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, amputation, and dementia)

• Psychosocial and mental health (caregivers’ burnout, spousal relationship, and stigma) 

Past projects and research experience

PPD Social Media Research Projects: 

Projects 

Using YouTube Comments Data to explore social support for Postpartum Depression: An Infodemiology Study

Using Machine Learning in Augmenting Thematic Analysis in Social Media Research 

Thompson Rivers University | 2023 to 2024

My Role: Principal investigator 

Funding: Internal Research Fund (5,000)

RAs: 

Ahsan Mollani, Master of Science in Data Science, TRU

Jasjot Kaur, Bachelor of Science in  Nursing, University of Calgary  

Sourajita Panda, Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Human Resource Management, TRU 

Project: Exploring Novel Approaches to Embrace Complexity in Healthcare Among Undergraduate Nursing Students| Thompson Rivers University | 2023 to date 

My Role: Principal investigator

Funding: TRU Instructional Innovation Grant (5,000)

RA: Harpreet Kaur, Master of Nursing, TRU

Project: Using Twitter to Understand Dementia Discourse and Awareness Strategies During the World’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month | Thompson Rivers University | 2023

PI: Dr. Bacsu - Tier II Canada Research Chair in Nursing and Population Health

My Role: Co-investigator

Funding: Internal Research Fund (5,000)

UX/UI Postdoctoral Research Fellow- Mitacs Accelerate Intern 

TrustSphere: An Integrated Secure Health Platform 

TrustSphere is a multimillion digital health project that is led by academia (University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Victoria and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute) in collaboration with technology industries (Careteam Technologies, Secure Key, IDENTOS, Smile CDR, and MedStack) funded by Canadian technology supercluster, Mitacs and UBC. This project aims to empower Canadians through a trustworthy health platform that enables them to manage their health data and participate in research while also offering Healthcare Providers a framework that supports collaborative care and personalization of healthcare delivery.

• Lead the usability testing session blocks for the TrustSphere project. Each block included participants’ recruitment, scheduling of participants, facilitators and notetakers, sessions hosting/recording, synthesis of findings etc.

• Acted as a moderator and note-taker for the usability testing sessions.

• Transcribed and analyzed usability testing data using NVivo qualitative software.   

• Developed instruments to evaluate the usability of the pilot project launching in January 2022

• Developed newsletter for healthcare providers and patients/families

• Contributed to the Diabetes Canada grant application process and was listed as a collaborator on the grant. 

• Participated in ongoing REB (Research Ethics Board) amendments.

• Applied for Clinical & Translational Research Seed Grant Award to further advance my skills in the area of clinical informatics research, project management and mentorship. 

• Mentor students/trainees/research assistants from the faculty of medicine and computer science department.

• Participate in project-related meetings with academia and industry partners to discuss ongoing issues and to contribute to project-related decision making such as project microsite development; data storage and transfer; data privacy and governance; data ownership and transparency; data analytics and visualization; and FAQs and support system development.

• Support other ongoing diabetes digital health projects such as Diabetes Transformation Project (DTP), Learn Diabetes, and BC Pediatric Diabetes Registry (BC-PDR)

• Supervisors: Dr. Shazhan Amed (UBC), Dr. Elizabeth Borycki (UVic), Andre Kushniruk (UVic) and Marc Baumgartner/Lisa Taniguchi (Careteam Technologies).

Research Assistant |University of Calgary, Canada | 2020-2022

Project: Angelman Syndrome Natural History Study

This is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) funded study with sites across the United States and Canada including the primary site Boston Children's Hospital. Massecuites, USA. The goal of this study is to conduct a prospective, longitudinal natural history study of children and adults with Angelman Syndrome using investigator-observed and parent-reported outcome measures to obtain data that will be useful for future clinical trials. For more details click here  

Collaborate with the Calgary, Canada site PI (Dr. Billie AU) and co-investigators (Dr. Kara Murias/Dr. Kim Smyth) and with the primary site (Boston Children's Hospital. Massecuites, USA) for the smooth running of the project.

Apply for ethics amendments.

Recruit and schedule participants for the study visits

Enter study data using Studytrax and REDCap

Manage project finance i-e claiming and tracking for visit payments

Doctoral Research Projects

Co-Development of an e-Resource to Support Parents’ Search for Mobile Apps.

Manuscript-based dissertation (published four papers and presented the doctoral work at four national and international conferences). 

• Qualitative- Participatory design, used NVivo for thematic analysis.

• Conducted literature review, mobile app review, focus group interviews, and Webpage designing sessions.

• Developed recruiting material including a Facebook page.

• Supervisors: Dr. L. Duffett-Leger, Associate Professor, University of Calgary Dr. N. Letourneau, Professor, University of Calgary and Dr. E. Stroulia, Professor, University of Alberta

• External examiner: Dr. J. Lee, Director, Data Intelligence for Health Lab, University of Calgary and Dr. R. Booth, Associate Professor, Western University, Ontario

Development of a Stroke Awareness Application and its Impact on Long-Term Retention of Stroke Knowledge

• Applied for CIHR Doctoral Award and Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

• Conducted stroke app review and presented at a European stroke conference. 

• Initiated and maintained a Facebook page to integrate social media in disseminating stroke information.

• Designed app Mockups.

• Supervisors: Dr. Green, Dr. Eweshan, Dr. Chaudhry, Dr. Stroulia

Master’s Research Projects

Amputation Associated Stressors and Couple’s Adjustment

• Quantitative- Descriptive Correlational design, used SPSS to run Non-parametric tests: Spearman’s rho and the Mann Whitney U test.

• Administered and scored Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS);

• Perceived Social Stigma Scale (PSSS); Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS); Brief Pain Inventory (BPI); Adaptation to Disability Scale-Revised (ADS-R) and Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS)

• Supervisors: Dr. Green, Dr. Rankin, Dr. Dukelow; External examiner: Dr. Lashewicz

Understanding Couples' Marital Satisfaction in the Context of Phantom Limb Pain:  A Gadamerian Hermeneutic Study.

• Completed as a part of qualitative course assignment:  One on one couple interview

• Presented at a Nursing Conference in Windsor, Ontario.

Graduate Research Assistant |University of Calgary, Canada | 2011-2015

My Supervisor Dr.  Theresa Green exposed me to eight national, international (India and China) and multisite research projects in the areas of chronic disease management, effects of chronic disease on spousal relationships and caregiving, resources development, health professionals’ perspectives, advance care planning, and palliative care. I worked with her on the following studies:

Advance Care Planning in Stroke- Qualitative study focused on understanding the process of advance care planning between health professionals and post-stroke patients.

Early Onset Dementia- Caregiver focused qualitative study.

Spousal Relationships and Neurobehavioural Sequelae Post Mild Stroke (MISTII)- Determined the influence of stroke on marital relationships and caregiving (Funded by Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canada).

Timing it Right Stroke Family Support Program (TIRSFSP)- This multi-site mixed-method study aimed at delivering timely post-stroke education to meet caregivers’ evolving needs and to optimize caregiver outcomes.  

You Call-We Call- RCT to compare a multimodal intervention WE CALL (study initiated informational support) versus a passive intervention YOU CALL (participant can contact a resource person) in individuals with stroke. Funded by Canadian Stroke Network, CIHR.  

Sex Differences in Acute Stroke- India and China- Two separate studies at the international level were conducted on a cohort of patients in Kolkata, and New Delhi, India, and Changchun City, China to rule out sex differences in presentation, severity, and management of stroke.

Bringing Palliative Care into Stroke Best Practices- Generated best practice recommendations for palliative care in stroke patients. 

Responsibilities as a research assistant and graduate student included:

• Applied for REB (Research Ethics Board) approval.

• Developed recruitment material (consent forms, poster, Facebook page) and demographic form.

• Screened, recruited and enrolled study participants.

• Administered surveys, and conducted literature/app reviews, individual/ focus group interviews, and website design sessions.

• Scored surveys and transcribed interviews.

• Performed analysis using SPSS, NVivo software, MS Excel.

• Performed study scheduling; tracked patient participation.

• Collaborated with principal investigator and research team to meet deadlines and expectations.

• Applied for scholarships and research grants (CIHR and Vanier).  

• Produced written, tabular, and visual materials such as abstracts, proposals, bibliographies, PowerPoint presentations, study poster, research reports, etc.

• Developed and maintained research databases.

• Provided general office support including typing, photocopying, mailing, faxing, distributing letters, etc.

• Handled and protected confidential and sensitive data with integrity.

Research Project Volunteer | Alberta Centre for Active Living | 2010-2011

Pyara Dil (Love Your Heart): Indo Asian Cardiovascular Health Awareness and Management Study: Aimed at screening cardiovascular risks among the Indo Asian population residing in Calgary and developing community resources to create awareness and to support the management of chronic conditions.

• My role was to run screening clinics at several community locations including religious places. My team and I screened participants for cardiovascular risk factors by assessing their BP, blood sugar, and waist level; provided counseling in local languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, and Kachi; and referred them to the Multicultural resources based on their risk level.   

Research Assistant | Aga khan University Hospital | 2002-2004

Needle Stick Injuries in Healthcare Professionals in Pakistan: Mixed method study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of needle stick injuries among healthcare professionals.

• My responsibilities were administering and scoring surveys, data entry and conducting semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals.

Research Nurse | Foothills Medical Center | 2011

Clazosentan to Overcome Neurological Ischemia and Infarct Occurring after

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (CONSCIOUS-2) Study: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study assessed the efficacy and safety of clazosentan, in preventing vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

• Participated in pre, mid, and post neurological assessments of clients included in the drug trial.