Recent Publications

 
 

Efficacy of a Commercial Weight Management Program Compared
With a Do-It-Yourself Approach
A Randomized Clinical Trial

In this 3-country randomized clinical trial that included 373 adults, reductions in weight were significantly greater at both 3 and 12 months for participants in the commercial weight management program, which included reduced requirements for dietary self-monitoring, than for participants using the do-it-yourself approach.

PERSISTENCE OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND RISK OF INCIDENT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETES: RESULTS FROM THE REGARDS STUDY

This new article highlights some important secondary outcomes of the REGARDS trial, an 11-year prospective cohort study (N=30,000) examining the impact of untreated depression on CV risk (e.g., stroke). In this study, Dr. Lutes and colleagues’ found that untreated depression in those without diabetes increased risk of stroke, particularly in black patients.

THE INFLUENCE OF SEX AND MATURATION ON CAROTID AND VERTEBRAL ARTERY HEMODYNAMICS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH FREE-LIVING (IN)ACTIVITY IN 6–17-YEAR-OLDS

Our findings suggest that habitual sedentary behavior may influence cervical artery hemodynamics in youth, independent of physical activity, maturation, and sex.

Ongoing Projects

 

SMALL CHANGES IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS (PSA) – A COMMUNITY-BASED ADAPTATION OF THE SMALL CHANGES BEHAVIOURAL WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENT APPROACH FOR PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS WITH COMORBID OBESITY

Summary: The purpose of the Small Changes in PsA study is to develop and test a small-changes behavioral weight loss approach for patients with PsA and obesity. This two-part study consists of a (1) a qualitative investigation to explore barriers and facilitators to behavioural weight loss treatment among patients with PsA and obesity, and (2) a randomized controlled trial to test whether patients who participate in the behavioural weight loss program are more likely to lose weight compared with those who receive treatment as usual from their community rheumatology clinic.

This study is being done in collaboration with our principle investigators, Dr. Michelle Teo and Dr. Tavis Campbell.

If you have any questions about this study, please contact Tamara Williamson (tamara.williamson@ucalgary.ca) or Sydney Seidel (sydney.seidel@ucalgary.ca).

Status: Active

 

COVID CHRONICLES: DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A VACCINE CONFIDENCE DIGITAL APP FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Summary: Our primary purpose is to evaluate the implementation of STOP COVID!, a digital-based intervention designed to improve vaccine confidence and likelihood of uptake in young adults (18-29 years). This project has two primary aims: (1) to understand the causes and contributing factors to vaccine hesitancy and confidence in young adults, and; (2) to co-design, implement and evaluate COVID Chronicles, a digital health intervention to improve vaccine confidence.

Funding for this project was provided the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Operating Grant.

Status: Active

 

EMINENCE CLUSTER: A COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CLUSTER ANALYSIS

Dr. Lesley Lutes is working in collaboration with 10 other faculty members at UBC Okanagan to create a cluster that draws upon members’ expertise and identifies opportunities to design, implement and evaluate interventions that address community-identified health priorities. The CORE team is specifically focusing on mental health and well-being priorities.

Status: Active

BEHAVIOURAL WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND OBESITY IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION – THE BE-WEL IN CR-AF STUDY

Summary: The purpose of the BE-WEL in CR-AF study is to develop and test a small-changes behavioral weight loss approach for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and obesity attending a cardiac rehabilitation program. This two-part study consists of a (1) a qualitative investigation to explore barriers and facilitators to behavioural weight loss treatment among patients with AF and obesity, and (2) a randomized controlled trial to test whether patients who receive the behavioural weight loss component during their cardiac rehabilitation program, are more likely to lose 10% of their body weight than those who do cardiac rehab alone.

Any adults with diagnosed atrial fibrillation and a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more are eligible to participate.

To find out more about this study, visit: https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451369&lang=en

Status: Active

 

THE IPROTECT STUDY: DEVELOPING AND TESTING AN ONLINE INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE THE UPTAKE AND MAINTENANCE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOURS AGAINST COVID-19

Summary: Funding for this project was received by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities Grant. The purpose of this project is to design, develop, and test a brief web-based intervention to improve adherence to personal protective behaviours related to COVID-19 prevention among the Canadian general population, with a focus on physical distancing, face masks and vaccination, and to examine the differential effect of this approach among young adults (25 and younger) and males who are at higher risk for non-adherence to protective behaviours.

This study is in its early stages, please contact Chelsea Moran (chelsea.moran1@ucalgary.ca) or Sydney Seidel (sydney.seidel@ucalgary.ca) for any questions.

Status: Active

 

GLENVALLEY INTEGRATED PRIMARY CARE PILOT PROJECT

The proposed research will be a translational, pilot research aimed at (1) qualitatively testing the feasibility of the B Well program at a primary care network within Interior Health's catchment and (2) tracking quantitative outcomes on mental and physiological health, in addition to systemic factors like healthcare utility.

Status: Preliminary

Our Programs

The PCPsych Program

This proposal requests that the government work in partnership with UBCO and BCPA to hire, train, and embed 20 full time equivalent (FTE) Psychologists within the Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in our province over the next 3 years.

PCPsychs will be an integrated part of the care team providing care to patients with complex medical, mental, and behavioural health needs.

Learn more

ENHANCE Program

The ENHANCE Program (Enduring happiness and continued self-enhancement) is designed to teach social skills, ways of thinking, and understanding one’s own values and strengths as means of increasing life satisfaction, meaning, and enjoyment of life, and as well as reducing stress and depression.

Recently, the program was adapted for improving individuals health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

ENHANCE Program

Recently Completed Projects

 

INTERNET-BASED SMALL CHANGES FOR YOUNG ADULTS’ LIFE LONGEVITY AND WEIGHT HEALTH: THE ISCALE TRIAL

Summary: The purpose of the iSCALE Trial is to develop and evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a self-guided, online-delivered, podcast-augmented version of the Small Changes intervention for young adult weight management.

Status: Completed - primary manuscript in preparation

 

ENHANCE COVID-19 RCT

ENHANCE COVID-19 is utilizing the ENHANCE program, an evidence-based well-being program, in order to improve subjective well-being during the pandemic. This is a 12 session program delivered in an online format.

Status: Completed - Primary manuscript in preparation

 

GRADUATE TRAINING IN INTEGRATED PRIMARY CARE STUDY

Graduate students enrolled in professional psychology programs in Canada are invited to participate in a newly designed training on integrated primary care. This study aims to evaluate a brief online training curriculum on integrated primary care which has been adapted from the American Psychology Association’s, Society for Health Psychology’s (Division 38) foundational training.

Status: Completed - Primary manuscript in preparation

 

INSPIRE TRIAL

INSPIRE is a one-year, randomized controlled trial comparing a new weight loss approach that focuses on improving well-being in addition to changes in nutrition and physical activity against an existing evidence-based approach.

Status: Completed - Primary manuscript in preparation

 

INTERNATIONAL WEIGHT LOSS TRIAL

The International Weight Loss Trial is an international multi-site trial comparing a commercial weight loss program to a do-it-yourself approach for individuals with overweight or obesity.

https://www.weightlosstrial.org/

Status: Completed - Primary outcome manuscript in preparation

 

ENHANCE 2.0: ENDURING HAPPINESS AND CONTINUED SELF-ENHANCEMENT

ENHANCE 2.0 is a randomized controlled trial comparing the ENHANCE well-being program to a gold-standard self-help work book (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction).

Status: Completed - Primary outcome manuscript in preparation