Margaret Harrison - ICEBeRG / GReBECI

Biography

Dr. Harrison’s research covers a spectrum of complex populations, including chronic wounds, stroke, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Her research program with complex health populations has a dual focus: continuity of care and evidence-based practice. Complex populations are groups characterized by multiple health challenges with one or more chronic condition often requiring care in more than one health sector. The constellation of complexity, along with the number and type of health provider transitions, puts these individuals at high risk for discontinuity. C ontinuity involves 3 major inter-sectoral components, namely care activities, linkages and the balance of caregiving between individuals/families and professional providers. Evidence-based practice is an area of knowledge translation and currently a key health services focus. Dr. Harrison’s research has been aimed at advancing and operationalizing this concept in health care settings, with a particular focus on nursing practice. Themes of continuity and knowledge translation are intertwined. Knowledge translation at the point of care directs care processes to ensure consistency based on best practice. This organization of clinical care, along with the health service delivery model supporting practice based on evidence is, is ultimately, an intervention for continuity. It drives reorganization by providing a common script for “what ought to be done”.

Dr. Harrison’s research has been supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Council (SSHRC). At the international level, she has established collaborative relationships with investigators at York University and Thames Valley University in the UK, the Joanna Briggs Institute (AUS), the Cochrane Wounds Group, and is a founding member of the Nursing International Collaboration for Evidence-based Implementation and Research of Guidelines (NICEBIRG).

Harrison, M.B. , Logan, J., Joseph, L. & Graham, I.D. &. (1998). Quality Improvement, Research and Evidence-Based Practice: 5 Years Experience with Pressure Ulcers. Evidence-Based Nursing, 1(4), 108-110..
Burke, S., Kauffmann, E., Costello, E., Wiskin, N., & Harrison, M.B.(1998). Stressors in Families with a Child with a Chronic Condition: Validation of a Clinically-Tested, Research-Based Framework. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 30(1), 71-96.

Harrison, M.B. , Toman, C., & Logan, J. (1998). Hospital to Home Evidence-based Education for Congestive Heart Failure. The Canadian Nurse/L'Infirmière Canadienne, 9(4), 36-42.

Kauffmann, E., Harrison, M.B., Burke, S. & Wong, C. "Stress-point interventions for Parents of Hospitalized Children With Chronic Health Conditions". Pediatric Nursing, (in press).

Harrison, MB, Juniper, EF, Mitchell-Dicenso, A. "Quality of Life as an Outcome in Nursing Research" Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, vol 28, No 3, 1996, p. 49-68.

Harrison MB ., Toman, C., Logan, Jo. "Evidence-based patient education in Congestive Heart Failure". The Canadian Nurse Journal, vol 92, No 10, November 1996. (Abstract).

Harrison, MB, Toman, C. & Logan, J. "Partners in Care for Congestive Heart Failure"©, Edition two. Monograph, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Continuity of Care Studies, University of Ottawa, May 1996.

Burke S., Kauffmann E., Costello E., Wiskin N., & Harrison, MB. "Stressors in Families with a Child with a Chronic Condition: Validation of a Clinically-Tested, Research-Based Framework" in press Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.

Harrison MB ., Wells G., Fisher A., & Prince M. "Practice Guidelines: Evaluating the Evidence for the Prediction and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers" Journal of Applied Nursing Research, vol 9, No 1. 1996.

Fisher, A., Denis N., Harrison, M.B., McNamee M., Friedberg E., & Wells G. "Quality Management in Skin Care: Understanding the Problem of Pressure Ulcers", Canadian Journal of Quality in Health Care, vol 13, No 1, March 1996, p. 4-11.

Harrison MB ., & VandenBerg R. "RNAO Membership: Relationship to General Nursing Resource Data" Registered Nurse, Journal of Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, vol 7, No. 2, 1995, p.14-23-24.

Harrison MB. "Nursing Care: Measuring The Impact", Registered Nurse, Journal of Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, vol 6 No 2, April 1994, p. 27-28.

Harrison MB. , Stephenson D., & Burchett.: "Children with Central Lines: Evidence Based Practice" The Canadian Nurse/L'Infirmière Canadienne, vol 89, No 1, Jan. 1993 p.18-20.