Meaghan Sims
Biographic Data
| ID | 171359 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Meaghan Sims |
| GIVEN NAMES | Meaghan |
| FAMILY NAME | Sims |
| SIGNATURE | SIMS M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Nova Scotia Health Authority |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4477-3833 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 15 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Integration into the Workforce and Community
Background: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified healthcare provider shortages. In Canada, multipronged strategies have been implemented to strengthen the nursing workforce; one widely implemented approach includes the expedited integration of internationally educated nurses (IENs). In 2022, the province of Nova Scotia (NS) collaborated with intersectoral partners to support the recruitment and retention of internationally educated nurse…
Exploring the barriers and facilitators of continuous quality improvement for health promotion within healthcare food environments
Continuous quality improvement (CQI) has become a widely accepted approach to optimize health services while lowering healthcare costs (Quintuple Aim) and has expanded from clinical interventions to health promotion. Retail food environments (e.g. hospital cafeterias, cafes) are of interest given the increased adoption of healthy eating policies and interventions to influence diet (e.g. price, promotion, placement and product). However, there is …
Becoming Interprofessional
Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPC) occurs when health professions work collaboratively to improve quality of care and enhance patient outcomes. Yet myriad challenges to enacting collaborative practice exist. Interprofessional education for collaborative practice (IPECP) is foundational for promoting collaboration among health professions, yet there is a gap in understanding how students perceive their readiness for IPC and how early s…
Understanding policy supports for Team-Based primary healthcare models
Background: Industrialized countries are facing pressure to address the complexity of populations who experience high needs with significant costs to the health system. Interprofessional team-based care (TBC) is an essential component of integrated care strategies to respond to these complex needs. However, TBC models operate within complex policy environments that can facilitate or constrain their activities. The main goal of this project is to …
Exploring health equity integration among health service and delivery systems in Nova Scotia
Our findings suggest that health equity integration needs to be prioritized within the health service and delivery system within Nova Scotia and identifies possible strategies for implementation. Appropriate measures, resources and partnerships need to be put in place to support health equity integration following the introduction of the Health Equity Framework, which was viewed as a key driver for action. Greater diversity within health system l…
There's an Etiquette to Zoom That's Not Really Present In-Person
Virtual spaces that allow parents in the postpartum period to connect, support each other, and exchange information have been increasing in popularity. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents had to rely on virtual platforms as a primary means to connect with others and attend to their postpartum health. This study explored virtual postpartum support sessions through the web-based videoconferencing software, Zoom. Guided by feminist poststructur…
Participatory Evaluation of a Direct Payment Program for Equity in Dementia Care in Nova Scotia, Canada
Nova Scotia's Supportive Care Program (SCP) is an individualized funding program that provides funds for people living with dementia (PLWD) or acquired brain injuries to purchase basic home care services such as personal care, respite, cleaning and cooking. The SCP has the potential to address the Quintuple Aim of enhancing care experience, improving population health, reducing costs, improving provider experience and improving health equity, yet…
Equity in Changes to Dementia Care in the Community during the First Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic in High Income Countries
During COVID-19, emergency measures, such as physical distancing and program restrictions, have reduced community-based supports for PLWD and their caregivers. Consequently, reductions in dementia services and resources have contributed to existing health inequities in this population. Academic databases were searched in July 2020. Grey literature was retrieved using the CADTH Grey Matters tool. Articles from 2000 to 2020 in English and from high…
Barriers to and strategies to address Covid-19 testing hesitancy
Various barriers to COVID-19 testing and strategies for mitigating these barriers were identified. Further research to test the efficacy of these strategies is needed to better support testing for COVID-19 by addressing testing hesitancy as part of the broader COVID-19 public health response
Fare well to Nova Scotia? Public health investments remain chronically underfunded
Inspired by Fiset-Laniel et al.'s (2020) article entitled "Public health investments: neglect or wilful omission? Historical trends in Quebec and implications for Canada", we assessed public health investments since the establishment of the Nova Scotia provincial health authority in 2015. We analyzed Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness budgets from 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 and observed that less than 1% of funding was budgeted for public …
The cost and affordability of growing and feeding a baby in Nova Scotia
Mothering at the Intersection of Marginality
Breastfeeding is represented to support healthy body weight and food security. However, breastfeeding may be negatively impacted by high maternal body weight and income-related food insecurity. Guided by feminist poststructural methodology, this study explored breastfeeding beliefs and practices among women from Nova Scotia, Canada, identifying as income-related food insecure and overweight. Participants who were pregnant for the first time and i…
Stories like Tara’s
Strengthening the health system through novel population and public health fellowships in Canada
Maternal Knowing and Social Networks
The postpartum period is an exciting yet stressful time for first-time mothers, and although the experience may vary, all mothers need support during this crucial period. In Canada, there has been a shift for universal postpartum services to be offered predominantly online. However, due to a paucity of literature, it is difficult to determine the degree to which mothers' needs are being effectively addressed. The aim of this study was to examine …
Privileging physical activity over healthy eating
Physical activity and healthy eating have long been promoted as key strategies in tackling the 'wicked problem' of obesity. Both practices are assumed to go hand-in-hand, but whether one dominates the other has largely remained unexamined. Moreover, time, a dimension beyond the socio-ecological model, is a critical factor of families' busy lives, but related challenges are rarely articulated. We conducted 47 family interviews as part of a mixed m…
Insights from the evaluation of a provincial healthy eating strategy in Nova Scotia, Canada
Objective Healthy Eating Nova Scotia represents the first provincial comprehensive healthy eating strategy in Canada and a strategy that is framed within a population-health model. Five years after strategy launch, our objective was to evaluate Healthy Eating Nova Scotia to determine perceptions of strategy implementation and strategy outputs. The focus of the current paper is on the findings of this evaluation. Design We conducted an evaluation …
Lessons Learned from the Implementation of a Provincial Breastfeeding Policy in Nova Scotia, Canada and the Implications for Childhood Obesity Prevention
Healthy public policy plays a central role in creating environments that are supportive of health. Breastfeeding, widely supported as the optimal mode for infant feeding, is a critical factor in promoting infant health. In 2005, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia introduced a provincial breastfeeding policy. This paper describes the process and outcomes of an evaluation into the implementation of the policy. This evaluation comprised focus grou…
Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Youth in Rural, Suburban and Urban Neighbourhood Types
Maternal Knowing and Social Networks
The postpartum period is an exciting yet stressful time for first-time mothers, and although the experience may vary, all mothers need support during this crucial period. In Canada, there has been a shift for universal postpartum services to be offered predominantly online. However, due to a paucity of literature, it is difficult to determine the degree to which mothers' needs are being effectively addressed. The aim of this study was to examine …
The cost and affordability of growing and feeding a baby in Nova Scotia
Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Youth in Rural, Suburban and Urban Neighbourhood Types
Fare well to Nova Scotia? Public health investments remain chronically underfunded
Inspired by Fiset-Laniel et al.'s (2020) article entitled "Public health investments: neglect or wilful omission? Historical trends in Quebec and implications for Canada", we assessed public health investments since the establishment of the Nova Scotia provincial health authority in 2015. We analyzed Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness budgets from 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 and observed that less than 1% of funding was budgeted for public …
Stories like Tara’s
Strengthening the health system through novel population and public health fellowships in Canada
Lessons Learned from the Implementation of a Provincial Breastfeeding Policy in Nova Scotia, Canada and the Implications for Childhood Obesity Prevention
Healthy public policy plays a central role in creating environments that are supportive of health. Breastfeeding, widely supported as the optimal mode for infant feeding, is a critical factor in promoting infant health. In 2005, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia introduced a provincial breastfeeding policy. This paper describes the process and outcomes of an evaluation into the implementation of the policy. This evaluation comprised focus grou…
Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Youth in Rural, Suburban and Urban Neighbourhood Types
Insights from the evaluation of a provincial healthy eating strategy in Nova Scotia, Canada
Objective Healthy Eating Nova Scotia represents the first provincial comprehensive healthy eating strategy in Canada and a strategy that is framed within a population-health model. Five years after strategy launch, our objective was to evaluate Healthy Eating Nova Scotia to determine perceptions of strategy implementation and strategy outputs. The focus of the current paper is on the findings of this evaluation. Design We conducted an evaluation …
Privileging physical activity over healthy eating
Physical activity and healthy eating have long been promoted as key strategies in tackling the 'wicked problem' of obesity. Both practices are assumed to go hand-in-hand, but whether one dominates the other has largely remained unexamined. Moreover, time, a dimension beyond the socio-ecological model, is a critical factor of families' busy lives, but related challenges are rarely articulated. We conducted 47 family interviews as part of a mixed m…
Maternal Knowing and Social Networks
The postpartum period is an exciting yet stressful time for first-time mothers, and although the experience may vary, all mothers need support during this crucial period. In Canada, there has been a shift for universal postpartum services to be offered predominantly online. However, due to a paucity of literature, it is difficult to determine the degree to which mothers' needs are being effectively addressed. The aim of this study was to examine …
Stories like Tara’s
Strengthening the health system through novel population and public health fellowships in Canada
The cost and affordability of growing and feeding a baby in Nova Scotia
Mothering at the Intersection of Marginality
Breastfeeding is represented to support healthy body weight and food security. However, breastfeeding may be negatively impacted by high maternal body weight and income-related food insecurity. Guided by feminist poststructural methodology, this study explored breastfeeding beliefs and practices among women from Nova Scotia, Canada, identifying as income-related food insecure and overweight. Participants who were pregnant for the first time and i…
Fare well to Nova Scotia? Public health investments remain chronically underfunded
Inspired by Fiset-Laniel et al.'s (2020) article entitled "Public health investments: neglect or wilful omission? Historical trends in Quebec and implications for Canada", we assessed public health investments since the establishment of the Nova Scotia provincial health authority in 2015. We analyzed Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness budgets from 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 and observed that less than 1% of funding was budgeted for public …
Equity in Changes to Dementia Care in the Community during the First Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic in High Income Countries
During COVID-19, emergency measures, such as physical distancing and program restrictions, have reduced community-based supports for PLWD and their caregivers. Consequently, reductions in dementia services and resources have contributed to existing health inequities in this population. Academic databases were searched in July 2020. Grey literature was retrieved using the CADTH Grey Matters tool. Articles from 2000 to 2020 in English and from high…
Barriers to and strategies to address Covid-19 testing hesitancy
Various barriers to COVID-19 testing and strategies for mitigating these barriers were identified. Further research to test the efficacy of these strategies is needed to better support testing for COVID-19 by addressing testing hesitancy as part of the broader COVID-19 public health response
There's an Etiquette to Zoom That's Not Really Present In-Person
Virtual spaces that allow parents in the postpartum period to connect, support each other, and exchange information have been increasing in popularity. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents had to rely on virtual platforms as a primary means to connect with others and attend to their postpartum health. This study explored virtual postpartum support sessions through the web-based videoconferencing software, Zoom. Guided by feminist poststructur…
Participatory Evaluation of a Direct Payment Program for Equity in Dementia Care in Nova Scotia, Canada
Nova Scotia's Supportive Care Program (SCP) is an individualized funding program that provides funds for people living with dementia (PLWD) or acquired brain injuries to purchase basic home care services such as personal care, respite, cleaning and cooking. The SCP has the potential to address the Quintuple Aim of enhancing care experience, improving population health, reducing costs, improving provider experience and improving health equity, yet…
Exploring health equity integration among health service and delivery systems in Nova Scotia
Our findings suggest that health equity integration needs to be prioritized within the health service and delivery system within Nova Scotia and identifies possible strategies for implementation. Appropriate measures, resources and partnerships need to be put in place to support health equity integration following the introduction of the Health Equity Framework, which was viewed as a key driver for action. Greater diversity within health system l…
Exploring the barriers and facilitators of continuous quality improvement for health promotion within healthcare food environments
Continuous quality improvement (CQI) has become a widely accepted approach to optimize health services while lowering healthcare costs (Quintuple Aim) and has expanded from clinical interventions to health promotion. Retail food environments (e.g. hospital cafeterias, cafes) are of interest given the increased adoption of healthy eating policies and interventions to influence diet (e.g. price, promotion, placement and product). However, there is …
Becoming Interprofessional
Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPC) occurs when health professions work collaboratively to improve quality of care and enhance patient outcomes. Yet myriad challenges to enacting collaborative practice exist. Interprofessional education for collaborative practice (IPECP) is foundational for promoting collaboration among health professions, yet there is a gap in understanding how students perceive their readiness for IPC and how early s…
Understanding policy supports for Team-Based primary healthcare models
Background: Industrialized countries are facing pressure to address the complexity of populations who experience high needs with significant costs to the health system. Interprofessional team-based care (TBC) is an essential component of integrated care strategies to respond to these complex needs. However, TBC models operate within complex policy environments that can facilitate or constrain their activities. The main goal of this project is to …
Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Integration into the Workforce and Community
Background: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified healthcare provider shortages. In Canada, multipronged strategies have been implemented to strengthen the nursing workforce; one widely implemented approach includes the expedited integration of internationally educated nurses (IENs). In 2022, the province of Nova Scotia (NS) collaborated with intersectoral partners to support the recruitment and retention of internationally educated nurse…
Medicine (17 works) · Political science (12 works) · Environmental health (11 works) · Nursing (11 works) · Population (11 works) · Business (9 works) · Psychology (9 works) · Nova scotia (8 works) · Public health (8 works) · Sociology (8 works)