Heather Orpana
Biographic Data
| ID | 4889193 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Heather Orpana |
| GIVEN NAMES | Heather |
| FAMILY NAME | Orpana |
| SIGNATURE | ORPANA H |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Ottawa |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9982-981X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 21 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Are quantitative targets for social network size and interaction frequency appropriate for public health guidelines on social connection? Evidence from loneliness and related mental health outcomes
Introduction Public health guidelines for social connection seek to address loneliness and its health consequences at the population level. Although some approaches suggest specific numeric targets (e.g., frequency of social interaction), the empirical basis for these thresholds remains unclear. We aimed to identify such thresholds for loneliness and related mental health outcomes and test their stability across strata of mental health. Methods W…
Mental Health and Cognitive Outcomes in Patients Six Months After Testing Positive Compared with Matched Patients Testing Negative for Covid-19 in a Non-Hospitalized Sample: A Matched Retrospective Co…
We aimed to determine the mental health and cognitive outcomes at six months in people who had not been hospitalized with COVID-19 and who had tested positive or negative for COVID-19 in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Participants were matched 1:1 six months following their COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test. X2, t -test, and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to compare self-report and observer-rated mental health and cognitive outcomes between …
Tracing the undercurrents: A scoping review of the lifestyle drift concept
Lifestyle drift refers to the tendency for health interventions that are initially intended to address upstream social determinants of health to shift focus toward downstream efforts targeting individual behaviours. Although increasingly cited in the literature, as far as we are aware, no scoping or systematic reviews that examine the concept of lifestyle drift exist. The objective of this scoping review is to summarize the existing literature on…
Prevention of alcohol-related suicide: A rapid review
Suicide remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 700,000 suicide deaths per year. The World Health Organization identifies reducing alcohol use as one component of comprehensive approaches to suicide prevention. This paper conducted a rapid review of the evidence on alcohol-related suicide prevention interventions. PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for articles related to alcohol, suicide, prevention, and polici…
A Dynamic Model of Opioid Overdose Deaths in Canada during the Co-Occurring Opioid Overdose Crisis and Covid-19 Pandemic
With over 40,000 opioid-related overdose deaths between January 2016 and June 2023, the opioid-overdose crisis is a significant public health concern for Canada. The opioid crisis arose from a complex system involving prescription opioid use, the use of prescription opioids not as prescribed, and non-medical opioid use. The increasing presence of fentanyl and its analogues in the illegal drugs supply has been an important driver of the crisis. In…
Neonatal abstinence syndrome hospitalizations in Canada: A descriptive study
The number and rate of NAS hospitalizations in Canada increased during the study, and some infants required a significant amount of specialized healthcare. Additional research is required to determine what supports and education for pregnant people can reduce the incidence of NAS hospitalizations
Prevalence of Positive Mental Health and Associated Factors Among Postpartum Women in Canada: Findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey
Our study demonstrated that availability of maternal support, self-rated physical health and absence of symptoms of PPD or GAD were associated with PMH among postpartum women. As physical health had the strongest association with mental health, we encourage further examination of this relationship
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression among women in Canada: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey
This study highlights that a history of depression and good, fair, or poor physical health are associated with an increased odds of symptoms consistent with PPA and PPD, while other maternal support and sense of community belonging are associated with a decreased odds of these conditions
A life satisfaction approach to valuing the impact of health behaviours on subjective well-being
The SWB method holds promise as a method to monetize the value of a range of non-market goods, including healthy behaviours for which market values do not exist. The SWB method can be applied efficiently and cost-effectively using readily available survey data
Neighborhood Walkability and Body Mass Index Trajectories: Longitudinal Study of Canadians
Objectives. To assess the impact of neighborhood walkability on body mass index (BMI) trajectories of urban Canadians. Methods. Data are from Canada’s National Population Health Survey (n = 2935; biannual assessments 1994–2006). We measured walkability with the Walk Score. We modeled body mass index (BMI, defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters [kg/m 2 ]) trajectories as a function of Walk Score and sociodemograph…
Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index Categories: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
IMPORTANCE: Estimates of the relative mortality risks associated with normal weight, overweight, and obesity may help to inform decision making in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of reported hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality for overweight and obesity relative to normal weight in the general population. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases were searched through September 30, 2012, without l…
Trajectories of health-related quality of life by socio-economic status in a nationally representative Canadian cohort
BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity have been shown to follow a 'social gradient' in Canada and many other countries around the world. Comparatively little, however, is known about whether ageing amplifies, diminishes or sustains socio-economic inequalities in health. METHODS: Growth curve analysis of seven cycles of the Canadian National Population Health Survey (n=13,682) for adults aged 20 and older at baseline (1994/95). The outcome of intere…
Bodyweight, gender, and quality of life: A population-based longitudinal study
Health Risk Perceptions as Mediators of Socioeconomic Differentials in Health Behaviour
Differentials in health status and behaviour by socioeconomic status (SES) constitute a scientific and policy challenge. In this article, data from a national survey on Canadians' perceptions of population health risks were analysed to determine whether various types of health risk perceptions mediated SES differentials in health behaviour. As expected, health behaviours and risk perceptions both varied with SES. Results suggested a mediating rol…
The predictive validity of health-related quality of life measures: Mortality in a longitudinal population-based study
By Your Own Two Feet: Factors Associated with Active Transportation in Canada
By Your Own Two Feet: Factors Associated with Active Transportation in Canada
Health Risk Perceptions as Mediators of Socioeconomic Differentials in Health Behaviour
Differentials in health status and behaviour by socioeconomic status (SES) constitute a scientific and policy challenge. In this article, data from a national survey on Canadians' perceptions of population health risks were analysed to determine whether various types of health risk perceptions mediated SES differentials in health behaviour. As expected, health behaviours and risk perceptions both varied with SES. Results suggested a mediating rol…
Trajectories of health-related quality of life by socio-economic status in a nationally representative Canadian cohort
BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity have been shown to follow a 'social gradient' in Canada and many other countries around the world. Comparatively little, however, is known about whether ageing amplifies, diminishes or sustains socio-economic inequalities in health. METHODS: Growth curve analysis of seven cycles of the Canadian National Population Health Survey (n=13,682) for adults aged 20 and older at baseline (1994/95). The outcome of intere…
Neighborhood Walkability and Body Mass Index Trajectories: Longitudinal Study of Canadians
Objectives. To assess the impact of neighborhood walkability on body mass index (BMI) trajectories of urban Canadians. Methods. Data are from Canada’s National Population Health Survey (n = 2935; biannual assessments 1994–2006). We measured walkability with the Walk Score. We modeled body mass index (BMI, defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters [kg/m 2 ]) trajectories as a function of Walk Score and sociodemograph…
Neonatal abstinence syndrome hospitalizations in Canada: A descriptive study
The number and rate of NAS hospitalizations in Canada increased during the study, and some infants required a significant amount of specialized healthcare. Additional research is required to determine what supports and education for pregnant people can reduce the incidence of NAS hospitalizations
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression among women in Canada: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey
This study highlights that a history of depression and good, fair, or poor physical health are associated with an increased odds of symptoms consistent with PPA and PPD, while other maternal support and sense of community belonging are associated with a decreased odds of these conditions
The predictive validity of health-related quality of life measures: Mortality in a longitudinal population-based study
By Your Own Two Feet: Factors Associated with Active Transportation in Canada
Health Risk Perceptions as Mediators of Socioeconomic Differentials in Health Behaviour
Differentials in health status and behaviour by socioeconomic status (SES) constitute a scientific and policy challenge. In this article, data from a national survey on Canadians' perceptions of population health risks were analysed to determine whether various types of health risk perceptions mediated SES differentials in health behaviour. As expected, health behaviours and risk perceptions both varied with SES. Results suggested a mediating rol…
Bodyweight, gender, and quality of life: A population-based longitudinal study
Trajectories of health-related quality of life by socio-economic status in a nationally representative Canadian cohort
BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity have been shown to follow a 'social gradient' in Canada and many other countries around the world. Comparatively little, however, is known about whether ageing amplifies, diminishes or sustains socio-economic inequalities in health. METHODS: Growth curve analysis of seven cycles of the Canadian National Population Health Survey (n=13,682) for adults aged 20 and older at baseline (1994/95). The outcome of intere…
Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index Categories: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
IMPORTANCE: Estimates of the relative mortality risks associated with normal weight, overweight, and obesity may help to inform decision making in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of reported hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality for overweight and obesity relative to normal weight in the general population. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases were searched through September 30, 2012, without l…
Neighborhood Walkability and Body Mass Index Trajectories: Longitudinal Study of Canadians
Objectives. To assess the impact of neighborhood walkability on body mass index (BMI) trajectories of urban Canadians. Methods. Data are from Canada’s National Population Health Survey (n = 2935; biannual assessments 1994–2006). We measured walkability with the Walk Score. We modeled body mass index (BMI, defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters [kg/m 2 ]) trajectories as a function of Walk Score and sociodemograph…
A life satisfaction approach to valuing the impact of health behaviours on subjective well-being
The SWB method holds promise as a method to monetize the value of a range of non-market goods, including healthy behaviours for which market values do not exist. The SWB method can be applied efficiently and cost-effectively using readily available survey data
Prevalence of Positive Mental Health and Associated Factors Among Postpartum Women in Canada: Findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey
Our study demonstrated that availability of maternal support, self-rated physical health and absence of symptoms of PPD or GAD were associated with PMH among postpartum women. As physical health had the strongest association with mental health, we encourage further examination of this relationship
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression among women in Canada: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey
This study highlights that a history of depression and good, fair, or poor physical health are associated with an increased odds of symptoms consistent with PPA and PPD, while other maternal support and sense of community belonging are associated with a decreased odds of these conditions
Neonatal abstinence syndrome hospitalizations in Canada: A descriptive study
The number and rate of NAS hospitalizations in Canada increased during the study, and some infants required a significant amount of specialized healthcare. Additional research is required to determine what supports and education for pregnant people can reduce the incidence of NAS hospitalizations
Prevention of alcohol-related suicide: A rapid review
Suicide remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 700,000 suicide deaths per year. The World Health Organization identifies reducing alcohol use as one component of comprehensive approaches to suicide prevention. This paper conducted a rapid review of the evidence on alcohol-related suicide prevention interventions. PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for articles related to alcohol, suicide, prevention, and polici…
A Dynamic Model of Opioid Overdose Deaths in Canada during the Co-Occurring Opioid Overdose Crisis and Covid-19 Pandemic
With over 40,000 opioid-related overdose deaths between January 2016 and June 2023, the opioid-overdose crisis is a significant public health concern for Canada. The opioid crisis arose from a complex system involving prescription opioid use, the use of prescription opioids not as prescribed, and non-medical opioid use. The increasing presence of fentanyl and its analogues in the illegal drugs supply has been an important driver of the crisis. In…
Mental Health and Cognitive Outcomes in Patients Six Months After Testing Positive Compared with Matched Patients Testing Negative for Covid-19 in a Non-Hospitalized Sample: A Matched Retrospective Co…
We aimed to determine the mental health and cognitive outcomes at six months in people who had not been hospitalized with COVID-19 and who had tested positive or negative for COVID-19 in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Participants were matched 1:1 six months following their COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test. X2, t -test, and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to compare self-report and observer-rated mental health and cognitive outcomes between …
Tracing the undercurrents: A scoping review of the lifestyle drift concept
Lifestyle drift refers to the tendency for health interventions that are initially intended to address upstream social determinants of health to shift focus toward downstream efforts targeting individual behaviours. Although increasingly cited in the literature, as far as we are aware, no scoping or systematic reviews that examine the concept of lifestyle drift exist. The objective of this scoping review is to summarize the existing literature on…
Are quantitative targets for social network size and interaction frequency appropriate for public health guidelines on social connection? Evidence from loneliness and related mental health outcomes
Introduction Public health guidelines for social connection seek to address loneliness and its health consequences at the population level. Although some approaches suggest specific numeric targets (e.g., frequency of social interaction), the empirical basis for these thresholds remains unclear. We aimed to identify such thresholds for loneliness and related mental health outcomes and test their stability across strata of mental health. Methods W…
Medicine (14 works) · Environmental health (11 works) · Population (10 works) · Demography (9 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (8 works) · Gerontology (7 works) · Public health (7 works) · Demography (6 works) · Psychiatry (5 works) · Anxiety (4 works)