Research and Knowledge Transfer Hubs

Clinical Research Hub

The Clinical Research Hub is designed to assist researchers in the selection and employment of measures to assess cognition, substance use, and severe psychopathology. The goal of the Hub is to enhance data quality while providing a forum for researchers to communicate and collaborate. The Hub is accessible to researchers both within and outside of areas traditionally thought of as mental health. It is comprised of five key components and a supporting communications strategy:

•  Library of Measures
  A web-based library which allows researchers to examine measures prior to their use in a study. The library also provides purchasing information as well as links to references.
•  Statistical Consulting
  A group of expert consultants are available.
•  Training and Education
  Instruction on how to properly employ clinical measures.
•  Links
  Links to other related resources.

What's New

Two New Training DVDs

Both training DVDs are available free of charge by contacting info@mhanet.ca. 

The first video will be used to train raters in the use of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The second video describes the Routine Assessment of Patient Progress (RAPP). The RAPP manual and scoring sheet may be downloaded here.

Substance Use Substance Abuse Assessment

The Substance Abuse/Substance Use Assessment (SUSAA) is a self-report measure for assessing substance abuse and was developed in accordance with DSM-IV criteria. The questions assess frequency, quantity, and history of use and were modeled Canadian Addiction Survey employed by Health Canada and the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (Statistics Canada). The SUSAA is divided into four sections: Marijuana and Hashish Use, Street Drug Use, Tobacco Use, and Alcohol Use. It does not assess for substance dependence. Validity and reliability data are not currently available. The SUSAA record form (PDF) is available for download from this website.

The SUSAA is currently being used in the Early Psychosis Identification and Intervention project as well as in the Hotel Study, examining drug use in the dual-diagnosis and disadvantaged population of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Routine Assessment of Patient Progress (RAPP) Health and Home Care Society of BC, Health Promotions Services

The Routine Assessment of Patient Progress (RAPP) is a structured, validated change-sensitive instrument that measures functioning and symptom severity in psychiatric inpatients. The complete RAPP manual and record forms (PDF) are available for download.

Health and Home Care Society of BC, Health Promotions Services

Do you need a registered nurse to help carry out your research project?  Why not consider one of the more than eighty nurses that work with the Health and Home Care Society of BC. Since 1997 the Health and Home Care Society of BC, Health Promotions Services, has been providing registered nurses to agencies and researchers across BC.  Our eighty registered nurses have administered cognitive assessments to non English speakers, taken physical measurements including drawing blood and administered questionnaires.  Our website gives information on other services we provide.  www.carebc.ca

The revenues generated from our nursing services support our non-profit programs in the community such as Meals on Wheels in Vancouver and Richmond.   The Health and Home Care Society of BC is an independent BC based not-for profit organization. From 1898 to April 2006 we were proud to provide community-based health and social services in this province as one of the founding branches of the Victorian Order of Nurses.  Prior to leaving the national organization we were named the Victorian Order of Nurse (VON) British Columbia. 

For more information contact Wendy Williams RN, BN, MSc, Nurse Manager ,  204 - 3077 Granville St, Vancouver, BC  V6H 3J9, Tel: (604) 733-9177  ext. 111,  Fax: (604) 733-1189 , Email: williamsw@carebc.ca.