NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region

Tags: participatory research

Objective(s): To engage older adults living in the Northwest Territories (NWT) to identify the current actual and potential influences upon and threats to their Quality of Life (QOL), and to provide older adults with information that could influence policy decisions related to the QOL for older adults in the NWT.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to provide a rich background and context for the study topic with input from key older adults in the Northwest Territories (NWT); to engage older adults living in the NWT to identify the current actual and potential influences upon and threats to their Quality of Life (QOL); to provide older adults with information that could influence policy decisions related to the QOL for older adults in the NWT. Study Design Community-Based Participatory Action Research (PAR) is the approach to this study. The community is the NWT Seniors’ society, and by extension, older adults in the NWT. Most often associated with the early work of theorist Kurt Lewin, action research is characterized as cyclical, dynamic, and collaborative (Stringer & Genat, 2004). Loiselle, Profetto-MCGrath, Polit, and Tatano Beck (2011) refer to action research as“collaboration between researchers and study participants in the definition of the problem, the selection of an approach and research methods, the analysis of data, and [the way findings are used]”. In essence, “Action research seeks to empower those who are part of the process to act on their own behalf to solve real world problems” (Strebert Speziale & Rinaldi Carpetner, 2007). Sample Purposive sampling began with older adults (approximately n=20) at the NWT Seniors’ Society 30th Anniversary celebration meeting that took place at the Baker’s Centre, Yellowknife, February 28, 2013. Snowball sampling was then used to collect individual interviews (n=8 to date). Inclusion Criteria: Persons aged 50 years and older living in the NWT. A demographic intake form will be completed by each participant. Data Collection A. Three focus groups were conducted in 2013. Three more focus groups are planned in 2014 at Behchoko, Hay River and Fort Good Hope. Individual interviews will continue to be completed with an aim for (n=30) over the next several months continuing to use the snowball method with recruitment facilitated by the Executive Director and President of the NWT Seniors’ Society. Small index cards will be provided to those attending the focus group meetings and also will continue to be distributed by the Executive Director and the President. The following interview guide will be used: •As an older adult, what things make your life good? •As an older adult, what kinds of things affect your life in a bad way? •Is there anything that you need right now in order to make your life better? •What is your most significant concern at this time as an older adult in the NWT? •Are we asking the right questions to understand what kinds of things affect the lives of older adults in the NWT? Other prompts based on the social determinants of health (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011) may be used. B. Key informant older adults who are experts in the history of programming and services for seniors in the NWT will be contacted and data collected using the Delphi method to provide information regarding the first objective. Data Analysis Data will be recorded electronically and entered into NVivo® software program. Thematic analysis will be the approach to this qualitative data analysis. This will involve reading and rereading each transcript, line-by-line coding, categorizing establishing themes. Data collection and analysis will be iterative. Member checking will occur. This is a continuation of the work done in 2013. The research team want to reach out to more Older Adults in the NWT to learn about the influences on their quality of life. At the completion of the study, the research team will write a report and present to the Seniors' Society. The information will also be disseminated to conferences and in journal publications. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from May 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.