Simon Coulombe, Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo)
“Impacts of peer support on occupational recovery outcomes. A provincial longitudinal study in Ontario”
$184,675 over two years
Dr. Simon Coulombe, Assistant Professor, Department of Science/Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Project summary
Dr. Coulombe and his team will assess the changes of occupational outcomes (work status, mental health-related leave parameters, absenteeism, functional impairment, productivity at work, workplace well-being, engagement, etc.) in a sample of people with work-related injuries or illnesses receiving peer support in Ontario. This will be done on a longitudinal basis and will use WSIB data as an artificial control group.
Cameron Mustard, Institute for Work & Health (Toronto)
“Estimating the financial benefits of OHS prevention expenditures: a study of Ontario employers”
$244,150 over two years
Dr. Cameron Mustard, President & Senior Scientist, Institute for Work & Health
Project summary
Dr. Mustard and his team will seek to obtain estimates from Ontario employers of the financial benefits arising from firm-level expenditures to prevent work-related injury and illness. The study will replicate the goals of a research study pioneered by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the German Social Accident Insurance funds (DGUV). Employers participating in the ISSA/DGUV study reported that the average occupational health and safety investment per employee per year was more than €1,200 ($1,800 CAD) and also estimated that the financial return on prevention investments was in the range of 2.2 times the investment.
Robin Richards, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Toronto)
“Measuring worker adherence to home shoulder physiotherapy with Artificial Intelligence”
$249,278 over two years
Dr. Robin Richards, Staff Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Project summary
The purpose of the study is to validate the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS), an artificial intelligence and wearable device for evaluating user adherence to home shoulder physiotherapy for rotator cuff pathologies. The study aims to establish the link between adherence and recovery.
Christine Wickens, Centre for Mental Health and Addiction (Toronto)
“Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in the Workplace: Prevalence, Correlates, and Outcomes”
$366,969.28 over two years
Dr. Christine Wickens, Independent Scientist, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
Project summary
The prevalence, correlates, and outcomes of mTBI are most commonly estimated based on hospital data. However, many mTBIs are not treated at hospitals, resulting in probable under-estimation of their prevalence and limited understanding of correlates and outcomes. Dr. Wickens and her team will reveal the true extent and financial impact of mTBI in the workplace and factors that impede or facilitate subsequent return to work, demonstrating the need for further prevention and intervention efforts.