Research
Learn about Professor Fox’s past and current research projects
Professor Fox’s earlier research focused on developing knowledge on how to support functioning in adults during illness and recovery. Building on this earlier work, Professor Fox’s research has evolved to examining hospital-to-home transitional care for vulnerable groups. Her current studies target different populations, such as older people with multiple chronic conditions at risk for hospital readmission in rural communities, their families and healthcare providers, in examining various interventions proposed for transitional care.
Current Research Projects
Improving hospital-to-home transitional care to help older people in rural communities recover after hospital discharge.
This study focuses on older people with cognitive difficulties. Cognitive difficulties include trouble thinking, remembering, concentrating, and/or making decisions. While in the hospital, older people with cognitive difficulties can lose their ability to do everyday activities such as dressing themselves. If they can’t get back to doing their usual activities within one month of coming home from the hospital, they are unlikely to ever do so.
Publications associated with this study:
Past Research Projects
Improving healthcare providers’ ability to prepare older patients in rural communities to recognize and respond to the signs of worsening health conditions at home after hospital discharge
Many people in rural towns live far from medical services. So, before they leave the hospital, they need to know the signs of worsening health to watch out for.
Publications associated with this study:
Adapting hospital-to-home transitional care interventions to the Ontario rural healthcare context.
Publications associated with this study:
Understanding the needs of nurses to improve care for hospitalized older adults.
Professor Fox received an Early Researcher Award to support graduate and post-doctoral trainees in her program of research. The trainees learned how to conduct research on the needs of hospital nurses in caring for older adults. The trainees also held youth outreach activities to address ageism. Through these activities, Professor Fox helped to develop capacity for future research in this area. The award was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Science.
Improving outcomes for older adults during acute care transitions.
This project brought together researchers, clinicians, and administrators. Together, they identified priorities for research on how to improve outcomes for older adults admitted to hospitals.
Publications associated with this study:
Nurse and organizational readiness to deliver best elder care: The key to Ontario’s ability to design and implement Senior Friendly Hospital Plans
Knowing how to support nurses, can help older people receive better care.
Publications associated with this study:
Systematic review of acute care hospital geriatric intervention units.
Publications associated with this study:
Phase I of an early rehabilitation intervention for older adults with complex chronic diseases
Perceived acceptability and preferences for low-intensity early activity interventions of older hospitalized medical patients exposed to bed rest: A cross sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, 18, Article 53.