Contributing to our Health -- A Series About StFX Research Making A Difference In Our Communities
StFX is a leader in health innovation and entrepreneurship in Nova Scotia. In this ongoing series, we proudly shine a spotlight on our health research leaders, research and community health partnerships and their impact. For more on the Contributing to our Health series, click the link below.
Contributing to our Health series
“I am proud to be performing research that focuses on exploring the experiences of the general population to give the public a voice and the opportunity to be heard by public healthcare policymakers,” ~ Rankin School of Nursing student Lauren Stienburg
Lauren Stienburg of Cole Harbour, NS, a fourth year honours Rankin School of Nursing student, conducted research in summer 2022 exploring the process of the privatization of healthcare in Nova Scotia. This included creating the first public survey in Nova Scotia that focuses on 1) the experiences of people who reside in Nova Scotia; 2) how they access healthcare; and 3) if their ability to have their healthcare needs met is influenced by their ability to pay for services. She says the aim of the study is to determine the nature and extent of private healthcare services in Nova Scotia, and it is anticipated that the results will help inform future public policy to sustain and strengthen universally accessible health care in the province.
"I am extremely honoured to have this opportunity to conduct research over the summer," says Ms. Stienburg, a Scotia Scholar Undergraduate Research Award recipient from Research Nova Scotia. "It has allowed me to utilize research methods that I have learned throughout my university career to conduct progressive research in the healthcare field. This research study is the first of its kind and is anticipated to provide valuable insight into the firsthand experiences of people who access healthcare in Nova Scotia. This opportunity will give me the resources to progress in my education and will provide critical information regarding how people interact with the healthcare system in Nova Scotia. I am proud to be performing research that focuses on exploring the experiences of the general population to give the public a voice and the opportunity to be heard by public healthcare policymakers.
“I was lucky enough to have a very supportive and experienced supervisor, Dr. Elizabeth McGibbon, who helped guide me through this summer research. Over the summer, I learned about survey creation, data collection procedures, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, data dissemination, and more. This experience allowed me to take all of the information I learned in my classes and apply it in a real-life, practical setting. This summer challenged me to think critically, progressively, and creatively to capture the picture of private healthcare in Nova Scotia.”
