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Access status: Embargo ,
Peer Workers & Volunteers in Palliative Care for People Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review
(2026) Siddiqui, Muhammad Arhum
People experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to equitable hospice and palliative care, including fragmented services and limited trust in healthcare systems. Peer workers and volunteers may help address these gaps through relational and community-based support, yet their roles remain inconsistently described in the literature. This scoping review mapped and synthesized evidence on the roles and impacts of peer workers and volunteers in hospice and palliative care for people experiencing homelessness. Searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science identified 76 studies for inclusion. Findings show that peers and volunteers support trust-building, emotional continuity, advocacy, and navigation of fragmented systems, improving access to care while reducing isolation and stigma. The review highlights these roles as essential but underrecognized components of equitable, community-rooted end-of-life care and identifies key gaps to guide future research and program development.
Access status: Open Access ,
Will we ever reach a point at which the nutrient quality of fruits and vegetables is too low to justify their caloric intake?
(2026) Sizo, Maiia
Due to changes in crop varieties, agricultural practices, and environmental factors, despite its abundance, food is becoming less nutritious. In Canada, recommended serving sizes of fruits and vegetables inform consumers on their diet, facilitating healthy choice. However, the rapid decrease in their nutritional value demands: How is everyday dietary requirement changing in response to rapidly declining nutritional value of staple foods? This research proposal suggests that by comparing declining nutritional content in fruits and vegetables in Canada over the last ten years, it is possible to determine the necessary rate of increase in serving sizes. It is predicted that there will be a point where the caloric intake per serving size will outweigh their micronutrient benefit. Once it is reached, it is unclear how humans will receive their essential nutrients, only that it would provide a benchmark for when we must implement agricultural reform needed to replenish them.
Access status: Embargo ,
Assessing the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Efficacy of Culturally-Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Interventions: Considerations for Ethnic Minorities
(2026) Azim, Nuzhat; Wakif, Zahra; Jegatheeswaran, Santhija; Besa, Reena; Chan, Arella; Hajje, Nayla; Shakir, Bilal; Khan, Mahwish Ali; Al Ahmadi, Layan; Sirbu, Bianca; Richards, Rhiannon; Saleem, Rabeea; Khan, Ahmad Jamal; Shaukhat, Arooj; Khan, Sophia; Nadeem, Fatima; Naeem, Farooq
Culturally adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CaCBT) modifies CBT to align with clients’ cultural values and is increasingly used with ethnic minority populations. However, evidence synthesizing its feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy remains limited. A systematic search across six databases identified 35 studies examining CaCBT for mental health outcomes. Findings suggest CaCBT is generally feasible, acceptable, and effective across conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and related psychopathology. Both quantitative and qualitative data were reviewed, highlighting not only symptom change but also client satisfaction and therapeutic experience. Overall, results support CaCBT’s clinical promise while emphasizing the need for further research.
Access status: Embargo ,
Collision of Bubbles: The Power of Language and Politics in Healthcare
(2026) Constas, Penella
Healthcare responses are not only shaped by clinical evidence but also by language, social determinants and political agendas. This literature review will analyze the relationship between medical policy and terminology and the intersectionality of social identities that shape politics of care. Drawing from interdisciplinary works from public health, politics and intersectionality studies, this paper incorporates academic literature and policy texts. Drawing the attention to COVID-19 responses including the use of terms like "bubble" and how these framings influence care and responsibility in the Canadian context. This review acknowledges that language has a powerful influence, making it the focus of its analysis, which reinforced the notion of existing inequities in healthcare and its delivery.
Access status: Open Access ,
Language Barriers in Emergency Departments Jeopardize Patient Safety and Equitable Care
(2026) Debnath, Shakshara; Farhad, Fayeza
Language barriers are a challenge in Ontario emergency departments (EDs), where precise communication is critical for patient care. Newcomers with limited English proficiency are at risk of misunderstanding, delayed care, and medical errors. The aim is to show the impact of language barriers in Ontario’s EDs and highlight the importance of medical interpreters. Peer-reviewed literature, reports, and media testimonies describing communication conflicts in emergency care were analyzed. Sources were examined to identify patterns related to patient safety, emotional distress, and systemic barriers to accessing healthcare services. Findings show that language barriers negatively affect the quality of care. Testimonies highlight frequent delays in interpreter access, reliance on family, and emotional strain on patients and healthcare workers. Medical interpreters are critical yet underutilized. Without them, access to safe, equitable care is lacking, and the well-being of patients is at risk.