Revolutionizing health care

UNB Fredericton researcher Linda Duffet-Leger is helping revolutionize health care in Canada.

Her PhD work, "Developing a Web-Based Approach for Promoting Cervical Health in Young Women" has implications for health care providers, government screening programs and, in particular, young women.

In 2009, Chatelaine magazine named Duffett-Leger as one of the top five women revolutionizing health care in Canada

Duffett-Leger's research calls for a more modern approach to promoting cervical health in young women, namely using the Internet to call attention to the important issue.

"I determined that a web-based approach is something that might be interesting and relevant to young women, given their familiarity with computers and their use of the Internet."

"There hadn't been a lot of research around young women and how they've used the Internet to gain information about their health, so that was part of my dissertation research."

Duffett-Leger received her PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of New Brunswick at the May 2011 Convocation.

A site that caters to young women

In Canada, cervical cancer is the most preventable form of cancer in young women given early detection, through regular Pap test screening, and adequate follow-up.

Many young women are unaware of the factors that could put them at risk for developing cervical cancer. Although they may search the Internet for health related information, many sites do not reflect their needs or present information in a way that engages them.

"I'm trying to make them aware by using technology, whether it's social networking, computers, or cell phones and getting them the information where they're most comfortable, most familiar with," Duffett-Leger said.

Duffett-Leger conducted focus groups with young women to determine how they used the Internet to seek health information and to find out what would appeal to them as useful sites. Using this information, several participants developed a prototype of a website that would inform young women of their potential risks for developing cervical cancer and encourage them to engage in screening practices.

In her research, Duffett-Leger found that most websites are not interactive and do not use age appropriate strategies to engage young women.  For example, some websites presented cartoons and colours, such as pink and purple, that appeal more to young girls.

"Young women in the 18 to 25 age group would be turned off by that," she said.  "These websites have not been developed with young women, so web developers tend to develop websites based on what they think young women want."

In her focus group, the young women said a text message reminder to go for a Pap test and a more interactive website would be more helpful.

"It would be a website that they would be comfortable with and come back to as they develop," she said.

UNB a help in research

Duffett-Leger attended the University of New Brunswick for her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She said one of the best things about attending the university is the presence of the National Research Council (NRC) Institute for Information Technology, located within the UNB campus.

"It's the only place in Canada that offers expertise in people-centred technologies," she said. "And they have extra knowledge in human-computer interactions and have a state-of-the-art lab as well, so their collaboration was very important to my research.

"I've also had the opportunity to work with Canada Research Chairs, both on my master's and my doctoral research, so they've really influenced my research here."

Duffett-Leger, who received her master of nursing, is most thankful to the university for allowing her to work with other disciplines, such as the Faculty of Computer Science.

"By being able to work with these other researchers, I was able to bridge all these disciplines and they developed specialized courses for me.  I was very lucky – all of my doctoral courses were specially tailored to my needs."

Duffett-Leger's research was funded the Canadian Institute for Health Research, the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, and the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute.

In the future, Duffett-Leger hopes to receive a Canada Research Chair, as well as work in an academic setting where she can pursue her passion for generating knowledge and sharing it with others.

"Research is what I do. I hope to inspire other researchers and students."

Contributed by Alanah Duffy, UNB Communications & Marketing. This story made possible thanks to the support of the UNB Associated Alumni.