RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS AVAILABLE
We have immediate openings for part time research assistants to conduct research about the
introduction of information technology into varied health sector workplaces. Research to be
undertaken will be part of the ACTION for Health project (www.sfu.ca/act4hlth), which addresses the role
of technology in the production, consumption and use of health information.
Project Overview:
The ACTION for Health project is an international and multi-disciplinary project, based at Simon Fraser
University, under the direction of Ellen Balka, Ph.D. Funded by Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada, ACTION for Health explores the social aspects of information technology in
the health sector within Canada and abroad, with goals of encouraging positive change in policy and
practices.
The project has the following objectives:
ƒ To study access to and use of computer-mediated health information in different settings;
ƒ To examine whether emerging practices support the goals outlined by decision makers related to
the use of new technology in the health sector;
ƒ To investigate whether or not computerization of the health sector is supporting what Canadians
value in our health system (including equity and universality);
ƒ To explore barriers and facilitators to the integration of information technology in health contexts.
ACTION for Health research is organized along 3 themes:
ƒ Theme 1 – The role of information technology in the public consumption of health information
ƒ Theme 2 – The effects and challenges of increasing computerization in health sector work
environments
ƒ Theme 3 – The legal and ethical issues associated with information technology in the health
sector
Please see the ACTION for Health Web site (www.sfu.ca/act4hlth) for information about sub-projects.
Please see p. 2 for a representative listing of projects past and present ACTION for Health research
assistants have worked on.
Benefits to Students:
ƒ Excellent opportunities for field research in numerous areas of health care;
ƒ Acquire skills essential for communicating with multiple stakeholders, including decision-makers in
government, health care and community organizations;
ƒ Work with a group of bright and outgoing students from the SFU Assessment of Technology In
Context (ATIC) Lab, which provides a strong local research community;
ƒ Ongoing contact with internationally recognized scholars working on ACTION for Health projects;
ƒ Ongoing hands-on mentorship;
ƒ Ability to receive funding for work related to your thesis (if you pursue a thesis topic that falls
within the ACTION for Health research mandate);
ƒ Competitive salary (on par with teaching assistantships);
ƒ Benefits include funded travel to academic meetings to present ACTION for Health research,
office space, opportunities to conduct research abroad in the UK or Netherlands.
The ACTION for Health project is currently accepting applications from graduate students seeking
employment either immediately or for January 2006.
FOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES PLEASE SEE REVERSE…..
……2
For more information:
contact Ellen Balka:
+1.604.725.2756
email Kelly Fox, the ACTION for
Health Project Coordinator:
actadmin@sfu.ca
visit the ACTION for Health Website:
www.sfu.ca/act4hlth
Past and current ACTION for Health Research Assistants have worked on projects including:
Ethnographic studies of the introduction of
• electronic drug dispensing machines in an acute care setting;
• a pain management tool running on a PDA in a palliative are setting;
• a wireless paging system introduced to improve communications between staff, and staff and
patients in an acute care setting;
• the introduction of an electronic patient record into an emergency room;
• the introduction of an electronic patient record in a community clinic;
• the use of telehealth in rural Labrador.
• patients’ use of the internet for consumption of health information in a community clinic waiting
room in a low income Vancouver neighborhood.
Other studies have included:
• A study of patient views about the use of electronic medical records;
• A study of health information seekers at Vancouver Public Library that addressed the role of the
library in library patron’s health information seeking practices; as well as digital divide issues;
• The role of information systems in the social construction of health indicators, with a focus on
women’s occupational health indicators;
• A study of the information needs of young women with breast cancer who use the internet;
• Discourse analyses that have traced policy rhetoric about information technology in the health
sector in Canada and abroad;
• A review of research evidence related to robotic assisted surgery.
Planned studies include
• A study of an integrated electronic record system that consolidates information from primary care,
acute care and community settings;
• A study of digital imaging technologies;
• Other studies as requested by our research partners that range from community based non-profit
agencies to federal government departments.
Eligibility:
ƒ Currently enrolled in a graduate program, with at least 1 year of study remaining;
ƒ Availability to work 8-16 hours per week with hours increasing in summer semester if project is
undertaken as student’s thesis project, for at least 2 semesters, and 3 if a position doing fieldwork
is sought.
(Note: generally students engage in either teaching assistantships or research
assistantships, but not both at one time, as student eligibility requires time be set aside for
a student’s academic pursuits).
ƒ Background in Social Sciences (e.g. Sociology, Anthropology, Communication, Science,
Technology & Society), Information or Computer Science, Health disciplines or other related
disciplines.
Please Submit the Following by E-mail to Kelly Fox (actadmin@sfu.ca) to Apply:
• Current curriculum vitae
• A brief overview of research areas of interest along with a description of short term objectives
to be achieved through an ACTION for Health research assistantship;
• Names and contact information for references for whom you have worked in the past,
• Academic transcripts (copies are fine);
• Information about your current academic standing (what program are you enrolled in, what
are you studying or what do you hope to study, when do you hope to complete your studies).
For more information:
contact Ellen Balka:
+1.604.725.2756
email Kelly Fox, the ACTION for
Health Project Coordinator:
actadmin@sfu.ca
visit the ACTION for Health Website:
www.sfu.ca/act4hlth