Program
Symptoms and Signs of Cardiovascular Disease: An Indigenous Research Creation
May 24, 2024 from 11:35am MDT to 12:05pm MDT
Indigenous research on Turtle Island has existed for millennia. Current evidence related to Indigenous heart health, early warning (prodromal symptoms) and acute signs of ischemic heart disease (IHD) is non-existent in current literature. Clinicians’ understanding of symptoms associated with development of cardiovascular disease have been influenced by the predominance of a Colonial-Western biomedical worldview. This community research was guided by the Three Sisters Indigenous Framework. This arts-based qualitative study aimed to describe prodromal and acute symptoms of ICD experienced by Indigenous men and women and, in partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River, design and deliver heart health knowledge and education. Ten qualitative semi structured interviews with seven women and three men were conducted. Age ranged from 52-83 years, two were Anishinaabe and eight Haudenosaunee, with various conditions of myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, angina, and dysrhythmias. Using interpretive description three poems reflected the themes-Symptom Stories, Heart Teachings, and Protected Love-Creating Heart Health. Symptoms experienced were aching/ unbearable/ excruciating pain, heartburn, headaches, shortness of breath, tingling in the hand and arms and fatigue. Participants viewed their heart (illness) as a journey. Heart health was regarded as a deeper connection to mother earth. Indigenous artistic practices depicted the themes with 3 digital paintings, one painted drum and a pair of beaded shoes. Cardiovascular nurses need to consider the benefits of creating a creative space to promote discourse for learning. Using art to communicate heart health tapping in to Indigenous artistic knowledge practices enables education that becomes public and accessible through arts-based approaches.
Speakers / Panelists
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Symptoms and Signs of Cardiovascular Disease: An Indigenous Research Creation
May 24, 2024 from 11:35am MDT to 12:05pm MDT -
Open Plenary - The Heart DIS-Ease PlaY: An Artistic Way to Mobilize Research
May 25, 2024 from 9:10am MDT to 10:00am MDT
Sheila O’Keefe-McCarthy
RN, BScN, MN, PhD, CNCC(C), Associate Professor
Sheila O’Keefe-McCarthy
Sheila O’Keefe-McCarthy
RN, BScN, MN, PhD, CNCC(C), Associate Professor
Dr. Sheila O’Keefe-McCarthy is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, in the Department of Nursing at Brock University. She has been a member of CCCN since 2004 and serves as the provincial chair for Ontario on the National CCCN Research Committee. Sheila is currently the Director of Research on the CCCN Board of Directors since 2019. Sheila is a Cardiovascular and Pain Scientist at the Social Justice Research Institute, the Centre for Research Across the Life Span, and the Brock Functional Inclusive Training (Bfit) Centre. Her current research program is supported by (New Horizons Employment and Social Development Canada-New Horizons for Seniors, e-Campus Ontario, and the New Frontiers in Research Fund) and includes three inter-related areas of focus: 1) to examine and describe cardiovascular disease related pain and associated symptoms: [early cardiac prodromal symptoms and acute/chronic symptom presentations], 2) with use of digital health technology design, develop and evaluate interventions to screen for and/or manage pain and other symptoms, and 3) to create meaningful knowledge mobilization through use of arts-based approaches to research.