Kathleen (Kathy) F. Spurr Bethune Building, Room 668 1276 South Park Street Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9 (902) 473-2382 kfspurr@dal.ca EXPERIENCE SUMMARY: I have worked in clinical and research roles at Capital Health in Halifax and the Asthma and Respiratory Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. In my current role as a university Assistant Professor, I'm Principal Investigator of a funded inter-professional research study which aims to assess the evidence-based decision-making knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. EDUCATION: 2003/9-2009/5 Master of Health Informatics (Thesis Based), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Supervisors: Dr. Robert Gilbert, Dr. Michael Graven, Dr. Debra Morrison 1992/9-1994/6 Diploma in Respiratory Therapy, VGH School of Allied Health, Halifax, NS 1988/9-1989/5 Certificate in Public Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 1984/9-1988/5 Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS CREDENTIALS: 1997/8 Registered Polysomnographic Technologist-RPSGT American Association of Sleep Technologists 1996/7 Registered Respiratory Therapist-RRT Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists RECOGNITIONS: 2010/11 Fellow of the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists - Distinction Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists 1994/6 Award for Overall Academic & Clinical Proficiency - Distinction Victoria General Hospital Board of Governors
EMPLOYMENT 2005/1 Present Assistant Professor Dalhousie University, School of Health Sciences, Halifax, NS 1996/7-2004/12 Polysomnographic Technologist & Research Coordinator QE II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS 1994/10-1996/4 Respiratory Therapist Asthma and Respiratory Health Centre, Hamilton, ON 1990/9-1991/9 Kinesiologist West-End Physiotherapy, Hamilton, ON RESEARCH FUNDING 2012/11-2014/8 Role: Principal Investigator Project Title: Creation of a Tool for Assessing Evidence-Based Decision-Making Knowledge and Use in Healthcare Professionals Funding Source: Capital Health Research Fund Funding: $9,079 2012/1-2013/4 Role: Principal Investigator Project Title: Assessing the Utilization of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) by Vulnerable Populations in a "Low Risk" Region: A Pilot Study Funding Source: Environment Canada Funding: $30,000 2007/12-2008/12 Role: Project Title: Funding Source: Funding: Principal Investigator Using Hospital Discharge Data to Determine Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Usage in Hospitalized Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Graduate Student Data Access Program 2007/12-2008/12 Role: Principal Investigator Project Title: Teaching Software for Ventilator Waveform Interpretation Funding Source: Dalhousie University Teaching and Technology Funding: $975 2
2007/11-2008/11 Role: Co-Investigator Project Title: Use of Massage Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Sleep in Patients Participating in an In-Patient Withdrawal Management Program: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study Funding Source: Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada Funding: $6000 2005/7-2008/7 Role: Co-Investigator Project Title: Neurocognitive Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Funding Source: Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Funding: $149,297 PUBLICATIONS: Lau E.Y., Eskes G.A., Morrison D.L., Rajda M., Spurr K.F. (2013) The role of daytime sleepiness in psychosocial outcomes after treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Disorders. 1-10. Spurr, K.F., Morrison, D.L., Graven, M.A., Webber, A., Gilbert, R.W. (2011) Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Paediatric and Adolescent Patients Hospitalized in Canada: 2006 to 2007. Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy 47: 23-28. Black, S., Jacques, K., Webber, A., Spurr, K., Carey, E., Hebb, A., Gilbert, R. (2010) Chair Massage for Treating Anxiety in Patients Withdrawing from Psychoactive Drugs. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 16(9): 979-87. Spurr, K.F., Morrison, D.L., Graven, M.A., Webber, A., Gilbert, R.W. (2010) Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Adult Patients Hospitalized in Canada: 2006 to 2007. Canadian Respiratory Journal 17(5). Lau E.Y., Eskes G.A., Morrison D.L., Rajda M., Spurr K.F. (2010) Executive Function in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society: 1-12. Spurr, K.F. and Gilbert, R.W. (2010) Developing Capacity for Evidence-Based Decision Making in the Sleep Technologist. A2Zzz 19(2): 20-23. Arsenault, M., MacDonald, N., Friesen Kent, V., Leahey, B., MacDonald, A., Keeling, S., MacPherson, L., Gilbert, R.W., Spurr, K.F. (2009) Evidence-Based Decision Making in Respiratory Therapy: A Self Directed Tutorial. Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy 45: 35-42. 3
Spurr, K.F., Graven, M., Gilbert, R.W. (2008) Prevalence of Unspecified Sleep Apnea and the Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Hospitalized Patients, 2004 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Sleep and Breathing 12:229-234. MacDonald, B., Seaman, T., Spurr, K. (2007) Progress Exams: An educational Initiative in Progress. Canadian Journal Respiratory Therapy 43: 15-16. ABSTRACTS: Lau E.Y., Eskes G.A., Morrison D.L., Rajda M., Spurr K.F. (2010) Predictors of Executive Functions in Individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. SLEEP 2010 24 th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), San Antonio, TX. Lau E.Y., Eskes G.A., Morrison D.L., Rajda M., Spurr K.F. (2010) Objective Executive Functioning versus Subjective Cognitive Efficiency: Which is More Important to Quality of Life in Individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Rotman Research Institute Conference, Toronto, ON. Spurr K.F., Morrison D.L., Graven M.A., Webber A., Gilbert, R.W. (2010) Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Adult Patients Hospitalized in Canada: 2006 to 2007. Canadian Respiratory Conference, Halifax, NS Spurr K.F., Morrison D.L., Graven M.A., Webber A., Gilbert, R.W. (2010) Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients Hospitalized in Canada: 2006 to 2007. Canadian Respiratory Conference, Halifax, NS Black, S., Carey, E., Spurr, K., Gilbert, R. (2009) The Evidence-based Decision Making Process: An Essential Tool for Informing Practice and Research in Addiction. Issues of Substance 09 Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Gilbert, R., Jacques, K., Webber, A., Spurr, K., Carey, E., Hebb, A., Black, S. (2009) Use of Massage Therapy to reduce Anxiety and to Improve Sleep in Clients Participating in an Inpatient Withdrawal Management program: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Issues of Substance 09 Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Spurr K.F., Morrison D.L., Graven M.A., Webber A., Gilbert, R.W. (2009) Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Determine the Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Canadian Hospitalized Patients with Sleep Apnea. Canadian Sleep Society Congress, Toronto, ON. Lau E.Y.Y., Eskes G.A., Morrison D.L., Rajda, M., Spurr K.F. (2007) Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Daily Functions, Mood, and Quality of Life. Canadian Sleep Society Congress, Montreal, QB 4
PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS: Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists Annual Conference, Niagara Falls, ON, June 2013 Topic: Getting Published: How to Prepare and Submit a Manuscript to a Peer-Reviewed Journal. Audience: respiratory therapists, graduate students Health Canada - Public Service Occupational Health Program Atlantic Regional Workshop, Wolfville, NS, November 2011 Topic: Sleep, Shiftwork and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Audience: physicians, nurses, ergonomists and administrative staff Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists Annual Conference, Quebec City, QB, June 2011 Topic: Managing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Hospitalized Patients Audience: sleep technologists, respiratory therapists, physicians, nurses, medicals sales reps College Of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, Teleconference, Halifax, NS, April 2011 Topic: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Management Audience: nurses, personal care workers, respiratory therapists Health Informatics Research Network Seminar, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, January 2011 Topic: Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Patients Hospitalized in Canada and the United States. Audience: graduate students (IDPhD, health informatics), faculty (medicine and health administration) Sleep Medicine Rounds, QE II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS, May 2010 Topic: Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Adult Patients Hospitalized in Canada Audience: physicians, respiratory therapists, sleep technologists, graduate students College Of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, Teleconference, Halifax, NS, January 2010 Topic: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Management Audience: nurses, personal care workers, respiratory therapists Nova Scotia Addiction Prevention & Treatment Services Meeting, Middleton, NS, August 2009 Topic: Evidence Based Decision Making Workshop Audience: social workers, researchers, nurses and managers American Association of Sleep Technologists Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, June 2009 Topic: Evidence Based Decision Making and the Sleep Technologist: How to Get Started Audience: sleep technologists, respiratory therapists, physicians, medicals sales reps Atlantic Home Respiratory Providers Education Day, Dartmouth, NS, May 2009 Topic: Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy by Hospitalized Patients in Canada Audience: respiratory therapists, nurses and medical sales reps 5
Respirology Rounds, QE II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS, April 2009 Topic: Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data to Characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Management in Adult Patients Hospitalized in Canada Audience: respirologists, residents, respiratory therapists Atlantic Respirology and Critical Care Conference, Halifax, NS, November 2008 Topic: Evidence Based Decision Making in Respiratory Therapy: How to Get Started Audience: respiratory therapists, nurses, physiotherapists, and physicians NS Health Information Management Assn Fall Educational Workshop, Halifax, NS, November 2008 Topic: Hospital Coding of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Audience: hospital coders, administrators and decision support staff Department of Justice Spring Conference, Halifax, NS, May 2008 Topic: Sleep and Wellness Audience: crown prosecutors and administrative staff Maritime Technical Sleep Conference Topic: Sleep Apnea and the National Hospital Discharge Survey Audience: sleep technologists, respiratory therapists, physicians, psychologists, medical sales reps Valley Spring Refresher, Wolfville, NS, May 2004 Topic: Portable Home Monitoring for Sleep Apnea Audience: family physicians, internists, nurses and respiratory therapists Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Halifax, NS, March 2004 Topic: Use of Information Technology in the Sleep Disorders Program Audience: psychiatrists, psychologists, residents, and nurses Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists Conference, Halifax, NS, June 2002 Topic: CPAP Compliance and Mask Fitting Techniques Workshop Audience: respiratory therapists, students and equipment vendors COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES 2012/10-2013/9 Canada Games Mission Staff - Sport Liaison Officer Activity Description: Provided administrative support to the Nova Scotia Canada Games Sailing, Tennis and Basketball teams prior to and during the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. 2011/9 Present Education Coordinator - Academic Support Program Activity Description: Administer study halls, tutoring program, and study skills seminars to varsity athletes at Dalhousie University. 6
2008/1-2009/9 Canada Games Mission Staff - Sport Liaison Officer Activity Description: Provided administrative support to the Nova Scotia Canada Games Swimming and Basketball teams prior to and during the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island. 1998/9-2013/6 Basketball Coach Halifax Grammar School Activity Description: Developed and led Small Ball Program for children aged 5-8 years and coached senior high girls basketball team, helping teenage girls to develop personal, fitness and basketball skills. 7