Hannah O'Rourke, RN, PhD

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing

Pronouns: she / her

Contact

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing
Email
hjerke@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-7961
Address
4-005C Edmonton Clinic Health Academy
11405 - 87 Ave NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 1C9

Availability
by appointment

Overview

About

Degrees

• Postdoctoral fellowship (CIHR), Health Interventions, School of Nursing, Ryerson University (2017)

• PhD, Nursing, University of Alberta (2015)

• BScN (honors), University of Alberta (2008)





Research

Dr O’Rourke leads the Connecting for Quality of Life Across the Lifespan (CONNECT-QOL) research program. The primary aim of the CONNECT-QOL research program is to design, evaluate and disseminate interventions to improve feelings of social connection and quality of life for people living with dementia and their family and friend caregivers. She applies systematic and scoping review methodology to promote understanding of quality of life from the perspectives of people with dementia, describe the meaning of social connectedness and loneliness for populations of older adults, and assess efficacy of interventions used with people with dementia to promote their quality of life.

Social connectedness—perceptions of intimacy and belonging in relationships with others— is a priority for quality of life according to people with dementia in Canada and internationally. Applying methodology for the development of complex interventions, Dr O’Rourke identified and adapted several interventions for use with people living with dementia and their family and friends caregivers to address loneliness and promote social connectedness. Interventions will be tested in clinical trials to assess whether and how well the interventions work, contextualizing the findings for sub-populations of people with dementia. Interventions currently under development include a social support intervention (MT4C-In Care), a personal contact intervention (Connecting Today), and a music-based group activity intervention (Music Connects Us).

The goal of this program of research is to produce effective interventions to promote social connectedness, and which people with dementia and their family, friends and health care providers find acceptable for use in real world settings. Ultimately, this research aims to have a meaningful impact on quality of life, as it is defined and understood by people with dementia. 

CURRENT GRANTS (Nominated Principal Applicant)

Feasibility and acceptability of personal contact interventions to address loneliness for people with mild-to-moderate dementia in long-term care. Alzheimer's Society New Investigator Grant, 2018-2022 ($180, 000). NPA: O'Rourke HM.

Adaptation of the 'Music for Life' intervention for use in the Alberta continuing care context. CIHR Planning & Dissemination Grants--ICS, 2018-2019 ($10, 500). NPA: O'Rourke HM. Co-As: Bartel L, Hopper T, Woodhead Lyons S.

Supporting family caregivers of persons living with dementia: Effectiveness and sustainability of My Tools 4 Care-In Care. Public Health Agency of Canada Invitation to Submit a Funding Request, 2019-2023 ($888,052). NPA: O’Rourke HM. Co-PI: Duggleby W. Co-As: Baxter P, Peacock S, Thompson G, Holroyd-Leduc J, McAiney C, Ghosh S, Nekoliachuk C, Dube V.


Teaching

Courses Taught

In the undergraduate program, I have taught undergraduate research and statistics courses, and most recently Foundations of Nursing (I).

In the graduate program, I teach courses related to systematic review methodology and knowledge translation.

Mentorship and Supervision

I work collaboratively with undergraduate and graduate students to advance their research training in an area of interest related to the quality of life of people living with dementia. Preference is given to students focused specifically on social well-being, and that aim to apply systematic review or mixed methods approaches to develop or evaluate complex clinical interventions for use with people living with dementia. Students focused on social well-being in other gerontological populations may also be considered.

Interested students should email hannah.orourke@ualberta.ca and:

  • Thesis and dissertation students must include in the email (1) a cover letter describing how their area of interest fits with the CONNECT-QOL research program; (2) a 1-pg description of their research area of interest with reference to relevant literature; and (3) a CV.
  • Prospective capstone students must include in the email (1) a cover letter describing how their interests fit with the CONNECT-QOL research program, and (2) a CV.

Courses

NURS 399B - Selected Topics in Nursing Research

The focus is on nursing research, nursing practice, and nursing as a discipline and a profession. Prerequisite: Consent of the Faculty.


NURS 598 - Translating Knowledge

Examine use of knowledge in diverse settings, by different stakeholders, and for various types of decision-making. Explore evidence-based decisions, guidelines, policies and procedures; quality improvement, and knowledge translation strategies.


Browse more courses taught by Hannah O'Rourke

Publications

Acceptability of personal contact interventions to address loneliness for people with dementia: An exploratory mixed methods study

Author(s): O’Rourke HM, Sidani S, Jeffrey N, Prestwich J, McLean H.
Publication Date: 2020
Publication: International Journal of Nursing Studies-Advances
Volume: 2
External Link: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2666142X20300084?token=274FE4BFE530DE91F6EDEAAC720847CF9D138AAEE4505EFFC65A8CE7D87497B8AC316AEB02B3FBF0823456363D45A09C&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20210505200619

Interventions to address social connectedness and loneliness for older adults: a scoping review.

Author(s): O’Rourke HM, Collins L, Sidani S.
Publication Date: 2018
Publication: BMC Geriatrics
Volume: 18
Issue: 214
Page Numbers: DOI: 10.1186/s12877-018-0897-x

Definition, determinants, and outcomes of social connectedness for older adults: A scoping review

Author(s): O’Rourke HM, Sidani S.
Publication Date: 2017
Publication: Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Volume: 43
Issue: 7
Page Numbers: 43-52

Does the quality of life construct as illustrated in quantitative measurement tools reflect the perspective of people with dementia?

Author(s): O’Rourke HM, Fraser KD, Duggleby W.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication: Journal of Advanced Nursing
Volume: 71
Page Numbers: 1812-1824
External Link: doi: 10.1111/jan.12667

Factors that affect quality of life from the perspective of people with dementia.

Author(s): O’Rourke HM, Duggleby W, Fraser KD, Jerke L.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Volume: 63
Page Numbers: 24-38