Kara Schick-Makaroff, PhD, MN, BScN, RN

Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing

Contact

Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing
Email
schickma@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-9043
Address
4-116 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy
11405 - 87 Ave NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 1C9

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

Quality of life; Patient reported outcomes; Kidney disease; Older adults; Qualitative methodologies; Mixed methods research; Research syntheses


About

Degrees:

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta (2011-2015)
  • PhD (Nursing), University of Victoria (2007-2011)
  • MN (Policy & Practice), University of Victoria (2001-2005)
  • BScN, University of Saskatchewan (1994-1999)

Awards:

Martha Cook Piper Research Prize, University of Alberta. 2020.

College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) Award for Excellence in Research. 2020

Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) / Amgen New Investigator Lectureship Award. TED Talk presented May 2, 2019 at Opening Session of CSN AGM. Title: The known and unknown: Patient-reported outcomes in kidney care: https://www.csnscn.ca/about/csn-new-investigator-lectureship

Nursing Graduate Students’ Association, Prize for Excellence, 2016 & 2017

Can-SOLVE CKDKRESCENT New Investigator Award (Canadians Seeking Solutions & Innovations to Overcome Chronic Kidney Disease; Kidney Research Scientist Core Education & National Training Program) for the program of research Electronic patient-reported outcomes in clinical kidney practice (ePRO Kidney). Funding provided by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Kidney Foundation of Canada, and Canadian Society of Nephrology. July 2016-June 2019. ($245,000)

Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch, 2013 Research Award.

KRESCENT (Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training Program), Postdoctoral Fellowship for the project, Health-related quality of life assessment in clinical nephrology nursing practice. Funding provided by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Kidney Foundation of Canada, and Canadian Society of Nephrology. Oct 2011-Sept 2014. ($165,000)

Kidney Foundation of Canada, Allied Health Doctoral Fellowship for the project, Stories of end-stage renal disease: Listening for the unsayable. Sept 2010-Sept 2011. ($58,000)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Doctoral Fellowship through the project, Re-storying life within life-threatening illness. PI: Dr. Laurene Sheilds. Oct 2007-Aug 2010. ($67,500)


Research

The goal of Dr. Schick-Makaroff's progam of research is to promote use of quality of life assessment, enhance person-centred care, and improve services for people living at home with chronic and life-limiting illnesses, particularly chronic kidney disease. A major component in Dr. Schick-Makaroff's research research is to provide evidence relating to the routine clinical use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) in multidisciplinary care of chronic and life-limiting illnesses. Her research interests also include mixed methods research, narrative inquiry, and research synthesis.

CURRENT GRANTS

Principal Investigator / Co-Principal Investigator

Electronic patient-reported outcomes in clinical kidney practice (ePRO Kidney). Schick-Makaroff, K. (PI), Sawatzky, R. (co-PI). Principal Knowledge User and co-PI: Klarenbach, S. Knowledge User: Cuthbertson, L., MacRae, J., Quinn, R., Reintjes, F., Wu, J. Co-Investigator: Cohen, R., Palfreyman, S., Pauly, R. Collaborator: Lee, L., Robles, F., Vitale, G. Partners: Cambian Business Services, Inc; J. Voth & Intogrey Research and Development, Inc. Funded by CIHR, Project Scheme, 1st Live Project. Funding period July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2019. $424,298 from CIHR, plus in-kind contribution from Cambian Business Services, and Intogrey Research and Development Inc. ($587,018)

Patient-reported outcomes in clinical kidney practice (PRO Kidney): A realist synthesis. Schick-Makaroff, K. (PI), Co-Is: Sawatzky, R., Thompson, S., Klarenbach, S. Collaborators: Greenhalgh, J., Robles, F. Funded by Kidney Foundation of Canada, Allied Health Research Grant. Funding period July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018. ($99,998)

Integrating a quality of life assessment and practice support system in home care services for older adults with life-limiting illness and their families. Sawatzky, R. (PI), Co-PIs: Cohen, R., Schick-Makaroff, K., Stajduhar, K. Principal Knowledge User: Hilliard, N., Zetes-Zanatta, L. Knowledge Users: Baxter, S., Brown, S., Carlson, J., Cory, S., Cuthbertson, L., Gerke, J., McLeod, B., Paul, C., Resin, J., Roberts, D., Taylor, C., Williscroft, D., Warneboldt, J. Co-Investigators: Bottorff, J., Bryan, S., Dodek, P., Fraser, K., Gadermann, A., Laforest, E., Parrilla Lozep, M., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Ratner, P., Russell, L., Tsang, H., Santana, M., Whitehurst, D. International Collaborators: Edwards, T., Ewing, G., Grande, G., Öhlén, J. Collaborator: Haskins, J., Kundert, M., Maybees, A., Yau, C., Lok, M. Partners: Fraser Health; Cambian Business Services, Inc; J. Voth & Intogrey Research and Development, Inc. This research is supported by: Geoff Cowman, CARP (Richmond/Delta. www.carp.ca); Barb MacLean, Family Caregivers of British Columbia (www.familycaregiversbc.ca); Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (www.chpca.net); The Canadian Virtual Hospice www.virtualhospice.ca). Funded by CIHR, eHealth Innovation Partnership Program (eHIPP). Funding period Oct 1, 2015 – September 30, 2019. $735,140 from CIHR, plus in-kind contribution from Cambian and Fraser Health Authority. ($1,735,140)

A meta-narrative review of patient- and family-reported experience and outcome measures across transitions of care for frail seniors living at home. Sawatzky, R. (PI), Schick-Makaroff, K. (co-PI) Principal Knowledge User: Cuthbertson, L. Knowledge Users: Hilliard, N., Leeb, K., Mancuso, M., McGregor, M., Taylor, C. Project Experts: Bryan, S., Cohen, R., Dixon, D., Gadermann, A., Russell, L., Stajduhar, K. Collaborator: Wong, G. Funded by CIHR, Knowledge Synthesis. Funding period January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016. ($100,000)

Co-Investigator

A web application to improve patient-nephrologist communication on hemodialysis rounds.  Thompson, S. (PI) Bohm, C. (Co-PI). Co-I's: Schick-Makaroff, K., Bello, A., Courtney, M., Shah, N. Collaborators: Buzinski, R. Funded by Canadians Seeking Solutions & Innovations to Overcome Chronic Kidney Disease (Can-SOLVE CKD), Triple-I Pilot [CIHR SPOR]. Funding period Sept 1, 2017 – Mar 31 2019. ($50,000)

One App to Rule Them All: Designing an App to Improve Immunosuppression Medication Adherence in Kidney Transplant Recipients. PI: Wen, K. (PI) Foster, B. (Co-PI). Co-I's: Braam, B., Bello, A., Schick-Makaroff, K., Lam, N., Shojai, S. Funded by Canadian Society of Transplantation, T3 Competition, Transformative Thinking in Transplant. Funding period Oct 1, 2017 – May 30, 2019.  YouTube video for application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjWZstjo3w.  Media release: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/100000-in-grant-funding-awarded-to-support-transformative-thinking-in-transplantation-648218273.html and  http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/100-000-in-Grant-Funding-Awarded-to-Support-Transformative-Thinking-in-Transplantation-1001786574.  $50,000 from Canadian Society of Transplantation; $72,000 from Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta ($122,000)

Identification of educational needs and determination of what matters to those considering live kidney donation. LaPointe Rudow, D. (PI). Co-I's: Taylor, L., Hays, R., Schick-Makaroff, K. Funded by the International Transplant Nurses Society, Research Grant. Funding period Oct 1, 2016 – Sept 30, 2017. ($2,500 USD)

Strategies to achieve self-sufficiency in kidney transplantation in Canada. Gill, J. (PI) Knowledge User: Appleby, A., Philp, K., Young, K. Co-Investigators: Bienstock, R., Byres, D., Campbell, P., Fortin, M-C., Gill, J., Hoegg, J., Johnston, O., Kim, S.J., Klarenbach, S., Rose, C., Schick-Makaroff, K., Singer, J., Tinckam, K., Unger, D., White, K., Zaltzman, J. Funded by CIHR, Foundation Scheme. Funding period July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2023. $1,254,050 from CIHR, plus in-kind contributions from Canadian Blood Services, British Columbia Transplant Society, Kidney Foundation of Canada, Canadian Society of Transplantation, and Providence Health Care. ($1,679,050)

Living-and-dying with fatal chronic conditions: Understanding narratives of liminality. Sheilds, L. (PI), Molzahn, A., Bruce, A., Schick-Makaroff, K., Clark, A., Borycki, E. Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Winter 2013 Operating Grant. 2013-2016. ($349,557)

iPANEL (Impacts of a palliative approach in nursing: Evidence & leadership). Stajduhar, K. (co-PI), Taylor, C. (co-PI), Antifeau, E., Cosgrave, L., Davies, B., Doane, G., Funk, M., Garland, E., Hutchings, D., Lett, J., McLeod, B., Pesut, B., Porterfield, P., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Roberts, D., Sawatzky, R., Schick-Makaroff, K. (Joined as co-I in 2012.) Funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research - British Columbia Nursing Research Initiative, Team Initiative Grant. 2011-2016. ($870,307)

Integrating a quality of life assessment and practice support system in palliative home care. Sawatzky, R. (PI), Cohen, R. (co-PI), Stajduhar, K. (co-PI). Principal Knowledge User: Tayler, C. Co-Investigators: Bottorff, J., Bryan, P., Dodek, P., Gadermann, A., Ratner, P., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Schick-Makaroff, K., Twang, H., Santana, M. International collaborators: Ewing, G., Grande, G., Ohlen, J., Edwands, T. Knowledge Users: Baxter, S., Beveridge, C., Cory, S., Johnson, M., Lee, H., McLeod, B., Warneboldt, J. Trainees: Laforest, E., Wang, S. Funded by Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network, 2014 Catalyst Grant Program. This research is in partnership with: J. Voth & Intogrey Research & Development; Fraser Health; The Canadian Virtual Hospice; and Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. 2015-2016. ($99,983)

Supporting successful implementation of public health interventions: A realist synthesis. MacDonald, M. (PI), Pauly, B. (Co-PI). Principal Knowledge User: Paton, A. Knowledge Users: Buchner, C., Dickenson Smith, K., Lee, V., Martin, C., O'Brian, W., Co-Applicants: Carroll, S., Hancock, R., Kothari, A., Schick-Makaroff, K. Collaborator: Wong, G. Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Knowledge Synthesis Spring 2014. 2014-2015. ($100,000)

Integrating quality of life assessments into acute care for older adults with chronic life-limiting illnesses. Sawatzky, R. (PI), Cohen, R. (co-PI), Stajduhar, K. (co-PI). Co-Investigators: Schick-Makaroff, K., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Bottorff, J., Stirling, B., Dodek, P., Gadermann, A., Heyland, D., Kogan, N., Ohlen, J., Tsang, H. Principal Knowledge Users: Taylor, C. Knowledge Users: Cuthbertson, L., Garland, E., Lauck, S., McGladrey, J., McLeod, B., Roberts, D., Tabrizi, S., Hilliard, N., Neufeld, C., Baxter, S., Cory, S. Highly Qualified Personnel: Donald, E., Harding, W., Wolfs, D., Lett, J., Laforest, E. Funded by Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network, 2014 Catalyst Program. ($99,856)


Teaching

Dr. Schick-Makaroff has taught NURS 512 (Quantitative Research), INTD 660/NURS 687 (Advanced Principles and Practice of Qualitative Inquiry), INTD 690 (Knowledge Utilization), and NURS 560/660 (Writing in Grad School).

Whether in a classroom or an alternative setting, she invites students to actively contribute in the co-creation of an environment that fosters curiosity about the focus of our studies.

Courses

NURS 590 - Community of Inquiry II - Research Question and Literature Review

Explore development of questions appropriate for systematic research and inquiry. Emphasis is placed on locating and exploring literature that informs the current state and limits of knowledge relevant to the student's selected advanced focus area of study. Prerequisite: NURS 589.


Browse more courses taught by Kara Schick-Makaroff

Publications

Use of patient-reported outcomes in the care of people with chronic kidney disease (PRO Kidney): A realist synthesis.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Levay, A., Thompson, S., Flynn, R., Sawatzky, R., Thummapol, O., Klarenbach, S., Karimi-Dehkordi, M., & Greenhalgh, J.
Publication Date: 6/10/2021
Publication: The Patient – Patient-Centred Outcomes Research.
Volume: Epub ahead of print
Page Numbers: 1-18
External Link: https://rdcu.be/cmj0W

Using patient- and family-reported outcome and experience measures across transitions of care for frail older adults living at home: A meta-narrative synthesis.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Karimi-Dehkordi, M., Cuthbertson, L., Dixon D., Cohen, S. R., Hilliard, N., & Sawatzky, R.
Publication Date: 4/1/2021
Publication: The Gerontologist
Volume: 61
Issue: 3
Page Numbers: e23-e38
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnz162

Use of electronic patient reported outcomes in the care of patients with kidney failure.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K. & Mharapara, P.
Publication Date: 9/1/2020
Publication: Nephrology Nursing Journal
Volume: 47
Issue: 5
Page Numbers: 465-472
External Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33107719/

Divergent perspectives on the use of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (Revised) in palliative care.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., & Sawatzky, R.
Publication Date: 2/1/2020
Publication: Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing
Volume: 22
Issue: 1
Page Numbers: 75-81
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000617

Use of electronic patient reported outcomes in clinical nephrology practice: A qualitative pilot study.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Tate, K., & Molzahn, A.
Publication Date: 9/30/2019
Publication: Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
Volume: 6
Page Numbers: 1-9
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/2054358119879451

Guidance for ethical leadership in nursing codes of ethics.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., & Storch, J.
Publication Date: 3/1/2019
Publication: Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership
Volume: 32
Issue: 1
Page Numbers: 60-73
External Link: https://www.longwoods.com/content/25848

Strategies for incorporating patient-reported outcomes in the care of people with chronic kidney disease (PRO kidney): Protocol for a realist synthesis.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Thummapol, O., Thompson, S., Flynn, R., Karimi-Dehkordi, M., Klarenbach, S., Sawatzky, R., & Greenhalgh, J.
Publication Date: 1/12/2019
Publication: BMC Systematic Review
Volume: 8
Issue: 20
Page Numbers: 1-10
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-018-0911-6

Symptoms, coping, and quality of life of people with CKD.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Molzahn, A., & Kalfoss, M.
Publication Date: 7/1/2018
Publication: Nephrology Nursing Journal
Volume: 45
Issue: 4
Page Numbers: 339-346 & 355
External Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328250765_Symptoms_Coping_and_Quality_of_Life_of_People_with_Chronic_Kidney_Disease

Evaluation of real-time use of electronic patient-reported outcome data by nurses with patients in home dialysis clinics.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., & Molzahn, A.
Publication Date: 2017
Publication: BMC Health Services Research
Volume: 17
Issue: 439
External Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5485695/

What synthesis methodology should I use? A review and analysis of approaches to research synthesis.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., MacDonald, M., Plummer, M., Burgess, J., & Neander, W.
Publication Date: 2016
Publication: AIMS Public Health
Volume: 3
Issue: 1
Page Numbers: 172-215
External Link: http://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/publichealth.2016.1.172/pdf

Strategies to use tablet computers for collection of electronic patient-reported outcomes.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K. & Molzahn, A.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
External Link: http://www.hqlo.com/content/pdf/s12955-014-0205-1.pdf

Searching for ethical leadership in nursing

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Storch, J., Pauly, B., & Newton, L.
Publication Date: 2014
Publication: Nursing Ethics
Volume: 21
Issue: 6
Page Numbers: 642-658
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733013513213

Patient satisfaction with the use of tablet computers: A pilot study in two outpatient home dialysis clinics.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., & Molzahn, A.
Publication Date: 2014
Publication: Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
Volume: 1
Issue: 22
External Link: http://www.cjkhd.org/content/pdf/s40697-014-0022-9.pdf

Symbolic representations of living with chronic kidney disease.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Sheilds, L., & Molzahn, A.
Publication Date: 11/1/2013
Publication: Nephrology Nursing Journal
Volume: 40
Issue: 6
Page Numbers: 517-526
External Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260439591_Symbolic_Representations_of_Living_With_Chronic_Kidney_Disease

Stories of chronic kidney disease: Listening for the unsayable.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K., Sheilds, L., & Molzahn, A.
Publication Date: 4/17/2013
Publication: Journal of Advanced Nursing
Volume: 69
Issue: 12
Page Numbers: 2644-2653
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12149

The unsayable: A concept analysis.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K.
Publication Date: 7/5/2012
Publication: Journal of Advanced Nursing
Volume: 69
Issue: 2
Page Numbers: 481-492
External Link: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06083.x

Experiences of kidney failure: A qualitative meta-synthesis.

Author(s): Schick-Makaroff, K.
Publication Date: 2012
Publication: Nephrology Nursing Journal
Volume: 39
Issue: 1
Page Numbers: 21-29 & 80
External Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223961630_Experiences_of_Kidney_Failure_A_Qualitative_Meta-Synthesis