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

Area of Study / Keywords

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

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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 CKD - KRESCENT 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)

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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)

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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.

Schick-Makaroff, K., Levay, A., Thompson, S., Flynn, R., Sawatzky, R., Thummapol, O., Klarenbach, S., Karimi-Dehkordi, M., & Greenhalgh, J.

The Patient – Patient-Centred Outcomes Research. . 2021 June; Epub ahead of print

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Karimi-Dehkordi, M., Cuthbertson, L., Dixon D., Cohen, S. R., Hilliard, N., & Sawatzky, R.

The Gerontologist. 2021 April; 61 (3):e23-e38

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Schick-Makaroff, K. & Mharapara, P.

Nephrology Nursing Journal. 2020 September; 47 (5):465-472

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Schick-Makaroff, K., & Sawatzky, R.

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. 2020 February; 22 (1):75-81

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Tate, K., & Molzahn, A.

Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease. 2019 September; 6

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Schick-Makaroff, K., & Storch, J.

Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership. 2019 March; 32 (1):60-73

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Thummapol, O., Thompson, S., Flynn, R., Karimi-Dehkordi, M., Klarenbach, S., Sawatzky, R., & Greenhalgh, J.

BMC Systematic Review. 2019 January; 8 (20):1-10

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Molzahn, A., & Kalfoss, M.

Nephrology Nursing Journal. 2018 July; 45 (4):339-346 & 355

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Schick-Makaroff, K., & Molzahn, A.

BMC Health Services Research. 2017 January; 17 (439)

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Schick-Makaroff, K., MacDonald, M., Plummer, M., Burgess, J., & Neander, W.

AIMS Public Health. 2016 January; 3 (1):172-215

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Schick-Makaroff, K. & Molzahn, A.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2015 January; 13 (2)

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Storch, J., Pauly, B., & Newton, L.

Nursing Ethics. 2014 January; 21 (6):642-658

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Schick-Makaroff, K., & Molzahn, A.

Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease. 2014 January; 1 (22)

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Sheilds, L., & Molzahn, A.

Nephrology Nursing Journal. 2013 November; 40 (6):517-526

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Schick-Makaroff, K., Sheilds, L., & Molzahn, A.

Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2013 April; 69 (12):2644-2653

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Schick-Makaroff, K.

Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2012 July; 69 (2):481-492

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Schick-Makaroff, K.

Nephrology Nursing Journal. 2012 January; 39 (1):21-29 & 80