Marie-Josée Sirois is an occupational therapist and epidemiologist, as well as a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation of the School of Medicine at Laval University. She is a clinical researcher with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and a regular researcher at the CRCHU of Quebec, as well as at the Centre d’Excellence sur le Vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ). Dr. Sirois’ clinical research program aims to maintain the mobility and functioning of frail and traumatized seniors by improving their care in emergency departments and in the community. Her preferred methods are large clinical cohort studies, intervention trials, and the use of large administrative databases.
Aging, injuries and loss of autonomy
In Canada, it is estimated that every year, about 80 out of every 1,000 seniors suffer from an injury; 60% of these injuries are related to falls and restrict the mobility of these people. Motor vehicle accidents are also a major cause of injuries that compromise the mobility of seniors.
At this time, while the vast majority (65%) of those aged 65 who have suffered minor- injuries return home following a consultation at the emergency room, there is no method to evaluate the risk of functional decline, nor a standardized and effective method of management (assessment and intervention) in emergency departments for this population. Epidemiology, clinical course, appropriate emergency services, and the need for follow-up services following emergency visits of seniors with minor injuries remain poorly understood. Furthermore, scientific literature indicates that active and independent seniors who have suffered injuries are likely to limit their activities for fear of getting injured again. This activity restriction may result in physical deconditioning or loss of social interaction, which are known risk factors for functional and mobility decline. Thus, minor trauma could be a precursor to functional disorders and an overall reduction in the quality of life in the elderly.
H-609
Québec, Québec
Canada G1J 1Z4
- Desjardins, AudreyMaster studentaudrey.desjardins@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
- Giroux, MarianneDoctoral studentmarianne.giroux.1@ulaval.camarianne.giroux@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
- Matta Dias, AndréiaEmployeeHôpital Saint-Sacrement+1 418-525-4444, extension 84877andreia.matta-dias.1@ulaval.caandreia.matta-dias@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
1050, Chemin Ste-Foy
K0-17-01
Québec, Qc
Canada G1S 4L8
Assessing the pool activity level (PAL) checklist for use with people with hearing and vision loss
Journal ArticleGeriatr Nurs, 53 , 2023.
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Impacts of Remote Physical Exercises on Functional Status and Mobility among Community-Dwelling Pre-Disabled Seniors during the Covid-19 Lockdown
Journal ArticleJ Nutr Health Aging, 27 (5), 2023.
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Prevalence, management and outcomes of unrecognized delirium in a National Sample of 1,493 older emergency department patients: how many were sent home and what happened to them?
Journal ArticleAge Ageing, 51 (2), 2022.
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Anxiety symptoms and disorders in the first year after sustaining mild traumatic brain injury
Journal ArticleRehabil Psychol, 67 (1), 2022.
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Functional Decline After Nonhospitalized Injuries in Older Patients: Results From the Canadian Emergency Team Initiative Cohort in Elders
Journal ArticleAnn Emerg Med, 80 (2), 2022.
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Cognitive functioning following traumatic brain injury in older adults: associations with social participation and health-related quality of life
Journal ArticleBrain Inj, 36 (9), 2022.
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[Relation between grip strength of independent elders and functional decline following an emergency department visit : a pan-Canadian study]
Journal ArticleRev Med Liege, 76 (12), 2021.
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Understanding the positive outcomes of discharge planning interventions for older adults hospitalized following a fall: a realist synthesis
Journal ArticleBMC Geriatr, 21 (1), 2021.
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Exercise Interventions for Community-Dwelling Older Adults Following an Emergency Department Consultation for a Minor Injury
Journal ArticleJ Aging Phys Act, 29 (2), 2021.
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Feasibility and Acceptability of Remote Physical Exercise Programs to Prevent Mobility Loss in Pre-Disabled Older Adults during Isolation Periods Such as the COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal ArticleJ Nutr Health Aging, 25 (9), 2021.
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Active projects
- Caractérisation de la fragilité et trajectoires de services de santé chez les aînés du Québec, from 2023-08-09 to 2024-09-30
- Dérivation et validation d'un outil de stratification du risque applicable en préhospitalier et visant à identifier les personnes âgées nécessitant des soins urgents ou une hospitalisation à la suite d’une chute, from 2023-10-01 to 2026-09-30
- Implantation d’une clinique de paramédicine communautaire : Projet pilote et adaptation de la CP@Clinic au Québec, from 2024-02-20 to 2025-03-31
- Interventions non pharmacologiques visant la réduction des symptômes comportementaux et psychologiques de la démence (SCPD) chez les personnes âgées hospitalisées présentant un trouble neurocognitif majeur (TNCM), from 2024-05-14 to 2026-03-31
- Optimisation et évaluation d’un programme d’éducation pour vieillir en santé pendant le confinement, from 2021-03-15 to 2024-12-31
- Physiotherapy care in Emergency Departments for Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial and Cost Analysis, from 2021-04-01 to 2024-09-30
Recently finished projects
- La clinique des ainés : une transition innovante des soins pour aînés fragilisés – Éviter le retour à la case départ, from 2019-04-01 to 2024-03-31
- Supporting the creation of a LEARNing INteGrated health system to mobilize context-adapted knowledge with a Wiki platform to Improve the transitions of frail Seniors from from hospitals and emergency Departments to the cOMmunity : The ..., from 2017-04-01 to 2023-03-31