March 2026

In this issue: Discover cutting-edge research happening right here in Windsor-Essex! Each edition of Community Connector brings you stories highlighting WE-SPARK’s research pillars: Cancer, Community Health and Well-Being, and Behavioural and Brain Health. This issue features 3 recent publications focused on:

1. How Media Stories Shape Public Views on Youth Drug Use and Safer Supply
2. Examining Treatment Combinations for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
3. Making Hospital Stays Safer by Preventing Falls in Older Adults

Each quarter, we will translate the research publications and highlight why it is important.

Special thanks to our University of Windsor Nursing Interns, Pushti Patel and Sarah Khan, and to Cancer Undergraduate Research Education (CUREs) student, Alexia Barbu, for creating this issue of the Community Connector.

1

Mapping A Moral Panic: News Media Narratives and Medical Expertise in Public Debates on Safer Supply, Diversion, and Youth Drug Use in Canada

Team: Liam Michaud, Gillian Kolla, Katherine Rudzinski, Adrian Guta

What Is The Issue?

The backlash against safer supply programs (SSP) in Canada, driven by media commentators, frames these initiatives as fueling a "new opioid epidemic" despite a lack of empirical evidence. These unsubstantiated claims can create moral panic, influence policy and undermine healthcare access for people who use drugs.

Key Methods

This study employs situational analysis to map how narratives about safer supply programs and their alleged harms emerged and gained traction in Canadian news media in early 2023.

It analyzes the role of politicians, addiction medicine physicians, media commentators, and recovery industry representatives in shaping public discourse.

It conducts a media analysis of major Canadian newspapers using search terms related to safer supply, opioids, and addiction. It examines commentaries from medical journals (2000-2023) to assess expert contributions to public discourse on drug-related healthcare interventions.

Themes are derived, such as youth and medication.

Results

Tensions exist between SSPs and traditional addiction treatments, particularly regarding concerns over medication diversion. Medical experts often contribute to resistance against harm-reduction policies. Public attitudes towards SSPs are influenced by ideological, racial, and class dimensions.

This research showed that safer supply programs promote reduction in:

• Number of patients in the emergency rooms
• Healthcare costs
• Incidence of infection
• Drug overdose
• Reliance on unregulated drugs
• Injection-related complications

Why Is This Important?

Media narratives shape public perception and policy decisions regarding safer supply programs. By critically examining the backlash against these programs, it sheds light on how misinformation or moral panic can influence healthcare access for people who use drugs. For the community, this research shows the benefits of safer supply. Understanding these impacts can help local policymakers, healthcare providers, and residents advocate for evidence-based approaches to substance use treatment rather than policies driven by stigma or misinformation.

2

Long-Term Survival in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Bone-Only Metastatic Breast Cancer: Trastuzumab, Denosumab, and Potential Synergistic Effects



Team: Rahman Ladak, Bre-Anne Fifield, Lisa Porter, Khalid Hirmiz, Caroline Hamm

Results



All 3 patients had expectational long-term survival (11-17 years) without disease progression. This goes beyond the prior survival time record for this cancer (less than 14 years). It was found that denosumab may enhance trastuzumab's effectiveness by reducing drug resistance. 1 case also involved a non-severe bone fracture linked to prolonged treatment.

Why is This Important?

This study highlights real Windsor-Essex cases where trastuzumab and denosumab were used together in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that had spread to the bones. While the results don't prove the combination is the reason for the long survival seen, they raise an important question about whether these two treatments might work better together in certain situations. By documenting these outcomes locally, the study gives physicians in our region valuable information to consider when caring for patients with similar diagnoses.

3

Reducing Falls in Inpatient Older Adults: Quality Improvement Initiative

Team: Munira Sultana, Catherine Taylor, Danica McPhee, Antionette Chandler, Huzafa Hyde, Iman Yekinni, Nahiyan Sayeed, Matt Bessey

What Is The Issue?

Falls are one of the most common and serious concerns for older adults in hospitals. Falls can result in physical injuries and even death, contributing to increased hospital system costs and use of resources. These issues emphasize the need to prevent falls to ensure patient safety and reduce financial difficulty.

Key Methods

A quality improvements project to help reduce falls among older patients was conduced and implemented in the inpatient unit at Erie Shores HealthCare. The main components of this project included a fall risk screening at admission, conducting monthly meetings, and ensuring a fall prevention package was in place for high fall-risk patients. This consisted of the following coordinated measures:

• Monitoring patients through communication with security and the use of patient sitters.
• Ensuring bed height and side rails were adjusted according to clinical orders.
• Identifying high fall-risk patients with door signage and colour-coded wristbands.
• Maintaining a clutter-free and safe environment.
• Education patients and families about fall risks, with translation services provided when needed.
• Daily audits to ensure safe environment and fall bundle is in place for our high-risk fall patients.
• Monthly education emails to our Quality Improvement Projects related to falls and the impact they have on the hospital.

Results

This study proved that the fall prevention package was an effective in-hospital intervention, reducing falls by 30% and decreasing hospital costs by saving approximately $8,900. Over half of the patients who fell had cognitive impairment, showing how important it is to tailer fall-prevention strategies for this group. However, while falls decreased, it was noted that fall-related injuries were still the leading cause of re-admission. Highlighting the need for community prevention strategies.

Why Is This Important?

With an aging population in Windsor-Essex, these strategies are relevant for families, caregivers, and health-care providers across our region. This study offers useful insight into effective fall-prevention measures to support the older adult population and reduce healthcare costs. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for future research to incorporate medication counselling and post-discharge follow-up phone calls to sustain the positive effects of the fall reduction program in the community.