Judith Lapierre

Background: The number of international migrants continues to rise globally, particularly in countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This growing diversity presents sociopolitical challenges related to social cohesion, which are also reflected in academic settings. Some individuals are exposed to different forms of discrimination based on skin color, including both racial microaggressions and macroaggressions. Racism is a major determinant of health and has deleterious effects on those exposed to it. Objective: This protocol aims to analyze and synthesize existing knowledge on racial aggressions, both macroaggressions and microaggressions, experienced by Black individuals as students or members of the teaching staff (including lecturers and professors) in university contexts across OECD countries. The research question posed for this purpose is as follows: What does the scientific literature reveal about racial aggressions (both macroaggressions and microaggressions) experienced by Black individuals as students or members of the teaching staff in university contexts across OECD countries? Methods: This integrative review protocol is developed in accordance with the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) guidelines. An integrative review will be conducted following the framework of Whittemore and Knafl. It will be carried out in 7 distinct phases: (1) problem identification, (2) literature search, (3) study selection, (4) data evaluation, (5) data extraction and analysis, (6) data synthesis, and (7) presentation of findings. A literature search will be conducted using electronic databases such as CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus/Web of Science, and Embase to identify studies addressing various forms of racial aggression in academic environments. The methodological framework of Whittemore and Knafl will guide the entire review process, from study selection to data analysis and synthesis. The quality assessment of the studies included in this integrative review will be conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT; 2018 version). Results: The study identification and selection process began in September 2025. A total of 7098 records were identified through electronic database searches. The literature to be reviewed is expected to include studies conducted across multiple OECD countries involving diverse university populations, such as students, faculty, and administrative staff, and using a range of methodological approaches. This integrative review will examine how racial aggressions (both microaggressions and macroaggressions) manifest in academic settings, the strategies developed by Black individuals to cope with these experiences, and their impacts on health and well-being. Study completion is anticipated between August and September 2026. Conclusions: The findings will inform future research on racial aggressions in higher education and contribute to the development of evidence-based prevention strategies. Ultimately, the review aims to support the development of university policies and programs that promote inclusive environments and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities for all students and staff.

Background: The aging Canadian population has led to an increase in Canada’s use of home and community care services. In this context, the healthcare system relies heavily on personal support workers who work in various healthcare settings. A significant proportion of these workers are immigrants, and many live in linguistic minorities. Despite their pivotal role, the experiences and working conditions of these personal support workers are underrepresented in the scientific literature, specifically in intersectional analyses. This scoping review aims to examine the work experiences, health conditions, and well-being of immigrant personal support workers in Canada who work in a minority language setting. Eligibility criteria: Studies addressing the work experiences, health conditions, and well-being of immigrant personal support workers in Canada who work in a minority language setting, and those published in English or French. There will have no restrictions on publication date. Method: This review will follow the JBI recommendations for scoping reviews and incorporate the PRISMA-ScR checklist. We will develop an adapted search strategy for five relevant databases (Medline [Ovide], Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholar). Two independent reviewers will select full-text articles based on pre-established inclusion criteria and extracted relevant data. The results will be presented in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. This scoping review contributes to expanding knowledge about the professional, health, and social realities of immigrant PSWs in Canada’s linguistic minority communities.

Background: Cannabis use (CU) among young adults continues to be an important public health issue. Interventions to support lower-risk CU during young adulthood can improve health outcomes. Mobile applications constitute a promising mode of service delivery. However, there is a lack of evidence-based apps specifically developed for young adult cannabis users. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability of a novel mobile app intervention (Joint Effort) and to assess the feasibility and outcome responsiveness of the study procedures used. Methods: A pilot study with a parallel-group randomized trial design was conducted with Canadian-based university students aged 18‐30 years reporting using cannabis ≥1 day in the past month. Participants were randomly assigned on a 1:1 ratio to either an experimental group (EG) involving the use of the Joint Effort mobile app or to a control group (CG) involving a web-based brief normative feedback message. The Joint Effort mobile app was designed to support CU self-management. This theory-informed behavior change intervention aims to reinforce the use of protective behavioral strategies by targeting intention, attitude, social norms, and self-efficacy. The app’s acceptability was assessed via uptake, engagement, and appreciation. The feasibility of study procedures was assessed via recruitment time, recruitment rate, and attrition rate. Outcome responsiveness was informed by participant-reported outcomes: CU frequency, intention to take action on CU, protective behavioral strategies use, severity of dependence, and psychological distress. All data were collected using a web-based survey at baseline, one-month (T1), and 2-month (T2) postbaseline. Descriptive analyses were carried out on all outcomes. Results: The recruitment period lasted 124 days, and the recruitment rate was 56% (99/178). The final dataset analyzed included 80 participants (39 in EG and 41 in CG). Mean age was 23.4 (SD 2.6) years, and 66% (53/80) self-identified as women. Study attrition was 18% (14/80). User uptake of the Joint Effort app (ie, proportion of participants in the EG who downloaded the app) was estimated at 59% (23/39), and the average time spent on it per participant was 8.2 minutes (SD 7.3; median 7.5, IQR 5.7). The app obtained a mean total score on the User Engagement Scale-Short Form of 3.8/5 (SD 0.5) and a mean app quality total score of 4.2/5 (SD 0.5) on the end user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale. The proportion of participants who reported daily CU in the past month decreased from 13% (5/39) at baseline to 4% (1/24) at T2 in the EG and from 7% (3/41) to 6% (2/36) in the CG. Conclusions: Joint Effort appears to be a promising, acceptable, and scalable mobile app to help young adult cannabis users who wish to better manage their CU. Findings should inform future randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of this mobile-based intervention for cannabis users.

Background: Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis use (CU) has further highlighted the need for innovative interventions that promote lower-risk CU. Young adults aged 18-25 years represent the age group with the highest prevalence of CU. Protective behavioral strategies (PBSs) have been shown to help manage CU and reduce its negative consequences. To date, only a few interventions have focused on PBSs. To address this gap, a mobile app prototype using PBSs to influence CU was developed with and for young adults. Objective: This study aims to describe the development process and usability testing of Joint Effort, a CU self-management mobile app prototype centered on promoting the use of PBSs among young adults with any past 30-day CU. Methods: Intervention mapping (IM) and a co-design approach were used. Six steps were followed: (1) focus groups were conducted to identify needs and preferences regarding CU interventions; (2) a matrix of change objectives was used to select target behaviors and determinants; (3) theory-based intervention methods and practical applications were selected; (4) focus groups were held to validate the intervention structure and examples of tailored messages; (5) preliminary intervention content was created; and (6) the intervention content was transposed into a mobile app prototype. Usability was assessed through qualitative semistructured interviews and the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS), completed by a sample of 20 university students with a mean age of 21.8 (median 22) years, 14 (70%) of whom were women and 15 (75%) were undergraduates. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified from the interviews: Joint Effort was visually pleasing and easy to use; the content was well-adapted to the target audience and nonjudgmental; customization functions were appreciated; and the app was perceived as helpful and relevant for initiating behavior change. The prototype received a mean quality score of 4.43/5.0 (SD 0.53) per item on the uMARS. The mean scores on the 5 subscales were as follows: engagement (4.14, SD 0.53), functionality (4.60, SD 0.47), aesthetics (4.53, SD 0.52), information quality (4.44, SD 0.61), and subjective quality (3.36, SD 0.53). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the added value of IM and a co-design approach, underscoring the importance of incorporating user feedback in the development of mobile apps. Building on the strong usability results, the Joint Effort prototype has since been developed into an iOS mobile app, and larger-scale evaluations are currently underway to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy.

BACKGROUND Cannabis use (CU) among young adults continues to be an important public health issue. Interventions to support lower-risk CU during young adulthood can improve health outcomes. Mobile applications constitute a promising mode of service delivery. However, there is a lack of evidence-based apps specifically developed for young adult cannabis users. OBJECTIVE The current study aimed to evaluate the acceptability of a novel mobile app intervention (Joint Effort) and to assess the feasibility and outcome responsiveness of the study procedures used. METHODS A pilot study with a parallel-group randomized trial design was conducted with Canadian-based university students aged 18¬–30 reporting using cannabis ≥1 day in the past month. Participants were randomly assigned on a 1:1 ratio to either an experimental group (EG) involving the use of the Joint Effort mobile app or to a control group (CG) involving a web-based brief normative feedback message. The Joint Effort mobile app was designed to support CU self-management. This theory-informed behavior change intervention aims to reinforce the use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) by targeting intention, attitude, social-norms and self-efficacy. The app’s acceptability was assessed via uptake, engagement, and appreciation. The feasibility of study procedures was assessed via online recruitment time, recruitment rate, and attrition rate. Outcome responsiveness was informed by participant-reported outcomes: CU frequency, intention to take action on CU, PBS use, severity of dependence, and psychological distress. All data were collected using a web-based survey at baseline, one-month (T1) and two-month (T2) post-baseline. Descriptive analyses were carried out on all outcomes. RESULTS The recruitment period lasted 124 days, and the recruitment rate was 55.6%. The final dataset analyzed included 80 participants (39 in EG and in 41 CG). Mean age was 23.4 years (standard deviation (SD) = 2.57) and 66% self-identified as women. Study attrition was 17.5% (14/80). User uptake of the Joint Effort app (i.e. proportion of participants in the EG who downloaded the app) was estimated at 59% (23/39) and the average time spent on it per participant was 8.2 minutes (SD = 7.3; median = 7.5, interquartile range = 5.7). The app obtained a mean total score on the User Engagement Scale - Short Form (UES-SF) of 3.81/5 (SD = 0.46) and a mean app quality total score of 4.20/5 on the end-user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS). The proportion of participants who reported daily CU in the past month decreased from 12.8% at baseline to 4.2% at T2 in the EG and from 7.3% to 5.6% in the CG. CONCLUSIONS Joint Effort appears to be a promising, acceptable, and scalable mobile app to help young adult cannabis users who wish to better manage their CU. Findings should inform future randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of this mobile-based intervention for cannabis users. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05099016

BACKGROUND Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis use (CU) has further highlighted the need for innovative interventions that promote lower-risk CU. Young adults aged 18-25 years represent the age group with the highest prevalence of CU. Protective behavioral strategies (PBSs) have been shown to help manage CU and reduce its negative consequences. To date, only a few interventions have focused on PBSs. To address this gap, a mobile app prototype using PBSs to influence CU was developed with and for young adults. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the development process and usability testing of Joint Effort, a CU self-management mobile app prototype centered on promoting the use of PBSs among young adults with any past 30-day CU. METHODS Intervention mapping (IM) and a co-design approach were used. Six steps were followed: (1) focus groups were conducted to identify needs and preferences regarding CU interventions; (2) a matrix of change objectives was used to select target behaviors and determinants; (3) theory-based intervention methods and practical applications were selected; (4) focus groups were held to validate the intervention structure and examples of tailored messages; (5) preliminary intervention content was created; and (6) the intervention content was transposed into a mobile app prototype. Usability was assessed through qualitative semistructured interviews and the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS), completed by a sample of 20 university students with a mean age of 21.8 (median 22) years, 14 (70%) of whom were women and 15 (75%) were undergraduates. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Four themes were identified from the interviews: Joint Effort was visually pleasing and easy to use; the content was well-adapted to the target audience and nonjudgmental; customization functions were appreciated; and the app was perceived as helpful and relevant for initiating behavior change. The prototype received a mean quality score of 4.43/5.0 (SD 0.53) per item on the uMARS. The mean scores on the 5 subscales were as follows: engagement (4.14, SD 0.53), functionality (4.60, SD 0.47), aesthetics (4.53, SD 0.52), information quality (4.44, SD 0.61), and subjective quality (3.36, SD 0.53). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the added value of IM and a co-design approach, underscoring the importance of incorporating user feedback in the development of mobile apps. Building on the strong usability results, the Joint Effort prototype has since been developed into an iOS mobile app, and larger-scale evaluations are currently underway to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy.

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender as Práticas e Comportamentos Alimentares Atípicos como elementos do processo de Resiliência de Famílias com Crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista. Método: pesquisa qualitativa do tipo estudo de casos múltiplos. Participaram 25 famílias de cinco estados brasileiros. Os dados foram coletados entre junho de 2021 a agosto de 2022, mediante entrevistas online. Utilizou-se a estratégia analítica geral, tratando seus dados a partir do zero, e a técnica analítica da síntese de casos cruzados. A análise possibilitou a abstração de uma explicação geral teórica. Resultados: emergiram as categorias teóricas: Práticas e Comportamentos Alimentares Atípicos; Percepções sobre as práticas e Estratégias. Dar significado às Práticas e Comportamentos Alimentares Atípicos como elementos do processo de resiliência familiar, é entender que quando a família reconhece e investe nos processos-chave, os compartilham interna e externamente, passam a normalizar as necessidades dos filhos quanto às Práticas e Comportamentos Alimentares. Revelam não limitar o potencial à condição, promovendo o desenvolvimento integral da criança. Identifica-se a autonomia da criança, a organização para um apoio significativo, a fim de promover mudanças e estratégias nas atividades diárias relacionadas à alimentação incluindo a criança. Conclusão: as famílias buscam reconhecer suas crenças, organização e comunicação em relação à alimentação de seus filhos, perscrutam meios para fortalecer o funcionamento e resiliência familiar. A estrutura teórica desenvolvida neste estudo pode ser modificada, no entanto, uma vez validada, poderá ser utilizada por profissionais que atuam na prática clínica com as famílias e no desenvolvimento de intervenções voltadas para a promoção dos processos de resiliência familiar.

Objective: to understand Atypical Eating Practices and Behaviors as elements of the resilience process in families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Method: a qualitative study using a multiple case study approach. Twenty-five families from five Brazilian states participated. Data were collected between June 2021 and August 2022 through online interviews. A general analytical strategy was employed, processing the data from scratch, along with the cross-case synthesis analytical technique. The analysis enabled the abstraction of a general theoretical explanation. Results: the following theoretical categories emerged: Atypical Eating Practices and Behaviors and Perceptions of Practices and Strategies. Assigning meaning to Atypical Eating Practices and Behaviors as elements of the family resilience process involves understanding that when families recognize and invest in key processes, share them internally and externally, they begin to normalize their children's needs regarding eating practices and behaviors. Families demonstrate that they do not limit potential based on the condition, thereby promoting the child’s holistic development. The study identifies the child’s autonomy and the family’s organization to provide meaningful support, aiming to implement changes and strategies in daily food-related activities that include the child. Conclusion: families strive to recognize their beliefs, organization, and communication regarding their children's eating habits, seeking ways to strengthen family functioning and resilience. The theoretical framework developed in this study may be modified; however, once validated, it can be used by professionals working in clinical practice with families and in the development of interventions aimed at promoting family resilience processes.

This systematic integrative review provides a unique pioneering perspective on community support practices in social, community, and cooperative housing, improving our understanding of the practice and its outcomes. Two research questions guided this work: 1) What are the community support practices in social and community housing serving individuals in the context of socioeconomic deprivation in permanent housing structures? And 2) What are the outcomes of the community support practices in social and community housing. Studies describing and/or reporting on outcomes of community support practices in social and community housing (psychosocial, economic, and health/mental health) were included from the journals’ inception to September 2022. A total of 42 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 20 were qualitative, 14 quantitative, and eight mixed-method studies. Of them all, 34 studies reported on public housing, four on community housing, and four on cooperative housing. Results inform practitioners and decision makers on issues related to community practices in permanent supportive housing and their outcomes in relation to tenure orientations and potential impact. Community practice workers are pillars in housing settings who provide bridging, bonding, and linking that builds social capital in adverse conditions. This review provides insight into innovative research avenues in this domain, while bringing to the forefront the fundamental challenges of individual support pathways to collective empowerment, increased health needs, and unequalled peer-tenant support engagement, as well as their precarious conditions. Cette revue systématique intégrative offre une perspective pionnière unique sur les pratiques de soutien communautaire dans les logements sociaux, communautaires et coopératifs, améliorant notre compréhension de ces pratiques telles qu’elles ont évolué et de leurs divers impacts rapportés ou mesurés. Deux questions de recherche ont guidé notre travail : Quelles sont les pratiques de soutien communautaire en logements sociaux et communautaires destinées aux individus en situation de précarité socioéconomique au sein de structures de logements permanents ? Quels sont les impacts des pratiques de soutien communautaire en logements sociaux et communautaires ? Les études décrivant et/ou rapportant les impacts (psychosociaux, économiques, et de santé/santé mentale) des pratiques de soutien communautaire en logements sociaux et communautaires, à partir de la création de chacune des revues ciblées, jusqu’en septembre 2022 ont été considérées. Un total de 42 études a été inclus dans la revue systématique, dont 20 étaient qualitatives, 14 quantitatives et 8 utilisaient des méthodes mixtes. Parmi elles, 34 études portaient sur le logement social, 4 sur le logement communautaire et 4 sur le logement coopératif. Les résultats renseignent les praticiens et les décideurs sur les questions liées aux pratiques communautaires au sein de logements permanents et sur leurs résultats en relation avec les orientations des différents types de tenure et leur impact potentiel. Les intervenants en soutien communautaire sont des piliers dans les milieux de vie, créant des liens sociaux dans des conditions d’adversité par le biais de liens relationnels, d’attachement et instrumentaux. Cette revue narrative offre un aperçu de nouvelles avenues de recherche dans ce domaine, tout en mettant en avant les enjeux fondamentaux liés au passage des pratiques individuelles de soutien à des processus d’autonomisation collective, aux besoins accrus en santé et à l’engagement incomparable des pairs locataires, mais aussi à leur précarité.

This article defines community support for social and community housing in Québec as relating to both individual and collective support practices. It analyzes the comments of stakeholders and managers from six group interviews carried out in 2020 and 2021 as part of broader research on the needs and practices for community support in Québec. The hypothesis defended is that the purpose of community support and its operating methods are as much a collective accompaniment for living environments as an individual accompaniment for tenants, always with a view towards social inclusion, empowerment, and residential stability rather than towards the management of people. On a theoretical and axiological level, the authors base themselves on Nancy Fraser’s critical theory of social justice and on the theory of care with an emphasis on ordinary life and prevention. Cet article définit le soutien communautaire en logement social et communautaire au Québec comme relevant de pratiques d’accompagnement à la fois individuelles et collectives. Il analyse les propos de personnes intervenantes et gestionnaires provenant de six entretiens de groupe réalisés en 2020 et 2021 dans le cours d’une recherche plus ample sur les besoins et les pratiques de soutien communautaire au Québec. L’hypothèse défendue est que la finalité du soutien communautaire et ses modes opératoires tiennent d’un accompagnement tout autant collectif des milieux de vie qu’individuel des personnes locataires, mais cela toujours dans une optique d’inclusion sociale, de développement du pouvoir d’agir et de stabilité résidentielle, et non de prise en charge. D’un point de vue théorique et axiologique, les auteur.e.s font appel à la théorie critique de la justice sociale de Nancy Fraser et à la théorie du care, mettant l’accent par la même sur la vie ordinaire et la prévention.