Biography
My research focuses on methods of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and quality of life measurement, and the intersections of spirituality, religiosity, culture, and other sources of diversity in various healthcare contexts, including those for people with chronic life-limiting conditions. I have particular interest in examining the implications of population heterogeneity with respect to individuals’ self-reports about their health status and quality of life. My current research includes studies about a palliative approach in nursing, the use of computerized assessment systems, methods for the measurement of quality of life in longitudinal studies, spiritual and religious diversity in healthcare, educational approaches for patients with colorectal cancer, and patients' experiences with knee surgery. My clinical background is in palliative care and medical nursing care. I have been part of the School of Nursing faculty at TWU since 2002 and have taught in undergraduate courses on nursing research, medical and surgical nursing, nursing care of older adults, and health assessment. I teach courses on knowledge synthesis and quantitative research methods in the master of science in nursing program.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (2007)
University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Dissertation: The Measurement of Quality of Life and its Relationship with Perceived Health Status in Adolescents.Funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the Canadian Nurses Foundation
• 
full text of dissertation 
dissertation slides
• Related publications and presentations
Master of Science in Nursing (2002)
University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Thesis: A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Spirituality and Quality of life
• full text of thesis thesis slides
• Related publication
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1999)
Trinity Western University, Langley, BC, Canada
Areas of Expertise
patient reported outcomes measurement; quality of life; spirituality in nursing and health care; psychometrics; item response theory; computerized adaptive testing
Scholarship Interests & Involvements
Current research activities
- Palliative Care without Borders: Rural Integrated Palliative Approach Team.
Pesut, B. (PI), Hooper, B., Robinson, C., Bottorff, J., Sawatzky, R., Clarke, W., Lehbauer, S., Nutinii, T., Nielsen, B., Jacobsen, M. Peter Wall Foundation. (2012/02-2014/02, $110,000 per annum).
- A mixed methods knowledge synthesis about nursing care delivery and practice supports for a palliative approach.
R. Sawatzky (Researcher Co-Leader), P. Porterfield (Practitioner Co-Leader), K. Stajduhar, J. Baumbusch, B. Pesut, S. Reimer-Kirkham, D. Roberts, C. Tayler, T. Schalkwyk, & S. Thorne. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, British Columbia Nursing Research Initiative (2012-2014, $125,000 per annum).
- A mixed methods knowledge synthesis of a palliative approach.
Stajduhar (co-PI), Sawatzky (co-PI) & team. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2011-2012, $100,000).
- Why are so many patients dissatisfied with knee replacement surgery? Exploring variations of the patient experience.
R. Mehin (Co-PI), S. Bryan (Co-PI), J. Davis, L.J. Goldsmith, R. Sawatzky, & M. Wasdell. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2011-2014, $339.600).
- Person centred communication and information for colorectal cancer patients from diagnosis to the recovery following surgery: Development of a clinical team oriented intervention model.
J. Öhlén (PI), F. Friberg, E. Carlsson, G. Carlsson, H. Rystedt, L. Hydén, S. Määttä, R. Sawatzky, R. Kokkinakis, & M. Forsberg. University of Gothenburg, Centre for Person-Centred Care (2011/03-2014/02, SEK 4 225 000).
- Integration of a Palliative Approach for Nursing.
K. I. Stadjuhar (Co-PI), C. Tayler (Co-PI), R. Sawatzky and 12 other co-investigators. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (12/2010-11/2014, $800,000). See: http://www.ipanel.ca
- Developing seamless cardiac care for rural populations.
B. Pesut (Co-PI), C. Laberge (Co-PI), R. Sawatzky(Co-investigator). Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (04/2011-03/2012, $10,000).
- The Analysis of Longitudinal Health-Related Quality of Life Data: Statistical Methods for Response Shift.
L. Lix (PI), N. Mayo, T. Sajobi, J. Liu, R. Sawatzky. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (04/2010-03/2012, $200.000).
- Patient-reported health outcomes. Addressing biases in computerized adaptive assessment systems.
R. Sawatzky (PI), P.A. Ratner, B.D. Zumbo, J.A. Kopec, A. Wu. Trinity Western University Internal Grant (12/2009-09/2011, $2,000).
- Considering Place: Religious, Spiritual and Cultural Plurality in Home Health Care.
S. Reimer Kirkham (PI), S. Grypma, B. Pesut, R. Sawatzky, & S. Sharma. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (04/2009-03/2012, $139,440).
- Ongoing research: Validating a computerized adaptive test to evaluate the impact of joint problems on quality of life.
R. Sawatzky, J.A. Kopec, P.A. Ratner, and B.D. Zumbo (University of British Columbia). Post-doctoral funding for this research was provided by: Canadian Arthritis Network (09/2008-09/2009, $25,000); Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (09/2008-09/2009, $17,000 + $4,000); Arthritis Research Centre of Canada (09/2008-09/2009, $21,655).
This research contributes to the development of a computerized system to obtain information from patients about the impact of arthritis on health outcomes (including daily activities, walking ability, handling objects, pain or discomfort, and emotional well-being) that are relevant to their quality of life. Further information about this project is available a
• http://net.arthritisresearch.ca/oapublic/about/projects/proj17.htm
• http://www.msfhr.org/who_we_fund/archive/2008/RichardSawatzky
- Ongoing research: An analysis of the media discourse related to cannabis use.
J. Johnson (PI), M.L. Young, P.A. Ratner, R. Sawatzky, R. Haines, L. Greaves, J.A. Shoveler, A. Ostry, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, $100,000.
Completed research activities
- The negotiation of religious plurality in health care services.
Reimer-Kirkham (PI), H. Meyerhoff, B. Pesut, R. Sawatzky (collaborator). Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, $63,341.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the negotiation of religious plurality in health care settings, and the social, cultural, historical, economic, and political contexts that shape these social dynamics.
- The use of innovative clinical placements in nursing education: A national survey.
Reimer Kirkham, C. Hoe Harwood, L. R. Terblanche, R. Sawatzky. Western Region Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing, Nursing Education Research Grant, $2,500. Click here for further information about this project.
- Toward an explanation of observed ethnic differences in youths' tobacco use.
The purpose of this study is to examine whether the difference in our observed smoking rates of Asian and white youth could be accounted for by demographic (gender, employment status, parental education, and income) and social factors including differences in youths' relationships with their parents, immigration status (born in Canada), and environmental smoking characteristics such as exposure to peers or parents that smoke. This study is completed incollaboration with Dr. Ratner and Dr. Johnson at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing.
- A Meta-anaysis of the relationship between spirituality and quality of life.
• Masters thesis on spirituality and quality of life
• Slides on Spirituality and Quality of Life
- Examining the relationships between health outcomes and quality of life in adults with and without chronic conditions.
R. Sawatzky & P.A. Ratner. Project approved by Statistical Canada for use of Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 2.1) data).
- Examining the relationship between spirituality and quality of life in adolescents.
R. Sawatzky, A. Gaderman and B. Pesut.
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Examining the relationship between quality of life and perceived health status in adolescents.
This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the degree of doctor of science in philosophy at the school of nursing of the University of British Columbia and was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
• Click here for related publications and presentations.
• full text of dissertation dissertation slides
Publications
Refereed papers | Book chapters | Selected abstracts and presentations
Refereed papers
Lix, L.M., Tolulope, T., Sawatzky, R., Liu, J., Mayo, N.E., Huang, Y., Graff, L.A., Walker, J.R., Ediger, J., Clara, I., Sexton, K., Carr, R., Bernstein, C.N. (in press; accepted May 6, 2012). Relative importance measures for reprioritization response shift. Quality of Life Research.
Voth, J., Sawatzky, R., Ratner, P.A., Young, M.L., Repta, R., Haines-Saah, R., & Johnson, J.L. (first published online: January 3, 2011). A computer-assisted approach to filtering large numbers of documents for media analyses. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. doi: 10.1080/13645579.2011.645700. Publisher link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2011.645700
Sawatzky, R., Ratner, P.A., Richardson, C.G., Washburn, C., Sudmant, W., & Mirwaldt, P. (2012). Stress and depression in students: The mediating role of stress-management self-efficacy. Nursing Research, 61(1), 13-21. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e31823b1440. (PubMed)
Sawatzky, R., Ratner, P.A., Kopec, J.A., & Zumbo, B.D. (2011). Latent variable mixture models: A promising approach for the validation of patient reported outcomes. Quality of Life Research, 21(4), pp. 637-650. DOI:10.1007/s11136-011-9976-6. (PubMed) |Publisher link: http://www.springerlink.com/content/d75x0730635770r4/ |Pre-published version: (PDF)
Reimer-Kirkham, S., Sharma, S., Pesut, B., Sawatzky, R., Meyerhoff, H., Cochrane, M. (In press. Accepted: June 17, 2011). Sacred spaces in public places: Religious and spiritual plurality in healthcare. Nursing Inquiry.
Pesut, B., Reimer-Kirkham, S. & Sawatzky, R. (2010). Hospitable hospitals in a diverse society: From chaplains to spiritual care providers. Journal of Religion and Health. doi:10.1007/s10943-010-9392-1 (PubMed) Full text: http://www.springerlink.com/content/y459357497624256/
Sawatzky, R., Ratner, P.A., Johnson, J.L., Kopec, J.A., & Zumbo, B.D. (2010). Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: A latent variable mediation model. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 8, 17-50. (PubMed) Full text: http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/17
Hoe-Harwood, C., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Sawatzky, R., Terblanche, L., & Van Hofwegen, L. (2009). Innovation in community clinical placements: A Canadian survey. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 6(1), article 28. (PubMed) Full text: http://www.bepress.com/ijnes/vol6/iss1/art28
Published contributions to a collective work and book chapters
R. Sawatzky & L. Terblanche (in press; accepted February 14, 2011). The measurement of religious concepts in nursing. In M. Fowler, E. Johnston Taylor, B. Pesut, S. Reimer-Kirkham, & R. Sawatzky. Religion, Religious Ethics, and Nursing. Springer. (Publisher Link).
Ratner, P.A., & Sawatzky, R. (2011). Approaches to the measurement of gender. In: J.L. Oliffe & L. Greaves (Eds.), Designing gender, sex, and health research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (Pu blisher Link).
Thorne, S. & Sawatzky, R. (2007). Particularizing the general: Challenges in teaching the structure of evidence-based nursing practice. In: J. Drummond & P. Standish (Eds.), Philosophy of nurse education: Towards a philosophy of nursing and health care professional education (pp. 161-175). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. (Publisher Link).
Sawatzky, R. (2006). A meta-analysis of the relationship between spirituality and quality of life: A thesis proposal. In M.J. Wood, M.J., & J. Ross-Kerr (eds.), Basic steps in planning nursing research (pp. 381-429). Boston: Jones & Bartlett.
Selected abstracts and presentations
Sawatzky, R., Ratner, P.A., Kopec, J.A., Wu, A, & Zumbo, B.D. (2010). Examining the implications of sample heterogeneity with respect to the measurement validity of computerized adaptive tests. Quality of Life Research, 19(suppl. 1), 128-129. London, UK, October 27-30, 2010. (PDF)
Memberships & Affiliations
- Visiting Associate Professor, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing (www.nursing.ubc.ca)
- Research Scientist, Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences (www.cheos.ubc.ca)
- Member of the International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL)
- Member of the International Society of Quality of Life Studies (ISQOLS)
Courses Taught at TWU
- Nursing Inquiry II (quantitative methods) (N540)
- Knowledge synthesis (N520)
- Consolidation of Nursing Practice (N482)
- Nursing Research (N332)
- Nursing Care of Older Adults (N245)
- Health Assessment (N116)
Awards & Honours
- Applied Research in Quality of Life (ARQOLS) Best Paper Award 2009 for: Sawatzky, R., Gadermann, A., Pesut, B. (2009). An investigation of the relationships between spirituality, health status and quality of life in adolescents. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 4, 5-22. Presented by the International Society for Quality of Life Studies & Springer Publishers, December, 2010.
- New Investigator Award for an oral presentation entitled "Latent class factor analysis of SF-36 physical function indicates lack of invariance of discrimination and difficulty parameters", International Society of Quality of Life Research, October 25, 2008.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, "Validating a Computer Adaptive Test for the Measurement of Health Outcomes in Adults with Musculoskeletal Disorders", Arthritis Research Center, Canada, Effective: 09/2008-09/2009, $15,000.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, "Validating a Computer Adaptive Test for the Measurement of Health Outcomes in Adults with Musculoskeletal Disorders", Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Canada, Effective: 09/2008-09/2009, $10,000 (plus $7,000 incentive stipend and $4,000 research and travel allowance).
- Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. "Validating a Computer Adaptive Test for the Measurement of Health Outcomes Relevant to Arthritis", Canadian Arthritis Network, Effective: 09/2008-09/2009, $25,000.
- Student Award for a poster entitled "The Mediating Effect of Physical Activity on Chronic Disease and Health Outcomes in Older Adults", International Society of Quality of Life Research, October 14, 2006.
- Flora S Musgrave Scholarship in Nursing, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, Canada, Effective: 08/24/2006, $1,000.
- Ethel Johns and Isabel Maitland Stewart Memorial Scholarship, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, Canada, Effective: 09/2005, $2,900.
- Doctoral Award - Canadian Nurses Foundation, Canada, Effective: 06/2005-06/2006, $3,000.
- Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Awards, Canadian Institute for Health Research, Canada, Effective: 09/2004-09/2007, $35,000 per annum.
- Senior Graduate Studentship Award - Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Canada, Effective: 09/2004-09/2007, $7,000 per annum.
- Margaret A Campbell Scholarship, University of British Columbia, School of Graduate Studies, Canada, Effective: 09/2003, $2,400.
- Graduate Entrance Scholarship, University of British Columbia, School of Graduate Studies, Canada, Effective: 09/2003, $3,600.
- Katherine McMillan Director's Discretionary Fund, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, Canada, Effective: 05/2002, Ending: 05/2003, Spirituality and Quality of Life Research, $2,000.
- Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, Canada, $500, April 2002.
- Academic Excellence Award, Trinity Western University, Nursing Department, Canada, April 1999.