Debra Morgan, Ph.D., R.N.,
Telephone: (306) 966-7905
Facsimile: (306) 966-8799
E-mail: debra.morgan@usask.ca
Dr. Morgan is a Professor and Chair, Rural Health Delivery, at the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA). After obtaining her Registered Nursing diploma in 1974 she worked in various clinical areas before completing her BSN (1986), MN (1989), and PhD (Nursing, 1996) at the University of Saskatchewan. The following three years were spent as a Post-Doctoral Fellow of the Founding Chairs Program of the CCHSA (1996-1997) and the Alzheimer Society of Canada (1997-1999). In 1999 Dr. Morgan joined the faculty of the CCHSA (then the Centre for Agricultural Medicine), where she held a CIHR New Investigator Award from 1999 to 2004. She currently holds a CIHR-SHRF Applied Chair in Health Services & Policy Research, awarded 2009 to 2014.
For more detailed information about Dr. Morgan's research program, the interdisciplinary team, and projects related to rural and remote dementia care, see the Rural Dementia Care website.
Healthcare Delivery Across the Continuum for Rural and Remote Seniors with Dementia
An Applied Chair in Health Services and Policy Research funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF). This 5 year program (2009 to 2014) focuses on the development of an integrated program of research, training/capacity development, and knowledge exchange. The program includes three main objectives focusing on dementia care in rural and remote areas: community-based care, facility-based care, and establishing an international centre of excellence for rural and northern dementia care.
Strategies to Improve the Care of Persons with Dementia in Rural and Remote Areas (Funded by CIHR Institute on Aging, CIHR Institute of Health Services & Policy Research, CIHR Rural & Northern Health Initiative, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, University of Saskatchewan; Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan; and Telehealth Saskatchewan). Team Photo, CIHR article (PDF).
This 5-year study is aimed at improving the care of individuals with dementia in rural and remote Canada. Core projects include:
Developing dementia care decisions through knowledge exchange in rural settings, Principal Investigator: Dorothy Forbes (Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta). Funded by Alzheimer Society of Canada and partners: Canadian Nurses Foundation, CIHR Institute of Aging, and Parkinson Society of Canada. (2010 - 2012)
CIHR-STIHR: Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research: Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem (PHARE), Principal Investigator: John Gordon (Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture). Funded by CIHR (2009 - 2014).
Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC). Principal Investigator: Dr. Carole Estabrooks (College of Nursing, University of Alberta). Saskatchewan Site Leader: Dr. Debra Morgan. Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2007 - 2012).
Meng, X., D’Arcy, C., Morgan, D., Mousseau, D. (2013) Predicting the risk of dementia among Canadian seniors: A useable practice-friendly diagnostic algorithm. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders 27(1) 23-29.DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e318247a0dc
Kosteniuk, J., Morgan, D., & D’Arcy, C. (2013) Use and perceptions of information among family physicians: sources considered accessible, relevant, and reliable. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 101(1), 32-37. DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.101.1.006
McCormack, B., Roberts, T., Julienne, M., Morgan, D., & Boscart, V. (2012) Appreciating the ‘Person’ in long-term care. International Journal of Older People Nursing. 7, 284-294 DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-3743.2012.00342.x
Lacny, C., Kirk, A., Morgan, D., & Karunanayake, C. (2012) Predictors of cognitive impairment severity in rural patients at a memory clinic. Canadian Journal of Neurological Science, 39(6), 774-781.
Forbes, D., Finkelstein, S., Blake, C., Gibson, M., Morgan, D., Markle-Reid, M., Culum, I., & Thiessen, E. (online 2012). Knowledge exchange throughout the dementia care journey by rural community-based health care practitioners, persons with dementia, and their care partners: an interpretive descriptive study. Rural and Remote Health, 12, 2201.
Cranley, L., Birdsell, J., Norton, P., Morgan, D., & Estabrooks, C. (2012) Insights into the impact and use of research results in a residential long-term care facility: A case study. Implementation Science, 7, 90. DOI:10.1186/1748-5908-7-90
Slaughter, S., & Morgan, D. (2012) Functional outcomes of nursing home residents in relation to features of the environment: Validity of the Professional Environmental Assessment Protocol. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 13(5), 487.e1-487.e7.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2012.01.003
Meng, X., D’Arcy, C., Tempier, R., Kou, C., Morgan, D., Mousseau, D. (2012) Survival of patients with incident dementia who had a pre-existing psychiatric disorder: A population-based 7-year follow-up study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(7), 683-691.
DOI: 10.1002/gps.2764
Morgan, D., Cammer, A., Stewart, N., Crossley, M., D’Arcy, C., Forbes, D., Karunanayake, C. (2012). Nursing aide reports of combative behavior by residents with dementia: Results from a detailed prospective incident diary. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 13(3), 220-227. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2011.07.003
Kosteniuk, J., Morgan, D., D’Arcy, C. (2012). Diagnosis of anxiety and depression in clinical scenario patients: Survey of Saskatchewan family physicians. Canadian Family Physician, 58, 144-151.
Kosteniuk, J., Morgan, D., D’Arcy, C. (2012). Treatment and follow-up of anxiety and depression in clinical scenario patients: Survey of Saskatchewan family physicians. Canadian Family Physician, 58, 152-158.
Heggie, M., Morgan, D., Crossley, M., Kirk, A., Wong, P., Karunanayake, C., & Beever, R. (2012). Quality of life in early dementia: Comparison of rural patient and caregiver ratings at baseline and one year. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(4) 521-541. DOI: 10.1177/1471301211421085
Lacny, C., Kirk, A., Morgan, D., & Karunanayake, C. (2011). Does day length affect cognitive performance in memory clinic patients? Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 38(3), 461-464.
Slaughter, S., Morgan, D., & Drummond, N. (2011). Functional transitions of nursing home residents with middle-stage dementia: Perspectives of family members and nurses. Journal of Gerontological Nursing 37(5), 50-59. DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20110106-07
Andrews, M.E., Stewart, N., Morgan, D., & D’Arcy, C. (2011). More alike than different: a comparison of male and female RNs in rural and remote Canada. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(4), 561-570. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01195.x
Lanting, S., Crossley, M., Morgan, D., & Cammer, A. (2011). Aboriginal experiences of aging and dementia in a context of sociocultural change: Qualitative analysis of key informant group interviews with Aboriginal seniors. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 26(1), 103-117. DOI: 10.1007/s10823-010-9136-4
Slaughter, S., Eliasziw, M., Morgan, D., Drummond, N. (2011). Incidence and predictors of eating disability among nursing home residents with middle-stage dementia. Clinical Nutrition, 30, 172-177. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2010.09.001
Estabrooks, C., Morgan, D., Squires, J., Boström, A.M., Slaughter, S., Cummings, G., & Norton, P. (2011). The care unit in nursing home research: Evidence in support of a definition. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 11:46. DOI:10.1186/1471-2288-11-46
Jansen S.L., Forbes D., Duncan V., Morgan D.G., Malouf, R. (2011, March). Melatonin for the treatment of dementia. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3(12). (Original publication: 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD003802.
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003802.pub3
Morgan, D., Crossley, M., Kirk, A., McBain, L., Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., Forbes, D., Harder, S., Dal Bello-Haas, V., Basran, J. (2011). Evaluation of telehealth for pre-clinic assessment and follow-up in an interprofessional rural and remote memory clinic. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 30, 304-331.DOI:10.1177/0733464810366564
Morgan, D., Innes, A., & Kosteniuk, J. (2011). Dementia care in rural and remote settings: A systematic review of formal or paid care. Maturitas, 68, 17-33. DOI:10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.10.002
Innes, A., Morgan, D., & Kosteniuk, J. (2011). Dementia care in rural and remote settings: A systematic review of informal/family caregiving. Maturitas, 68, 34-46. DOI:10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.10.002
Slaughter, S., Eliasziw, M., Morgan, D., & Drummond, N. (2011). Incidence and predictors of excess disability in walking among nursing home residents with middle-stage dementia: A prospective cohort study. International Psychogeriatrics, 23(1), 54-64. DOI:10.1017/S1041610210000116
Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., Kosteniuk, J., Morgan, D., Forbes, D., MacLeod, M., Kulig., J., & Pitblado, R. Moving on? Predictors of intent to leave among rural and remote RNs in Canada. The Journal of Rural Health, 27, 103-113. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2010.00308.x
Andrews, M.E., Morgan, D., & Stewart, N. (2010). Dementia awareness in northern nursing practice. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 42(1), 56-73.
Peacock, S., Forbes, D., Markle-Reid, M., Hawranik, P., Morgan, D., Jansen, L., Henderson, S., & Leipert, B. (2010). The positive aspects of the caregiving journey with dementia: Using a strengths-based perspective to reveal opportunities. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 29(5), 640-659. DOI: 10.1177/07334648093414716
Forbes, D., Culum, I., Lischka, A.R., Morgan, D.G., Peacock, S., Forbes, J., & Forbes, S. Light therapy for managing cognitive, sleep, functional, behavioural, or psychiatric disturbances in dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003946. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003946.pub3
Jansen, L., Forbes, D., Markle-Reid, M., Hawranik, P., Kingston, D., Peacock, S., Morgan, D., Henderson, S., & Leipert, B. (2009). Formal care providers’ perceptions of home and community-based services: Informing dementia care quality. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 28(1), 1-23.
Kulig, J., Stewart, N., Penz, K., Forbes, D., Morgan, D., & Emerson, P. (2009). Work Setting, Community Attachment, and Satisfaction Among Rural and Remote Nurses. Public Health Nursing, 26(5), 430-439. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2009.00801.x
Estabrooks, C., Hutchinson, A., Squires, J., Birdsell, J., Cummings, G., Degner, L., Morgan, D., & Norton, P. (2009). Translating Research in Elder Care: An Introduction to a Study Protocol Series. Implementation Science, 4, 51. DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-51
Rycroft-Malone, J., Dopson, S., Degner, L., Hutchinson, A., Morgan, D., Stewart, N., & Estabrooks, C. (2009). Study protocol for the Translating Research in Eldercare (TREC) : Building context through case studies in long-term care project (project 2). Implementation Science, 4, 53. DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-53
Morgan, D., Crossley, M., Kirk, A., D’Arcy, C., Stewart, N., Biem, J., Forbes, D., Harder, S., Basran, J., Dal Bello-Haas, V., & McBain, L. (2009). Improving Access to Dementia Care: Development and Evaluation of a Rural and Remote Memory Clinic. Aging & Mental Health, 13(1), 17-30. DOI: 10.1080/13607860802154432
Crossley, M., Morgan, D., Lanting, S., Dal Bello-Haas, V., & Kirk, A. (2008). Interdisciplinary research and interprofessional collaborative care in a memory clinic for rural and northern residents of Western Canada: A unique training ground for clinical psychology graduate students. Australian Psychologist, 43(4), 231-238. DOI: 10.1080/00050060802492564
Penz, K., Stewart, K., D’Arcy, C., & Morgan, D. (2008). Predictors of Job Satisfaction for Rural Acute Care Registered Nurses in Canada. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 30(7), 785-800. DOI: 10.1177/0193945908319248
Steve, T., Kirk, A., Crossley, M., Morgan, D., D’Arcy, C., Biem, J., Forbes, D., & Stewart, N. (2008) Medication use in patients presenting to a rural and remote memory clinic (peer-reviewed letter to the editor). Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 35, 669-671.
McEachern, W., Kirk, A., Morgan, D., Crossley, M., & Henry, C. (2008). Reliability of the MMSE administered in-person and by telehealth. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 35, 643-646.
Hogan, D., Bailey, P., Black, S., Carswell, A., Chertkow, H., Clarke, B., Cohen, C., Fisk, J., Forbes, D., Man-Son-Hing, M., Lanctôt, K., Morgan, D., Thorpe, L. (2008). Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 5. Nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapy for mild to moderate dementia. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 179(10), 1019-1026.
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.081103
Hogan, D., Bailey, P., Black, S., Carswell, A., Chertkow, H., Clarke, B., Cohen, C., Fisk, J., Forbes, D., Man-Son-Hing, M., Lanctôt, K., Morgan, D., & Thorpe, L.(2008) Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 4. Approach to management of mild to moderate dementia. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 179(8), 787-793. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.070803
Forbes, D., Forbes, S., Morgan, D., Markle-Reid, M., Wood, J., &, Culum, I. (2008). Physical activity programs for persons with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD006489. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006489.pub2
Forbes, D., Markle-Reid, M., Hawranik, P., Peacock, S., Kingston, D., Morgan, D., Henderson, S., Leipert, B., & Jansen, S.L. (2008). Availability and acceptability of Canadian home and community-based servcies: Perspectives of family caregivers of persons with dementia. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 27(2), 75-99.
Forbes, D., Jansen, S.L., Markle-Reid, M., Hawranik, P., Morgan, D., Henderson, S., Leipert, B., Peacock, S., & Kingston, D. (2008). Gender differences in use and availability of home and community-based health services for people with dementia. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 40(1), 38-59.
Morgan, D., Crossley, M., Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., Forbes, D., Normand, S., & Cammer, A. (2008). Taking the Hit: Focussing on caregiver “error” masks organizational-level risk factors for nursing aide assault. Qualitative Health Research, 18(3), 334-346. DOI: 10.1177/1049732307313754
Kulig, J., Andrews, M.E., Stewart, N., Pitblado, R., MacLeod, M., Bentham, D., D’Arcy, C., Morgan, D., Forbes, D., Remus, G., & Smith, B. (2008). How do registered nurses define rurality? Australian Journal of Rural Health, 16, 28-32.
Hogan, D., Bailey, P., Carswell, A., Clarke, B., Cohen, C., Forbes, D., Man-Son-Hing., M., Lanctôt, K., Morgan, D., & Thorpe, L. (2007). Management of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 3, 355-384. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2007.07.006
Morgan, D., Funk, M., Crossley, M., Basran, J., Kirk, A., & Dal Bello-Haas, V. (2007). The potential of gait analysis to contribute to differential diagnosis of early stage dementia: Current research and future directions. Canadian Journal on Aging, 26(1), 19-32.
Penz, K., D’Arcy, C., Stewart, N., Kosteniuk, J., Morgan, D., & Smith, B. (2007). Barriers to participation in continuing education among rural and remote nurses: Results from a national survey. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 38(2), 58-68.
Forbes, D., Forbes, S., Markle-Reid, M., Morgan, D., Taylor, B., & Wood, J. (2007). Physical activity programs for persons with dementia (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 2, Art. No.: CD006489. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD0066489.
Kulig, J., Stewart, N., Morgan, D., Andrews, M.E., Macleod, M., & Pitblado, R. (2006). Aboriginal Nurses: Insights from a national study. Canadian Nurse, 102(4), 16-20.
Forbes, D.A., Morgan, D., & Janzen, B (2006). Rural and urban Canadians with dementia: Use of health care services. Canadian Journal on Aging, 25(3), 321-330.
McBain, L., & Morgan, D. (2006). Telehealth, geography, and jurisdiction: Issues of health care delivery in northern Saskatchewan. Canadian Woman Studies, 24(4), 123-129.
Jansen, S., Forbes, D., Duncan, V., & Morgan, D. (2006). Melatonin for cognitive impairment. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1, Art. No. CD003802. LOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003802.pub3.
Morgan, D., Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., & Cammer,
L. (2005). Creating and sustaining dementia Special Care Units in rural nursing
homes: The critical role of nursing leadership. Canadian Journal of Nursing
Leadership, 18(2), 74-98.
Forbes, D., Peacock, S., & Morgan, D. (2005). Nonpharmacological
management of agitated behaviours associated with dementia. Geriatrics & Aging,
8(4), 26-30.
Morgan, D., Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., Forbes, D., & Lawson, J. (2005). Work stress and physical assault of nursing aides in rural homes with and without dementia special care units. Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 12, 347-358.
Forbes, D., Jansen, S., Duncan, V., & Morgan, D. (2005). Melatonin for cognitive impairment (Protocol). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 2. Oxford: Update Software.
Morgan, D., Stewart, N., Crossley, M., D’Arcy, C., Biem, J., Kirk, A., & Forbes, D. Dementia care in rural and remote areas: The first year of a CIHR New Emerging Team (2005). Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 37(1), 177-182
Andrews, M.E., Stewart, N., Pitblado, R., Morgan, D., Forbes, D , & D’Arcy, C. (2005) Registered nurses working alone in rural and remote Canada. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 37(1), 14-33.
Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., Pitblado, R., Morgan, D., Forbes, D., Remus, G., Smith, B., Andrews, M.E., Kosteniuk, J., Kulig, J., & MacLeod, M. (2005). A profile of registered nurses in rural and remote Canada. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 37(1), 122-145.
Boychuk Duchscher, J., & Morgan, D. (2004). Grounded theory: Reflections on the emergence vs. forcing debate. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 48(6), 605-612.
Forbes, D., Morgan, D., Bangma, J., Peacock, S., Pelletier, N, & Adamson, J. (2004) Light Therapy for Managing Sleep, Behaviour, and Mood Disturbances in Dementia. (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 2. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morgan, D., Stewart, N., D’Arcy, C., & Werezak, L. (2004). Evaluating rural nursing home environments: Dementia special care units vs. integrated facilities. Aging and Mental Health, 8(3), 257-266.
Forbes, D., Stewart, N., Morgan, D., Anderson, M., Parent, K., & Janzen, B. (2003). Individual determinants of home care nursing and housework assistance. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research,35(4), 14-36.
Morgan, D., Semchuk, K., Stewart, N., & D’Arcy, C. (2003). The physical and social environments of rural nursing homes: Assessing supportiveness for residents with dementia. Canadian Journal on Aging, 22(3), 283-296.
Biem, J., Hadjistavropoulos, H., Morgan, D., Biem, H., & Pong, R. (2003). Breaks in continuity of care and the rural senior transferred for medical care under regionalization. International Journal of Integrated Care, 3 (September 29), ISSN 1568-4145.
Werezak, L., & Morgan, D. (2003). Creating a therapeutic psychosocial environment in dementia care: A preliminary framework. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 29(12), 18-25).
Morgan, D., & Stewart, N. (2002). Theory building through mixed-method evaluation of a dementia special care unit. Research in Nursing and Health, 25(6), 479-488.
Forbes, D., Morgan, D., Bangma, J., Peacock, S., Campbell, T., & Adamson, J. (2002). Light therapy for managing sleep, behavior, mood, and cognitive disturbances associated with Alzheimer Disease (Protocol for a Cochrane Review). Cochrane Library, Issue 4. Oxford: Update Software.
Morgan, D., Semchuk, K., Stewart, N., & D’Arcy, C. (2002). Rural families caring for a relative with dementia: Barriers to use of formal services. Social Science & Medicine, 55(7), 51-64.
Morgan, D., Semchuk, K., Stewart, N., & D’Arcy, C. (2002). Job strain among staff of rural nursing homes: A comparison of nurses, aides, and activity workers. Journal of Nursing Administration, 32(3), 152-161.
Stewart, N., Hiscock, M., Morgan, D., Murphy, P., & Yamamoto, M. (1999). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Environment-Behavior Interaction Code (EBIC). Nursing Research, 48(5), 260-268.
Morgan, D., & Stewart, N. (1999). The physical environment of special care units: Needs of residents with dementia from the perspective of staff and family caregivers. Qualitative Health Research, 9(1), 105-118.
Morgan, D., & Stewart, N. (1998a). High vs. low density special care units: Impact on the behavior of elderly residents with dementia. Canadian Journal on Aging, 17(2), 143-165.
Morgan, D., & Stewart, N. (1998b). Multiple-occupancy vs. private rooms on dementia units. Environment and Behavior, 30(4), 487-503.
Morgan, D., & Stewart, N. (1997). The importance of the social environment in dementia care. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 19(6), 740-761.
Morgan, D., & Laing, G. (1991). The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Spouse's perspectives. Qualitative Health Research, 1(3), 370-387.
The Agricultural Health and Safety Network