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Publications

The ProFILE Lab conducts research around the promotion of health and well-being of children with disabilities and long-term conditions.

Click to see Dr. McPherson's publications on PubMed.

Recent publications

2023

Giles M, Ball GDC, Bonder R, Buchholz A, Gorter JW, Morrison K, Perez A, Walker M, McPherson AC. (2023). Exploring the complexities of weight management care for children with spina bifida: A qualitative study with children and parents. Disability and Rehabilitation (early online 4 September).

Bonder R, Ball GDC, Buchholz A, Giles M, Morrison K, McPherson AC. (2023). Weight management for children with disabilities: Exploring the perspectives of health care professionals working in pediatric weight management clinics in Canada. Childhood Obesity (early online 22 June).

Walker M, Amin R, McAdam L, Lui T, McPherson AC. (2023) “Our time is precious”: An exploration of parental feeding behaviours for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Child: Care, Health & Development, 49(2), 366-372.

Hamdani Y, Bonder R, McPherson AC. (2023). Wellness in children’s rehabilitation- what does it mean? Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(25), 4236-4244.

Giles ML, Juando-Prats C, McPherson AC, Gesink D. (2023) “But, you’re in a wheelchair!”: A systematic review exploring the sexuality of youth with physical disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 41(1), 141-171.

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Tenedero CB, O’Brien K, Patel B, Strom M, Chu L, Jayawardena S, Noseworthy R, McPherson AC, Walsh CM, Hamilton JK. (2023). Medical students’ perceived comfort and competence performing physical examinations on patients with obesity: A mixed-methods needs assessment. Clinical Obesity, 14(1), e12617.

King G, Kingsnorth S, McPherson AC, Tajik-Parvinchi DJ. (2023). Autonomy, self-realization, and psychological empowerment: A prospective mixed methods study of the effects of residential immersive life skills programs for youth with physical disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation (early online 17 August).

2022

McPherson AC, Perez A, Buchholz A, Forhan M, Ball GDC. (2022). “Its not a simple answer”: A Qualitative Study to understand how healthcare providers can best support families with a child with autism spectrum disorder and overweight or obesity. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(14), 3540-3546.

Lung S, Wincentak J, Gan C, Kingsnorth S, Provvidenza C, McPherson AC. (2022). A scoping review of suggested practices for healthcare providers when discussing sexuality with youth. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 31(1), 143-160.

Bonder R, Yonadam A, Snider A, Kassam-Lallani D, McPherson AC. (2022). Communicating about mental health with youth and their families: A scoping review of best practices and implications for youth with disabilities. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 25(3), 178-185.

Lumia C, Arbour-Nicitopoulos K, Moola F, McPherson AC. (2022). Using photo-elicitation to explore health promotion concepts with children and adolescents with disabilities: a rapid scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(19), 5708-5718.

Walker, M, Mistry B, Amin R, McAdam L, Lui T, McPherson AC. (2022), A qualitative exploration of the priorities and experiences of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, their parents and healthcare professionals around weight management. Disability & Rehabilitation, 44(26), 8234-8242.

Rowland E, Knibbe TJ, English K, Lindsay S, McPherson AC. (2022). “Oh I try, but it’s so hard”: Parental experiences of health promotion in children with disabilities. Disability & Rehabilitation, 44(18), 5133-5140.

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King G, McPherson AC, Kingsnorth K, Gorter JW (2022). The transformative nature of residential immersive life skills programs: Integrating findings from a five-year prospective study of program opportunities, youth experiences, and outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15865.

Gehring ND, Birken CS, Belanger S, Bridger T, Chanoine JP, Gibson WT, Hadjiyannakis S, Haines J, Hamilton J, Haqq A, Henderson M, Ho J, Irvine B, Legault L, Luca P, Maguire J, McPherson A, Morrison K, Wahi G, Weksberg R, Zwaigenbaum L, Ball GDC. (2022). Severe obesity and global developmental delay in preschool children: findings from a Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program study. Paediatrics & Child Health, 28(2), 107-112.

Marston E, Cho CC, Pridham K, McPherson AC, Polfuss M. (2022). Parenting styles and dimensions in parents of children with developmental disabilities. Research in Nursing & Health, 45(5), 592-603.

King G, Hartman LR, McPherson AC, De Finney A, Kehl B, Rudzik A, Morrison A. (2022). Exploring the after-hours social experiences of youth with disabilities in residential immersive life skills programs: A photo elicitation study. Disability & Rehabilitation, 44(13), 3104-3112.

Edwards B, Cameron D, King G, McPherson AC. (2022). The potential impact of experiencing social inclusion in recreation for children with and without disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(14), 3469-3478.

2021

Lung S, Wincentak J, Gan C, Kingsnorth S, Provvidenca C, McPherson A. (2021). Are healthcare providers and young people talking about sexuality? A scoping review to characterize conversations and identify barriers. Child: Care, Health & Development, 47(6), 744-757.

Bonder R, Mincentak J, Gan C, Kingsnorth S, Provvidenza C, McPherson AC. (2021). “They assume that you’re not having sex”: A qualitative exploration of how healthcare providers can have positive sexuality-related conversations with youth with disabilities. Sexuality & Disability, 38(3), 579-594.

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Posa S, Moola FJ, McPherson AC, Kontos P. (2021). Exploring illness identity among children and youth living with cancer: A narrative review. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 68(11), e29251.

Patel BP, Hadjiyannakis S, Clark L, Buchholz A, Noseworthy R, Bernard-Genest J, Walsh CM, McPherson AC, Strub J, Strom M, Hamilton JK. (2021). Evaluation of a pediatric obesity management toolkit for health care professionals: A Quasi-experimental study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7568.

Polfuss M, Marston E, Pridham K, Brown R, McPherson AC. (2021). The relationship of stress and feeding behaviours in parents with developmental disabilities. Childhood Obesity, 17(7), 457-466.

Redsell S, Bains KK, Le Brocq S, Bucks RS, Byrne-Davis L, Gray L, Hotham S, Hennessy M, Kyle T, McPherson AC, Quigley F, Vicari M, Renea Zinn S. (2021). Concerns regarding “Association between intelligence quotient and obesity in England” and unjustifiable harm to people in bigger bodies. Lifestyle Medicine, 2(1), e28.

Edwards B, Cameron D, King G, McPherson AC. (2021). Exploring the shared meaning of social inclusion to children with and without disabilities. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 41(5), 467-484.

2020

McPherson AC, Chen L, O'Neil J, Vanderbom K. (2020). Nutrition, metabolic syndrome, and obesity: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida. Journal of Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 13(4), 6380-653.

MacTavish K, Cistrone A, Kingsnorth S, McPherson AC. (2020). Communication tools used in childhood obesity discussions: A scoping review. Child: Care, Health and Development, 46(6), 651-666.

McPherson AC, Oake M, Stinson J. (2020). “Don't sweat it buddy, its OK”: AN exploration of the needs of adolescents with disabilities when designing a mobile application for weight management and healthy lifestyles. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(2), 1569-1577.

Duff C, McPherson AC, King G. (2020). Residential Immersive Life Skills programs: A catalyst for facilitating emotional literacy development for youth with disabilities. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 23(5), 294-301.

Moola FJ, Moothathamby N, Naganathan M, Curran CJ, Yarichuk D & McPherson AC. (2020). A scoping review of music therapy in the lives of children and youth with disabilities and chronic conditions in non-acute medical and community-based settings. Canadian Journal of Art Therapy, 33(1), 17-28.

McPherson AC, Amin R, McAdam L, Kalnins D, Lui T. (2020). Growth assessment and weight management in paediatric neuromuscular clinics: A cross-sectional survey across Canada. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(21), 3015-3020.

Duff C, McPherson AC, King G, Kingsnorth S. (2020). Deconstructing the pedagogy of Residential Immersive Life Skills programs: mechanisms that can facilitate learning for youth with disabilities. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 20(2), 121-129.

Bonder R, Provvidenza C, Hubley D, McPherson AC. (2020). Putting Positive Weight-Related Conversations into Practice: The pilot implementation of a knowledge translation casebook. Child: Care, Health and Development, 46(3), 360-368.

Walker M & McPherson AC. (2020). Weight management services for an underserved population: A rapid review of the literature. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(2), 274-282.

Walker M, Nixon S, Haines J, McPherson AC. (2020). "I work out, who cares if I'm bigger”: What matters to youth with ASD regarding weight and their bodies? Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 23(1), 31-38.

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Klupt KA, Oreskovich SM, Bernard-Genest J, Chu L, Dettmer E, Walsh CM, Strom M, McPherson AC, Strub J, Steinberg A, Steinegger C, Hamilton J. (2020). Careful conversations: An educational video to support parents in communicating about weight with their children. BMC Pediatrics, 20, 397.

Bernard-Genest J, Chu L, Dettmer E, Walsh C, McPherson AC, Strub J, Steinberg A, Steinegger C, Hamilton J. (2020). Talking about weight with families – helping health care professionals start the conversation: A non—randomized controlled trial. Clinical Pediatrics, 59(9-10), 910-917.

Wolfson Z, McPherson AC, Tomasone J, Faulkner G, Arbour-Nicitopoulos KP. (2020). Examining factors of physical activity participation in youth with spina bifida using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Disability and Health Journal, 13(4), 100922.

King G, McPherson AC, Kingsnorth S, Gorter JW, Avery L, Rudzik A. (2020). Opportunities, experiences, and outcomes of residential immersive life skills programs for youth with disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(19), 2758-2768.

Ballantyne M, Orava T, Bernardo S, McPherson AC, Church P, Fehlings D, Cohen E. (2020). An environmental scan of parent-focused transition practices between neonatal follow up and children's rehabilitation services. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 23(2), 113-120.