Pam Squire | University of British Columbia (original) (raw)

Papers by Pam Squire

Research paper thumbnail of Usability Comparisons of Head-Mounted vs. Stereoscopic Desktop Displays in a Virtual Reality Environment with Pain Patients

Studies in health technology and informatics, 2016

Researchers have shown that immersive Virtual Reality (VR) can serve as an unusually powerful pai... more Researchers have shown that immersive Virtual Reality (VR) can serve as an unusually powerful pain control technique. However, research assessing the reported symptoms and negative effects of VR systems indicate that it is important to ascertain if these symptoms arise from the use of particular VR display devices, particularly for users who are deemed "at risk," such as chronic pain patients Moreover, these patients have specific and often complex needs and requirements, and because basic issues such as 'comfort' may trigger anxiety or panic attacks, it is important to examine basic questions of the feasibility of using VR displays. Therefore, this repeated-measured experiment was conducted with two VR displays: the Oculus Rift's head-mounted display (HMD) and Firsthand Technologies' immersive desktop display, DeepStream3D. The characteristics of these immersive desktop displays differ: one is worn, enabling patients to move their heads, while the other is...

Research paper thumbnail of Treating patients versus numbers

Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Does Ineffective Communication Confound Multidimensional Pain Assessment?

The Journal of Pain, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Ultrasound-guided L5 dorsal ramus block: validation of a novel technique

Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, 2019

BackgroundAlthough the value of ultrasound-guided (USG) lumbar medial branch blocks (MBB) has pre... more BackgroundAlthough the value of ultrasound-guided (USG) lumbar medial branch blocks (MBB) has previously been examined in several clinical trials, blocking the L5 dorsal ramus (DR) remains a technical challenge and we sought to examine the accuracy of a novel technique targeting this level.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 115 patients scheduled for an L4 MBB and L5 DR block underwent an ultrasound scan to assess their lower spine sonoanatomy. Subjects in whom the necessary landmarks could be visualized underwent a USG L5 DR block using a pivot technique, which involved redirecting a needle from its position on the L5 transverse process after an L4 MBB. Success was determined by a blinded observer who examined the contrast distribution on postprocedural X-ray images. In addition to the final needle position, performance time, the number of needle passes, and any complication were recorded.ResultsA total of 100 patients had a USG block and 15 patients (13%) were excluded becau...

Research paper thumbnail of Laboratory Investigations, Imaging and Neurological Assessment in Pain Management

A Practical Guide, 2010

ABSTRACT This chapter reviews common laboratory, imaging and neurologic investigations for evalua... more ABSTRACT This chapter reviews common laboratory, imaging and neurologic investigations for evaluation of pathology in patients with chronic pain disorders. Standard investigations are presented as well as the use of new technologies such as pain-evoked potentials which in the future, in combination with epidermal nerve fiber (ENF) density, quantitative sensory testing (QST) and pain questionnaires, will contribute to a powerful comprehensive assessment of pain peripheral anatomy, psychophysics and neurophysiology.

Research paper thumbnail of Immersive VR

Proceedings of the 2011 annual conference extended abstracts on Human factors in computing systems - CHI EA '11, 2011

This paper describes the research work being carried out by the Transforming Pain Research Group ... more This paper describes the research work being carried out by the Transforming Pain Research Group -the only group whose work is exclusively focused on the use of immersive VR for chronic pain management. Unlike VR research for acute or short-term pain, which relies on pain "distraction," this research posits a new paradigm for the use of VR. In addition to providing an overview of our work, the present paper also describes one of our current works in detail: the Virtual Meditative Walk.

Research paper thumbnail of History and physical examination

Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 2003

1 History and Physical Examination Rory Ramsey Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, ... more 1 History and Physical Examination Rory Ramsey Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Amit Khanna Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Treating patients versus numbers

Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Usability Comparisons of Head-Mounted vs. Stereoscopic Desktop Displays in a Virtual Reality Environment with Pain Patients

Studies in health technology and informatics, 2016

Researchers have shown that immersive Virtual Reality (VR) can serve as an unusually powerful pai... more Researchers have shown that immersive Virtual Reality (VR) can serve as an unusually powerful pain control technique. However, research assessing the reported symptoms and negative effects of VR systems indicate that it is important to ascertain if these symptoms arise from the use of particular VR display devices, particularly for users who are deemed "at risk," such as chronic pain patients Moreover, these patients have specific and often complex needs and requirements, and because basic issues such as 'comfort' may trigger anxiety or panic attacks, it is important to examine basic questions of the feasibility of using VR displays. Therefore, this repeated-measured experiment was conducted with two VR displays: the Oculus Rift's head-mounted display (HMD) and Firsthand Technologies' immersive desktop display, DeepStream3D. The characteristics of these immersive desktop displays differ: one is worn, enabling patients to move their heads, while the other is...

Research paper thumbnail of Treating patients versus numbers

Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Does Ineffective Communication Confound Multidimensional Pain Assessment?

The Journal of Pain, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Ultrasound-guided L5 dorsal ramus block: validation of a novel technique

Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, 2019

BackgroundAlthough the value of ultrasound-guided (USG) lumbar medial branch blocks (MBB) has pre... more BackgroundAlthough the value of ultrasound-guided (USG) lumbar medial branch blocks (MBB) has previously been examined in several clinical trials, blocking the L5 dorsal ramus (DR) remains a technical challenge and we sought to examine the accuracy of a novel technique targeting this level.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 115 patients scheduled for an L4 MBB and L5 DR block underwent an ultrasound scan to assess their lower spine sonoanatomy. Subjects in whom the necessary landmarks could be visualized underwent a USG L5 DR block using a pivot technique, which involved redirecting a needle from its position on the L5 transverse process after an L4 MBB. Success was determined by a blinded observer who examined the contrast distribution on postprocedural X-ray images. In addition to the final needle position, performance time, the number of needle passes, and any complication were recorded.ResultsA total of 100 patients had a USG block and 15 patients (13%) were excluded becau...

Research paper thumbnail of Laboratory Investigations, Imaging and Neurological Assessment in Pain Management

A Practical Guide, 2010

ABSTRACT This chapter reviews common laboratory, imaging and neurologic investigations for evalua... more ABSTRACT This chapter reviews common laboratory, imaging and neurologic investigations for evaluation of pathology in patients with chronic pain disorders. Standard investigations are presented as well as the use of new technologies such as pain-evoked potentials which in the future, in combination with epidermal nerve fiber (ENF) density, quantitative sensory testing (QST) and pain questionnaires, will contribute to a powerful comprehensive assessment of pain peripheral anatomy, psychophysics and neurophysiology.

Research paper thumbnail of Immersive VR

Proceedings of the 2011 annual conference extended abstracts on Human factors in computing systems - CHI EA '11, 2011

This paper describes the research work being carried out by the Transforming Pain Research Group ... more This paper describes the research work being carried out by the Transforming Pain Research Group -the only group whose work is exclusively focused on the use of immersive VR for chronic pain management. Unlike VR research for acute or short-term pain, which relies on pain "distraction," this research posits a new paradigm for the use of VR. In addition to providing an overview of our work, the present paper also describes one of our current works in detail: the Virtual Meditative Walk.

Research paper thumbnail of History and physical examination

Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 2003

1 History and Physical Examination Rory Ramsey Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, ... more 1 History and Physical Examination Rory Ramsey Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Amit Khanna Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Treating patients versus numbers

Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien, 2011