Using a Mobile Laboratory to Study Mental Health, Addictions and Violence: A Research Plan

Abstract

This paper describes an innovative new research program, Researching Health in Ontario Communities (RHOC), designed to improve understanding, treatment and prevention of co-occurring mental health, addictions, and violence problems. RHOC brings together a multi-disciplinary team of investigators to implement an integrated series of OPEN ACCESSChallenges 2011, 2 2 research studies (including pilot studies and full studies). The project involves use a mobile research laboratory to collect a wide range of biological, behavioral and social data in diverse communities across Ontario, Canada, including remote and rural communities, areas experiencing poverty and social disorganization, urban areas, and Aboriginal communities. This paper describes the project background and research plan as well as the anticipated contributions of the project to participating Ontario communities and to broader scientific knowledge.

Service user and family member perspectives on services for mental health, substance use/addiction, and violence: a qualitative study of their goals, experiences and recommendations

“…The present study was part of a larger project that used mixed methods to collect data on MSD(V) issues in diverse communities, including urban, rural and disadvantaged communities, using a mobile research laboratory [ 32 ]. This article describes findings from a structured interview study of people’s experiences seeking/receiving help for MSD(V) issues in two communities (one rural, one urban) in Southwestern Ontario.…”

Psychometric properties and a latent class analysis of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) in a pooled dataset of community samples

“…The present analyses were based on data collected in four studies conducted as part of a multidisciplinary team project, Researching Health in Ontario Communities, which tested innovative methods for studying mental health, substance use and violence problems in diverse communities using a mobile research laboratory (Wells et al, ). Four studies were conducted in four communities of varying sizes (populations of approximately 18,000 to over 200,000) in southern Ontario, Canada.…”

The Influence of Status on Group Drinking by Young Adults: A Survey of Natural Drinking Groups on Their Way To and From Bars

“…Data were collected at a nearby mobile research laboratory (see Wells et al., ) located in a well‐lit parking lot. Separate private research stations, including 2 chairs and a table (one for each participant and a research assistant) were set up under an awning beside the laboratory.…”