Saima Hirani

MSN, PhD

Bio

Dr. Hirani is a mental health researcher whose work focuses on promoting mental health and well-being among people who experience marginalization and those at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes. With research experience in both Canada and Pakistan, she is committed to working with diverse communities and understanding the contextual factors that shape mental health. Her work is grounded in applied,community-engaged approaches aimed at generating evidence to improve mental health outcomes for equity-deserving populations.

Profile

Educational Background

• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, University of British Columbia
• PhD (Nursing) University of Alberta
• MScN, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
• Post RN BScN, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

Honours and Awards

• Genevieve Gray PhD Medal in Nursing, University of Alberta - 2017
• Margaret McNamara Education Grant – 2015-2016
• World Fellowship Recipient, Delta Kappa Gamma – 2015-2016
• Alice R Thomas & Bryan Campbell-Hope International Graduate Scholarship in Nursing, University of Alberta – 2015
• Graduate Research Travel Award, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Alberta-2015
• Genevieve Grey Endowment Fund, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta - 2015
• Peggy and Ivor Field Scholarship for Maternity Nursing, Midwifery, or Women’s Health, University of Alberta -2014
• Faculty Development Award, Aga Khan University -2012- 2016
• International Scholarship, Aga Khan Foundation- 2012-2014

Area of Research

Dr. Hirani’s program of research is equity-oriented and focuses on improving mental health and well-being among individuals and families, particularly women and youth experiencing socioeconomic challenges. She examines social and contextual factors that influence mental well-being and contributes to the development and evaluation of community-based interventions that strengthen the capacity of individuals, families, and communities to support mental health. Her work emphasizes collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and community partners across various settings to inform inclusive and equitable approaches to mental health promotion, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based interventions aimed at improving the mental health outcomes.

Publications

Selected Publications not Indexed in PubMed

Park, T., & Hirani, S. (2021). A Methodological Review of Quality of Life Scales Used in Schizophrenia. Journal of nursing measurement, 29(1), 34–52. https://doi.org/10.1891/JNM-D-18-00053

Jenkins, E., McAuliffe, C., Hirani, S., Richardson, C., Thomson, K., Kousoulis, A., Morris, J., & Gadermann, A. (2021). A portrait of the early and differential mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: Findings from the first wave of a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. Preventative Medicine, 145, 106333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106333

Daly, Z., Slemon, A., Richardson, C., Salway, T., McAuliffe, C., Gadermann, A., Thomson, K., Hirani, S., Jenkins, E. (2021). Associations between periods of COVID-19 quarantine and mental health in Canada. Psychiatry Research, 295, (113631) 1-9.

Gadermann, A., Thomson, K., Richardson, C., Gagne, M., McAuliffe, C., Hirani, S., Morris, J., & Jenkins, E. (2021). Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada. BMJ Open, 11(1), e042871

Jenkins, E., Haines-Saah, R., McGuinness, L., Hirani, S., Boakye-Yiadom, N., Halsall, T., Rivers, R., & Morris, J. (2020). Assessing the impacts of the Agenda Gap intervention for youth mental health promotion through policy engagement: a study protocol. International journal of mental health systems[BMC], 14(58). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00390-7

Hirani, S., Norris, C. M., Van Vliet, J. K., Van Zanten, S. V., Karmaliani, R., & Lasiuk, G. (2018). Social Support Intervention to Promote Resilience and Quality of Life in Women Living in Karachi, Pakistan: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Public Health. 63(6),693-702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1101-y

Hirani, S., Lasiuk, G., Van Vliet, J. K., Van Zanten, S. V., Karmaliani, R., & Norris, C. M. (2018). Comparison of Urdu Versions of the Resilience Scale (RS-14) and the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). Journal of Nursing Measurement.1,26(1), doi: 10.1891/1061-3749.26.1.106.

Hirani, S., Lasiuk, G., & Hegadoren, K. (2016). Intersection of resilience and gender. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 23(6), 455-467. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12313

Khan, B. A., Hirani, S., & Ghulam Ali, N. S. (2015). Curriculum alignment: The soul of nursing education. International Journal of Nursing Education, 8(2) doi:10.5958/0974-9357.2015.00080.X

Somani, R., Karmaliani, R., Mc Farlane, J., Asad, N., & Hirani, S. (2015). Sexual harassment towards nurses in Pakistan: Are we safe? International Journal of Nursing Education, 8(2) doi: 10.5958/0974-9357.2015.00120.8

Somani, R., Karmaliani, R., Mc Farlane, J., Asad, N., & Hirani, S. (2015). Prevalence of bullying/mobbing behavior among nurses of private and public hospitals in Karachi Pakistan. International Journal of Nursing Education, 8(2) doi: 10.5958/0974-9357.2015.00111.7

Asad, N., Karmaliani, R., Somani, R., Hirani, Sh., Pasha, A., Hirani, S., et al. (2013). Preventing abuse and trauma to internally displaced children living in camps due to disasters in Pakistan. Child Care in Practice, 19 (3), 267-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2013.785936

Karmaliani, R., Pasha, A., Hirani, S., Somani, R., et al. (2012). Violence against women in Pakistan: Contributing factors and new interventions. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 33(12), 820-827. doi: 10.3109/01612840.2012.718046

Karmaliani, R., Shahzad, S., Hirani, S., et al. (2011). Meeting the 2015 millennium development goals with new interventions for abused women. Nursing Clinics of North America, 46(4), 485-493. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2011.08.002

Asad, N., Karmaliani, R., McFarlane, J., Hirani, S., et al. (2011). Applying community based participatory methods to meet women's mental health needs in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Psychology, 42(1), 119-130.

Dias, J. M., Mithani, Y., Hirani, S. (2011). Setting up a professional licensure examination in nursing (PLEN) at a university teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 15, 2383-2386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.112

Hirani, S., Karmaliani, R., McFarlane, J., et al. (2010). Testing a community derived intervention to promote women's health: preliminary results of a 3-arm RCT in Karachi, Pakistan. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research, 10(3). http://snrs.org/publications/SOJNR_articles2/Vol10Num03Art06.html

Hirani, S., Karmaliani, R., McFarlane, J., et al. (2010). Development of an economic skill building intervention to promote women’s safety and child development in Karachi, Pakistan. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 31, 82-88. doi: 10.3109/01612840903254859.

Karmaliani, R., McFarlane, J., Asad, N., Irfan, F., Hirani, S., et al. (2009). Applying community based participatory research methods to improve maternal and child health in Karachi, Pakistan. Nursing Outlook, 57, 204- 209. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2009.01.003

Teaching

Dr. Hirani believes in engaging students in intellectual inquiry by taking them from known to unknown. Her extensive teaching experience includes mental health, quantitative research methods, and statistics to undergraduate and graduate students. She has completed several certificate courses related to health professional education and teaching and learning pedagogies.

Current Teaching

NURS 504: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
NURS 549: Quantitative Research Methods and Analytic Strategies in Nursing and Health Sciences
NURS 512: Leadership in Nursing and Health

Supervisor Eligibility

MHLP, MN, MSN - thesis, MSN - non-thesis, PhD