Susan Dahinten

PhD, RN, MBA

Bio

Dr. Dahinten’s research focuses on child development, with an emphasis on the intersection of child, family and community factors that influence the health and development of children and youth, and an evaluation of  public health efforts aimed at the early identification  and prevention of developmental problems. Recent research has addressed the impact of workplace factors on nurse and patient outcomes. 

Profile

Educational Background

• BA, Simon Fraser University
• MBA, University of British Columbia
• MSN, Gonzaga University
• PhD, University of British Columbia 

Area of Research

Research Interests

My research and scholarship has spanned three areas over the last 18 years: child development, nurse work environments, and psychometric studies (instrument evaluation and validity issues). The initial focus of my research was to contribute to a better understanding of the social determinants and processes of child development, and to enhance public health efforts at identification, intervention and the prevention of developmental problems. Through PopData BC, I have been able to engage in longitudinal research using linked, population-based, person-specific, administrative data encompassing health, education, school readiness, social services, and geographically aggregated socioeconomic (census) data from pre-conception to young adulthood. More recently I have been conducting research and supporting students in the study of nurse workplace factors on nurse and patient safety outcomes.

Current Projects

A scoping review to assess the use of contemporary views of validity in psychometric research in nursing

Safety culture and patient safety: A multilevel analysis

Completed Projects (selected)

Using Administrative Data to Evaluate a Population-Based Parenting Intervention - Principal Investigator, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Developing and Testing a Leadership Development Logic Model - Co-Investigator, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation

The CHILD Project: Consortium for Health, Intervention, Learning and Development - Lead investigator on sub-project “Evaluation of a Universal, Community-Based Screening System for the Early Identification of Children with Developmental Delays”, SSHRC: Major Collaborative Research Initiative

Raising and Leveling the Bar: A Collaborative Research Initiative on Children’s Learning, Behavioural, and Health Outcomes - Lead investigator on sub-project “Adolescent Children of Adolescent Mothers”, SSHRC Initiative on the New Economy

Publications

View on Google Scholar

Publications (not indexed on PubMed):

Ronquillo, C., Dahinten, V.S., Bungay, V., & Currie, L. (in press). The MOBile-Health and Implementation Leadership Evaluation (MOBILE) Nurse Model. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.

Havaei F., Dahinten V.S., MacPhee M. (in press). The effect of nursing care delivery models on registered nurse outcomes. Sage Open Nursing.

Arim, R.G., Guèvremont, A., Dahinten, V.S., Kohen, D.E. (2018). The use of administrative data to study the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 8(3/4), 59-78. doi:10.18357/ijcyfs83/4201718001

Havaei, F., & Dahinten, V.S. (2017). How well does the CWEQ II measure structural empowerment? Findings from applying item response theory. Administrative Sciences, 7(2), 15. doi:10.3390/admsci7020015​

Almutairi, A.F. & Dahinten, V.S. (2017). Factor structure of Alumutairi’s Critical Cultural Competence Scale. Administrative Sciences, 7(2), 13. doi: 10.3390/admsci7020015​

MacPhee, M., Dahinten, V.S., & Havaei, F. (2017). The impact of heavy nurse workloads on patient and nurse outcomes. Administrative Sciences, 7(2), doi: 10.3390/admsci7010007​

Premji, S.S., & Maternal Infant Global Health Team (MiGHT). (2014). Perinatal distress in women in low- and middle-income countries: Allostatic load as a framework to examine the effect of perinatal distress on preterm birth and infant health. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18 (10), 2393-2407. DOI 10.1007/s10995-014-1479-y and doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1539-3 (erratum).

Dahinten, V.S., Arim, R.G., Guèvremont, A., & Kohen, D.E. (2014). The case for using administrative data to examine a population-based parenting intervention. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development, 7(2), 115-124 pages.

Goelman, H., Anstett, S., Backman, C., Brynelsen, D., Cameron, D., Canam, C., Dahinten, S. et al. (2008). Three complementary community-based approaches to the early identification of young children at risk for developmental delays/disorders. Infants and Young Children, 21, 306-323.

Dahinten, V.S., Shapka, J.D., & Willms, J.D. (2007). Adolescent children of adolescent mothers: The impact of family functioning on trajectories of development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 195-212.

Kornelsen, J., Dahinten, V.S., Carty, E., & Gillespie, E.M. (2002). Physicians’ attitudes towards midwifery in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice, 1(1), 6-12.

Book Chapters:

Hejazi, S., Dahinten, V.S., Ratner, P., & Marshall, S. (2019). Developmental trajectories of weight status in childhood and adolescence (Chapter 2).  In D. Bagchi (Ed.), Global view on childhood obesity: Current status, consequences and prevention (2nd ed.). San Diego: Elsevier.  

Dahinten, V. S., Arim, R. G., Guèvremont, A., & Kohen, D. E. (2015). The case for using administrative data to examine a population-based parenting intervention. In J. Merrick (Ed.) Child Health and Human Development Yearbook 2014 (Chapter 12). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.

Goelman, H., Ford, L., Pighini, M., Dahinten, S., Harris, S., Synnes, A., Tse, L., Ball, J., & Hayes, V. (2011). What we learned about early identification and screening. In H. Goelman, J. Pivik, and M. Guhn (Eds.), New Approaches to Research in Early Child Development: Rules, Rituals, and Realities (pp. 95-115). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.   

Hejazi, S., Dahinten, V. S., Ratner, P., & Marshall, S. (2010). Developmental trajectories of weight status in childhood and adolescence.  In D. Bagchi (Ed.), Global view on childhood obesity: Current status, consequences and prevention (pp. 21-30). San Diego, CA: Elsevier.  

Ford, L. & Dahinten, V.S. (2005). The use of intelligence tests in the assessment of preschool children. In D. P. Flanagan & P. L. Harrison (Eds). Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (2nd ed., pp. 487-503). New York: Guildford Press.

Dahinten, V. S., & Willms, J. D. (2002). The effects of adolescent childbearing on children’s outcomes. In J. D. Willms (Ed.), Vulnerable Children: Findings from Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (pp. 243-258). University of Alberta Press.

Teaching

Teaching Interests

My teaching has focussed on quantitative research methods and statistical analysis at the masters and doctoral level, but more recently has also included teaching critical inquiry and leadership in the undergraduate program. I took the lead on developing an online statistics refresher for incoming graduate students that was implemented in 2018.

Supervisor Eligibility

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

Graduate Supervision

Graduate Supervision - Current and Completed Student Research

Alharbi, Amal - PhD
Health services, safety and quality of patient care in Saudi Arabia

Ramsay, Scott - PhD
Concussion follow-up care and related health outcomes for children in British Columbia

Yates, Morgan - PhD
Parents’ fear of crime in relation to outdoor play and independent mobility: A mixed methods study

Powell, Stephanie - MSN
Maternity waiting homes and the impact on maternal outcomes in developing countries: A rapid evidence assessment

Bendickson, Lindsay - MSN
Poverty and toddler developmental experiences and outcomes: The impact of parental and family contexts

Alharbi, Amal Ali - MSN, 2018
The impact of nurse work environment on nurse outcomes, nurse-perceived quality of care and patient safety in Saudi Arabia

Grunert, Damaris - MSN, 2018
Decision making surrounding human milk donation: attitudes, subjective norms and barriers

Havaei, Farinaz - PhD, 2016
The effect of mode of nursing care delivery and skill mix on quality and patient safety outcomes

Goldsworthy, Sandra June - PhD, 2015
The mechanisms by which professional development may contribute to critical care nurses' intent to stay

Wilkinson, Sara Amy - MSN, 2014
Nurses caring for children and families: stress, hardiness and burnout

Lee, Seung Eun - MSN, 2013
Job satisfaction among staff nurses in relation to leader empowering behaviors, structural empowerment and psychological empowerment

Moraes, Sabrina - PhD (Education), 2009
Examining the impact of child characteristics and microsystem variables on developmental trajectories of prosocial behaviour in Canadian children: A longitudinal study using the NLSCY

Arim, Rubab - PhD (Education), 2009
The reciprocal nature of the relationship between parenting and adolescent problem behaviors

Riesch, Lindsay - MA (Education) 2007
Influence of family and child characteristics on the outcomes of a parent rated developmental screening instrument

Alexander, S - MSN, 2006
Look who’s talking now: An exploratory study examining nurses’ involvement in parent-child communication related to sexual health and the factors that influence this involvement

Masaro, Cindy - MSN, 2005
Perceptions of sexual partner safety

Post-Doctoral Fellows Supervised

Adel Almutairi (2013-2014). Cultural Competence instrument development (co-supervisor)

Samar Hejazi (2008-2011). Early child development.