In Alberta, decision-making in the health system has been devolved to seventeen Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). This thesis undertakes a broad analysis of the values that underlie this regionalization. Divided into two parts, the first half of the thesis develops a liberal egalitarian theory for the distribution of resources in society that turns on the importance of providing all people with the basic resources required to plan for, develop and achieve their life goals. Four requirements for any health system that seeks to uphold the values inherent in this theory are then articulated. These requirements include the need for the health system to be sensitive to the broader determinants of health, and the need for understanding the concepts of health and disease within the context of the social and cultural communities that the system is meant to serve. Part One concludes with an argument suggesting that expressions of Canadian values cohere with the normative theory developed. In Part Two the evolution of Alberta's regionalized healthcare system is traced. The values implicit in the regionalization of the health system in this province are then examined for their congruence with the four requirements developed in Part One. Following this, the ethical difficulties faced by RHAs are considered. The thesis culminates with thoughts on the ethical challenges Alberta's regionalized healthcare system must confront, offering recommendations for how some of these challenges may be addressed. It is concluded in the thesis that while a regionalized health system is not necessary for meeting the requirements elucidated, these standards can be met with a regionalized approach. However, at least in the case of the Alberta experience, a number of important changes would have to take place for this to occur. Among these changes is a paradigm shift in the way health and disease are understood towards a more evaluative approach; the recentralization of public health initiatives to the provincial level; and an overall change in governmental health policy recognizing that many areas of society, and consequently the policies of government agencies beyond a disease-based healthcare system, impact health and well-being.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of southern Alberta nurse educators regarding the concept of collaborative programming as one way of working towards baccalaureate entry into nursing practice (EP 2000). Specifically, answers to the following questions were sought: 1. To what extent do nurse educators support the EP 2000 mandate, and why do they hold these views? 2. To what extent do nurse educators support the concept of collaborative programming, and why do they hold these views? 3. What programming alternatives do nurse educators perceive as desirable for working towards baccalaureate entry to practice? 4. What are the perceived barriers and facilitators to developing a collaborative program? 5. What factors may influence a nurse educator's perception of collaborative programming? A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 112 full-time nurse educators in four dimploma nursing programs (DNP) and two baccalaureate nursing programs (BNP) in southern Alberta. Completed returns numbered 74 (66%). Descriptive statistics, content analysis and the Chi Square statistical test were used to analyze the data. Lewin's (1951) force field theory was used as a guide in inteerpretation of the data findings. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1. Generally, nurse-faculty perceived the system of nursing education to be inadequate in meeting the health care needs of society; in providing for education and career mobility; and in the kind and amount of communication between its educational components. 2. A majority of BNP and DNP faculty support the EP 2000 mandate. Each group identified the need to upgrade professional standards and educational requirements to better serve society (consumers, patients, hospitals, marketplace demands and the profession) and better meet the increased intellectual, technical and judgemental demands required by the expanded roles in nursing practice. 3. A majority of the BNP and DNP faculty support the development of collaborative baccalaureate programsprovi for reasons ranging from professional benefits to pragmatic and economic aspects. However, there were a number of ambiguities and contradictions in the participants' responses. 4. Restricted provincial funds, lack of government support for EP 2000, concerns regarding the academic qualifications of diploma faculty to deliver university transfer courses, the need to protect existing program territoriality, and difficulties in mobilizing inter-institutional processes were perceived as barriers influencing the development of collaborative programs. The EP 2000 position statements, the increased student demands for baccalaureate education, and a desire to retain the strengths and resources of diploma education were preceived as facilitators. 5. The participants' type of employing institution affected certain perceptions of collaborative programming and the baccalaureate as entry to nursing practice. It was concluded that less overt resistance to collaborative programming was found than might have been predicted, given the slow movement in the province toward planned collaboration. The base seems to exist for a concerted, organized, regional effort in this direction, provided that serious attention is paid to the issues identified by the respondents. Finally, the data provide a foundation for developing on educational process and action steps to enhance progress toward collaboration as one option for facilitating EP 2000. Recommendations were presented for nursing education and future research. / xi, 138 leaves ; 28 cm

Spatial patterns in parasite communities of freshwater fish are often characterized as low in diversity and unpredictable. Whether or not his view is a true reflection of community patterns is unclear, in particular when comparing studies of parasite communities of fish occuring in man-altered ecosystems. To understand the structure of a fish parasite community, I first described the parasite fauna of 13 species of freshwater fish from 19 isolated lakes on the Caribou Mountains plateau in northern Alberta. After my initial broad-scale survey, I selected the diverse and complex community of parasites in whitefish, (Coregonus clupeaformis) for further analysis. This host had the most diverse parasite community of any species of fish on the plateau and was disproportionally important in the dissemination of parasites to the other species of fish. Ten parasite species infected whitefish in the 7 large lakes on the plateau; 7 were core species (i.e found in every lake) and 9 were salmonid specialists. Parasite intensities were much higher (>100 per host) in the Caribou Mountains than elsewhere in Canada, as was community similarity (>70%). Ordination analyses showed that 48% of the variation in parasite intensities between lakes could be explained by factors associated with aquatic productivity (e.g. chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus). Low-intensity lakes were characterized by low productivity and high colour and high-intensity lakes were characterized by low productivity and high colour and high-intensity lakes had high prductivity and low colour. Patterns of high similarity between lakes, together with the association between aquatic productivity and community structure shows that the spatial structure of parasite communities can be predicted on the basis of a common suite of specialist, core species. / vii, 147 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

Net primary productivity (NPP) is a key ecological parameter that is important in estimating carbon stocks in large forested areas. NPP is estimated using models of which leaf area index (LAI) is a key input. This research computes a variety of ground-based and remote sensing LAI estimation approaches and examines the impact of these estimates on modeled NPP. A relative comparison of ground-based LAI estimates from optical and allometric techniques showed that the integrated LAI-2000 and TRAC method was preferred. Spectral mixture analysis (SMA), accounting for subpixel influences on reflectance, outperformed vegetation indices in LAI prediction from remote sensing. LAI was shown to be the most important variable in modeled NPP in the Kananaskis, Alberta region compared to soil water content (SWC) and climate inputs. The variability in LAI and NPP estimates were not proportional, from which a threshold was suggested where first LAI is limiting than water availability. / xii, 181 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

Ecologically, Richardson's ground squirrels comprise and uphold a major part of the prairie ecosystem. However, from a soceital perspective, many residents of the prairies view them as nothing more than 'pests' in need of eradication. The focus of this research is on attitudes, knowledge, and public support for specific management strategies in relation to Richardson's ground squirrels. Measuring human attitudes about wildlife is a growing field of study that can provide important information to resource management personnel. Surveys were administered to rural residents, urban residents, and grade 12 high school students residing in Lethbridge, Alberta or within a 60-km radius of the city. Urban people had a significantly more positive overall attitude score than rural people. Rural people had a significantly higher knowledge score than urban residents. Rural people supported lethal management practices in all areas listed whereas urban people more often supported alternative management practices such as capture and relocation or the introduction of predators. Both urban and rural people believed that overpopulation of Richardson's ground squirrels and the depletion of crops caused by Richardson's ground squirrels were serious problems. Overall, rural people perceived problems caused by Richardson's ground squirells to be more serious problems than did urban residents. Results provide information for decision-makers and highlight areas where education might focus. In addition, a baseline of existing attitudes toward Richardson's ground squirrels is created against which future change in attitudes or knowledge can be measured. / x, 191 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.

Grid-based digital elevation models (DEMs) are used to simulate overland flow paths in hydrological models. The accuracy of these drainage patterns are dependent upon how well the DEM represents the terrain features that control runoff patterns. Often regional DEMs are not produced at scales small enough to represent rural infrastructure. The scale of runoff patterns that can be accurately modeled is, therefore, restricted, particularly when the terrain is relatively flat. The RIDEM (Rural Infrastructure Digital Elevation Model) model is presented that utilizes commonly available ancillary data to downscale grid-based runoff patterns. The resulting drainage patterns reflect drainage modifications imposed by rural infrastructure including: roads, ditches, culverts, and irrigation canals. Downscaling runoff patterns enables the completion of runoff studies at smaller scales. The model was implemented with the Oldman River watershed, Alberta, Canada to determine the spatial patterns of potential runoff contributing areas in three agricultural watersheds regularly contaminated by pathogens. / vii, 170 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.

This thesis explores the customs and traditions surrounding death and memorialization in the history of Lethbridge, paying particular attention to the public "face" of the practices as observed in newspaper death notices, obituaries, in-memoriams, undertaker advertisements, gravestones and cemeteries. It places Lethbridge rituals within the context of the general paterns of western culture, and others, as described by anthropology, history, archaeology, and art history. Its intent is to understand the effects of certain external influences on the realms of personal choice and individuality, and to observe the extent to which these influences have had an impact on what was once deeply personal family matter. / viii, 197 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

Leaf area index (LAI) provides forestry information that is important for regional scale ecological models and in studies of global change. This research examines the effects of mountainous terrain on the radiometric properties of multispectral CASI imagery in estimating ground-based optical measurements of LAI, obtained using the TRAC and LAI- 2000 systems. Field and image data were acquired summer 1998 in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. To account for the influence of terrain a new modified approach using the Li and Strahler Geometric Optical Mutual Shadowing (GOMS) model in 'multiple forward mode' (MFM) was developed. This new methodology was evaluated against four traditional radiometric corrections used in comination with spectral mixture analysis (SMA) and NDVI. The MFM approach provided the best overall predictions of LAI measured with ground-based optical instruments, followed by terrain normalized SMA, SMA without terrain normalization and NDVI. / xiv, 151 leaves : ill. (some col.), map ; 29 cm.

Children are not obtaining adequate amounts of physical activity (PA) and it is important to determine how we can increase PA. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a physical activity curriculum resource, Busy Bodies©, on preschool children’s physical activity levels. A total of five preschools from the NW quadrant of Calgary, Alberta were included in this study. The 48 participants involved in the study were all 4 years old. The preschools were divided into three groups: Control Group (no intervention), Intervention Group (school received the resource), and Intervention and Teacher Training Group (schools received the resource and teacher training). The researcher placed pedometers on all participants and observed selected participants using the System of Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT). The results of this study did not confirm that teacher training impacted physical activity levels. The effects of the resource on the Intervention and Intervention and Teacher Training groups were similar as derived from pedometer and direct observation. Alternative forms of teacher intervention may further increase physical activity. / x, 92 leaves ; 28 cm

A constructivist philosophical paradigm and van Manen's phenomenological method were used to understand the lived experience of a purposeful sample of nine novice nursing clinical instructors in the Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta program in Lethbridge, Alberta. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured, open-ended interview questions and were analyzed using van Manen's approach to thematic analysis. The findings revealed how novice nursing clinical nursing instructors experienced this new role; the meaning instructors ascribed to their experience; and how instructors learned about the clinical instructor role. The lived experience of novice nursing clinical instructors was likened to a journey. Three major themes emerged within The Journey: Endeavoring Amid Strife, Enacting Understanding of the Clinical Instructor Role, and Evolving as a Clinical Instructor. Implications included: valuing the lived experience, appreciating struggles, and improving supports and learning resources in the areas of orientation, mentorship, peer support, instructor inclusion in academia, and work-life balance. / viii, 118 leaves ; 29 cm