Funding outcome

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a condition that affects about 2-4% of young people. It is sometimes known as a curvature of the spine. In Canada, long waitlists for surgery make dealing with scoliosis even harder for families. I want to find out: What do families with a teenager who has scoliosis and has faced long treatment delays need to know? How can stories shared by these families raise awareness and lead to changes in the healthcare system? Right now, healthcare professionals often miss the chance to involve teens and their families in decisions about their care. Digital storytelling is becoming a popular way to share information among patients, families, healthcare providers, and decision-makers, but we still need to see how effective it really is. My research will have three parts: 1) We'll review existing studies to see what is already known about digital storytelling as a tool for sharing information; 2) We'll interview teens who have scoliosis and their parents and ask them to create their own digital stories; 3) We'll hold an event to discuss how these stories can help raise awareness and bring about change in the healthcare system.