Sandy Tatla

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital

Academic Affiliations

Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Research Theme

Evidence to Innovation

Research Areas

Contact

STatla@cw.bc.ca

Phone

(604) 875-2345 ext. 7004

Mailing Address

4500 Oak St
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3N1

Overview: My research interests focus on promoting the best practice in rehabilitation and care to optimize health outcomes for patients and families through: the application of emerging technologies, engaging in knowledge translation and facilitating evidence integration to practice, and exploring factors that influence patient, family, and clinician motivation and engagement in the care process.
Publications: Coaching for parents of children with type 1 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial
Patient Education and Counseling
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108205
2024
Implementing a collaborative coaching intervention for professionals providing care to children and their families: An exploratory study
Journal of Interprofessional Care
Tatla, S.K. and Howard, D. and Antunes Silvestre, A. and Burnes, S. and Husson, M. and Jarus, T.
DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2017.1336990
2017
Toolbox of multiple-item measures aligning with the ICF Core Sets for children and youth with cerebral palsy
European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
Schiariti, V. and Tatla, S. and Sauve, K. and O'Donnell, M.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2016.10.007
2017
Charting the territory: Describing the functional abilities of children with progressive neurological conditions
Research in Developmental Disabilities
Tatla, S.K. and Holsti, L. and Andrews, G.S. and Feichtinger, L. and Steele, R. and Siden, H.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.10.001
2017
Therapists’ Perceptions of Social Media and Video Game Technologies in Upper Limb Rehabilitation
JMIR Serious Games
Sandy K Tatla and Navid Shirzad and Keith R Lohse and Naznin Virji-Babul and Alison M Hoens and Liisa Holsti and Linda C Li and Kimberly J Miller and Melanie Y Lam and HF Machiel Van der Loos
DOI: 10.2196/games.3401
03/2015
Perceptions of Technology and Its Use for Therapeutic Application for Individuals With Hemiparesis: Findings From Adult and Pediatric Focus Groups.
JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies
Lam MY and Tatla SK and Lohse KR and Shirzad N and Hoens AM and Miller KJ and Holsti L and Virji-Babul N and Van der Loos HFM
DOI: 10.2196/rehab.3484
PubMed: 28582236
02/2015
The development of the pediatric motivation scale for rehabilitation
Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Tatla, S.K. and Jarus, T. and Virji-Babul, N. and Holsti, L.
DOI: 10.1177/0008417414556884
2015
The GestureTek virtual reality system in rehabilitation: A scoping review
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
Glegg, S.M.N. and Tatla, S.K. and Holsti, L.
DOI: 10.3109/17483107.2013.799236
2014
The effects of motivating interventions on rehabilitation outcomes in children and youth with acquired brain injuries: A systematic review
Brain Injury
Tatla, S.K. and Sauve, K. and Jarus, T. and Virji-Babul, N. and Holsti, L.
DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2014.890747
2014
Virtual reality therapy for adults post-stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis exploring virtual environments and commercial games in therapy
PLoS ONE
Lohse, K.R. and Hilderman, C.G.E. and Cheung, K.L. and Tatla, S. and Van Der Loos, H.F.M.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093318
2014
Wii-habilitation as balance therapy for children with acquired brain injury
Developmental Neurorehabilitation
Tatla, S.K. and Radomski, A. and Cheung, J. and Maron, M. and Jarus, T.
DOI: 10.3109/17518423.2012.740508
2014
Evidence for outcomes of motivational rehabilitation interventions for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: An american academy for cerebral palsy and developmental medicine systematic review
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Tatla, S.K. and Sauve, K. and Virji-Babul, N. and Holsti, L. and Butler, C. and Van Der Loos, H.F.M.
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12147
2013
Virtual reality as balance rehabilitation for children with brain injury: A case study
Technology and Disability
Cheung, J. and Maron, M. and Tatla, S. and Jarus, T.
DOI: 10.3233/TAD-130383
2013
Research: FEATHERS: Functional Engagement in Assisted Therapy through Exercise Robotics
FEATHERS is unique collaboration amongst UBC researchers, graduate students in engineering, Physical Therapy, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and Kinesiology and therapists and patients/families from two community rehabilitation centers. The objective of FEATHERS is to develop social gaming programs, supported by upper-limb robotics, that will enable and motivate children with cerebral palsy, and older adults after stroke to engage in upper extremity home rehabilitation. The impetus is the mounting evidence that although intensive repetitive therapy is required to stimulate neuroplastic changes in the motor control system most patients do not undertake a sufficient number of repetitions of these tasks in their therapy or home training sessions. The FEATHERS team has completed focus groups, usability testing and is currently trialing this therapeutic approach with participants in the community.
Aquatic Therapy & Pediatric Rehabilitation
Pediatric rehabilitation involves working together with children and families to achieve child specific rehabilitation outcomes. Aquatic therapy is a unique intervention as it is done in an environment that can be familiar, natural, and enjoyable. Limited evidence is available regarding the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for rehabilitation, pointing to the need for research in this area. This qualitative study provides novel information about parents’ perceptions regarding the influence of aquatic therapy on their child's rehabilitation.
Coaching for Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong condition that requires constant self-management, family support and supervision, ongoing learning, and medical support from a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Coaching is an approach which encourages families to actively engage in behaviour change to improve health and quality of life. This study will compare the effects of frequent telephone coaching for parents of children with T1D with routine care or frequent telephone contact (without coaching) on the following outcomes: 1) the child’s daily care, 2) health related quality of life, 3) diabetes-related family conflict, and 4) blood glucose control.

Honours & Awards

Margaret Hood Leadership Award (2013)
Child & Family Research Institute Graduate Studentship (2012)
Margaret Hood Leadership Award (2012)

Stories See all

Women in Science: Sandy Tatla, in her words

Sandy Tatla is a panellist at this year's Women in Science event. She shares her story about becoming an educational leader in health care and her challenges in balancing work and family life.

Continue reading Women in Science: Sandy Tatla, in her words

Torin Halvorson and Hebah Hussaina awarded Vanier scholarships for immunotherapy and mental health research

BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) is proud to announce that two of its outstanding research trainees, Torin Halvorson, an MD/PhD student working with the Levings research team, and Hebah Hussaina, a graduate research assistant in the Brussoni Lab, have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

Continue reading Torin Halvorson and Hebah Hussaina awarded Vanier scholarships for immunotherapy and mental health research

Studies highlight the impact of the pandemic on children and youth’s mental health

The Pediatric Outcome ImProvement through COordination of Research Networks — which involves BCCHR — has published their latest research findings on mental health hospitalizations of children and youth throughout the pandemic. These findings led the team to a second study where they evaluated the relationship between hospital admissions for eating disorders and public health restrictions.

Continue reading Studies highlight the impact of the pandemic on children and youth’s mental health

Recognizing a brain injury quickly can save lives

Knowing how to recognize brain injury as early as possible and what to do is crucial to reduce potential long-term complications. Mild traumatic brain injuries are more prevalent in children and youth than adults, often as a result of sport- and recreation-related events.

Continue reading Recognizing a brain injury quickly can save lives

A decade of work advances care for children with cancer

Researchers at the Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute have been working for over a decade on the BC Pediatric Personalized OncoGenomics (PedsPOG) study, using genomics to identify treatments specific to an individual child’s cancer.

Continue reading A decade of work advances care for children with cancer

BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute brings Mini Science Night to Salmon Arm

Scheduled for May 2, in Salmon Arm, BC, Mini Science Night is a public lecture that explores the newest discoveries and innovations in health research. Admission is free and everyone in the community is welcome to attend, including students, teachers, parents, seniors, and local health-care professionals. There are 50 seats available to the public when registration opens on April 2.

Continue reading BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute brings Mini Science Night to Salmon Arm

Videos

Innovations in Learning: The Intersection of Simulation and Technology + Concussions: A Conundrum of Uncertainty and a Public Health Concern

Let's explore how technology is integrated into medical training in the health-care environment — including simulation-based learning and other immersive technologies. You will also have the opportunity to identify the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations of emerging learning technologies. Learn more about the evolving science and evidence-based guidelines around concussion recognition, treatment, and recovery. We'll also discuss why it's so important for everyone to be educated about concussions, including doctors, coaches, workers, parents, students, and school staff. Presented by Sandy Tatla, Investigator, BC Children's Hospital; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, UBC. | Elena Felgar, Senior Leader, Clinical Education, BC Children's & BC Women's Hospital. | Dr. Shelina Babul, Investigator & Director, Sports Injury Specialist, BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, BC Children's Hospital; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UBC. (2024)

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