Crystal MacKay

Crystal MacKay is a Scientist at West Park Healthcare Centre and Assistant Professor (status) in the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto with a cross appointment at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute. She is a physical therapist and health services researcher. She received her PhD in the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto and completed post-doctoral training at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Her research interests include examining the health needs, health outcomes and service use of people living with chronic conditions, and developing and evaluating patient-centred complex health interventions. Her research has primarily focused on two populations: osteoarthritis and limb loss. She uses multiple methods in her research (e.g. qualitative methods, survey research, knowledge synthesis methods).

Recent Publications

1. MacKay C, Hawker GA, Jaglal GA, How Do Physical Therapists Approach Management of People With Early Knee Osteoarthritis? A Qualitative Study, Physical Therapy, pzz164, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz164
2. MacKay C, Clements N, Wong R, Davis AM.  A Systematic Review of Estimates of the Minimally Clinically Important Difference and Patient Acceptable Symptom State of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index in Patients who Underwent Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2019; 27(10):1408-1419.
3. Briggs AM, Hinman RS, Darlow B, Bennell KL, Leech M, Pizzari T, Greig AM, MacKay C, Bendrups A, Larmer PJ, Francis-Cracknell A, Houlding E, Desmond LA, Jordan JE, Minaee N, Slater H. Confidence and attitudes towards osteoarthritis care among the current and emerging health workforce: A multi-national interprofessional study. ACR Open Rheumatology 2019. Vol. 0, No. 0: pp 1–17.
4. Briggs AM, Houlding E, Hinman RS, Desmond LA, Bennell KL, Darlow B, Pizzari T, Leech M, MacKay C, Larmer PJ, Bendrups A Greig AM, Francis-Cracknell A, Jordan JE, Slater H Health professionals and students encounter multi-level barriers to implementing high-value osteoarthritis care: A multi-national study. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2019: 27(5): 788–804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2018.12.024
5. MacKay C, Hawker G, Jaglal SB. Qualitative Study Exploring the Factors Influencing Physical Therapy Management of Early Knee Osteoarthritis in Canada. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e023457.
6. MacKay C, Webster F, Venkataramanan V, Bytautas J, Perruccio AV, Wong R, Carlesso L, Davis AM.  A Prospective Cohort Study Examining Medical and Social Factors Associated with Engagement in Life Activities Following Total Hip Replacement. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2017: Jul 25(7):1032-1039.

Honours and Awards

• Knowledge Translation in Research Award, Arthritis Alliance of Canada
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowship
• The Arthritis Society Post Doctoral Fellowship Award
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research Bisby Prize