Peer-reviewed Publications
2025
MacKay M, McAlpine D, Grant LE, Papadopoulos A, McWhirter JE. (2025). Assessing communication competencies in Canadian MPH program curriculum: An environmental scan and content analysis of communication courses. Public Health Reports.
Ford C, MacKay M, McWhirter JE, Papadopoulos A (2025). Communicating about COVID-19 vaccines: A qualitative study on preferences, attitudes, and influences on Canadian post-secondary students decisions to get vaccinated. Emerging Adulthood.
Sherk L, MacKay M, McWhirter JE, Papadopoulos A. (2025). Measuring health promoter core competencies among graduate students enrolled in a health promotion course. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Mucevic H, Macleod J, Shereefdeen H, MacKay M, Cheng L, Phypers M, McWhirter JE, Grant LE. (in press). Best Practices in Public Risk Communication during Enteric Illness Outbreak Investigations: A Scoping Review. Frontiers in Communication (Health).
2024
MacKay, M., McAlpine, D., Wrote, H., Grant, L.E., Papadopoulos, A., McWhirter, J.E. (2024). Public Health Communication Professional Development Opportunities and Alignment with Core Competencies: An Environmental Scan and Content Analysis. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice, 44(5), 218-228. DOI
McAlpine D., MacKay M., Grant L.E., Papadopoulos A., McWhirter J.E. (2024) Modernizing Public Health Communication Competencies in Canada: A Survey of the Canadian Public Health Workforce. Canadian Journal of Public Health. DOI
MacKay, M., Ford, C., Grant, L.E., Papadopoulos, A., & McWhirter, J.E. (2024). Developing Competencies in Public Health: A Scoping Review of the Literature on Developing Competency Frameworks and Student and Workforce Development. Frontiers in Public Health (Public Health Education and Promotion).
Patel V, Grant LE, Shereefdeen S, MacKay M, Cheng L, Phypers M, Papadopoulos A, McWhirter JE. (2024). Evaluating Multi-Jurisdictional Enteric Illness Outbreak Messaging in Canada: A Content Analysis of Public Health Notices. Health Communication.
Patel V, Grant LE, Shereefdeen S, MacKay M, Cheng L, Phypers M, Papadopoulos A, McWhirter JE. (2024). A Content Analysis of Government-Issued Social Media Posts during Multi-Jurisdictional Enteric Illness Outbreaks in Canada. Frontiers in Communication.
Dusome KM, Khosa DK, Greenhill LM, McWhirter JE, Stone EA. (2024). An Investigation of Veterinary College Websites in the US and Canada: Representations and Content of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.
Dusome KM, Khosa DK, Greenhill LM, McWhirter JE, Stone EA. (2024). Students’ reports of challenges, experiences, and perceptions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Veterinary Colleges in Canada and the United States. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.
2023
MacKay, M., Ford, C., Grant, L. E., Papadopoulos, A., McWhirter, J. E. (2023). Developing Public Health Competency Statements and Frameworks: A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis of Approaches. BMC Public Health, 23, 2240. DOI.
MacKay, M., Li, Y., Papadopoulos, A., & McWhirter, J. E. (2023). Overview of the Health Communication Curriculum in Canadian Master of Public Health Programs. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 29(6), 906–914. DOI.
Bravo, C.A., Walker, M.J., Papadopoulos, A., McWhirter, J.E. (2023). Social media use in HPV-, cervical cancer-, and cervical screening-related research: A scoping review. Preventive Medicine. DOI.
Ford C., MacKay M., Thaivalappil A., McWhirter J. E., Papadopoulos, A. (2023). COVID-19 vaccine communications on Instagram and vaccine uptake in young adults: A content assessment and public engagement analyses. Emerging Adulthood. DOI.
MacKay, M., Thaivalappil, A., McWhirter, J. E., Gillis, D., & Papadopoulos, A. (2023). “There was a lot of that [coercion and manipulation] happening and well, that’s not very trustworthy”: A qualitative study on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Canada. Review of Communication, 23(3), 165–182. DOI.
Gosselin, S., Thaivalappil, A., Papadopoulos, A., & McWhirter, J. E. (2023). Public Health Messaging to Address Indoor Tanning: A Scoping Review. Journal of Health Communication, 1–13. DOI.
Lisnyj, K. T., Gillani, N., Pearl, D. L., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2023). Factors associated with stress impacting academic success among post-secondary students: A systematic review. Journal of American College Health, 71(3), 851–861. DOI.
Primeau, C. A., McWhirter, J. E., Carson, C., McEwen, S. A., & Parmley, E. J. (2023). Exploring medical and veterinary student perceptions and communication preferences related to antimicrobial resistance in Ontario, Canada using qualitative methods. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1–15.
Primeau, C. A., Bharat, A., Janecko, N., Carson, C. A., Mulvey, M., Reid-Smith, R., McEwen, S., McWhirter, J. E., Parmley, E. J. (2023). Integrated surveillance of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella and Escherichia coli from humans and animal species raised for human consumption in Canada from 2012 to 2017. Epidemiology & Infection, 151, e14.
2022
Cimino, A., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). Made in the shade: A qualitative study of factors impacting shade provision at outdoor public parks. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 32(11), 2562–2574.
MacKay, M., Colangeli, T., Thaivalappil, A., Del Bianco, A., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). A review and analysis of the literature on public health emergency communication practices. Journal of Community Health, 1–13.
Nielson, S., Kamleh, M., Conlon, P., McWhirter, J. E., Stone, E., Khosa, D., & Others. (2022). Personal health and nutrition information-seeking attitudes and behaviours of first year Canadian and United States veterinary students. Veterinary Evidence, 7(2).
MacKay, M., Ford, C., Colangeli, T., Gillis, D., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). A content analysis of Canadian influencer crisis messages on Instagram and the public’s response during COVID-19. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1–15.
Cimino, A., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). Original quantitative research–An evaluation of the amount, type, and use of shade at public playgrounds in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy, and Practice, 42(5), 209-217.
Lisnyj, K., Pearl, D. L., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). Examining the influence of human and psychological capital variables on post-secondary students’ academic stress. Studies in Higher Education, 47(12), 2508–2522.
MacKay, M., Cimino, A., Yousefinaghani, S., McWhirter, J. E., Dara, R., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). Canadian COVID-19 crisis communication on Twitter: mixed methods research examining tweets from government, politicians, and public health for crisis communication guiding principles and tweet engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6954.
Cimino, A., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). Assessment of the area, type and frequency of use of shaded shaded areas of playgrounds in Guelph (Ontario, Canada). Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy, and Practice, 42(5), 237–246.
Thaivalappil, A., Young, I., Pearl, D. L., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2022). “I Can Sense When My Hands Need Washing”: A Qualitative Study and Thematic Analysis of Factors Affecting Young Adults’ Hand Hygiene. Environmental Health Insights, 16, 11786302221129955.
Gosselin, S., McWhirter, J. E., Mutti-Packer, S., McEwen, S. A., Papadopoulos, A., Rosen, C. F., & Beecker, J. (2022). “I Think There Should Be Photos”: Female Indoor Tanners’ Perceptions of Health Warning Labels for Tanning Beds. Health Communication, 37(11), 1378–1388.
2021
MacKay, M., Colangeli, T., Gillis, D., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2021). Examining social media crisis communication during early COVID-19 from public health and news media for quality, content, and corresponding public sentiment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 7986.
Quinn, E., Sahibzada, C. F., Fazel, S., McWhirter, J. E., & Peters, C. (2021). Sunscreen and associated risk in the news: a content analysis of Canadian newspapers (2009–2019). The Journal of Communication and Media Studies, 6(1), 41.
Rodenburg, E., Decorso, A., Khosa, D., Taylor, A., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2021). Social Inclusion in Group Homes: Determining Facilitators and Barriers to Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 10(1), 130–159.
Nielson, S. A., Kamleh, M. K., Conlon, P. D., McWhirter, J. E., Stone, E. A., & Khosa, D. K. (2021). Understanding Incoming Canadian and US Veterinary Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Their Dietary Habits and Levels of Physical Activity. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 48(6), 747–755.
Lisnyj, K. T., Pearl, D. L., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2021). Exploration of factors affecting post-secondary students’ stress and academic success: Application of the socio-ecological model for health promotion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3779.
Lisnyj, K. T., Pearl, D. L., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2021). Targeting components of social capital on campus to alleviate Canadian post-secondary students’ academic stress. Current Psychology, 1–11.
2020
Chen, T. T., Khosa, D. K., McEwen, S. A., Abood, S. K., & McWhirter, J. E. (2020). Readability and content of online pet obesity information. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 257(11), 1171–1180.
Young, I., Chung, A., McWhirter, J. E., & Papadopoulos, A. (2020). Observational assessment of food safety behaviours at farmers’ markets in Ontario, Canada: A cross-sectional study. Food Control, 108, 106875.
2019
Gosselin, S., & McWhirter, J. E. (2019). Original mixed methods research–Assessing the content and comprehensiveness of provincial and territorial indoor tanning legislation in Canada. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy, and Practice, 39(2), 45-54.
Reimann, J., McWhirter, J. E., Papadopoulos, A., Bergeron, K., Flynn, S., Marrett, L., … Dewey, C. (2019). A process evaluation of the skin cancer prevention act (Tanning Beds): A survey of ontario public health units. Journal of Community Health, 44, 675–683.
Sypes, E. E., & McWhirter, J. E. (2019). Content analysis of health warning labels for indoor tanning in the United States. American Journal of Health Education, 50(2), 80–87.
Reimann, J., McWhirter, J. E., Cimino, A., Papadopoulos, A., & Dewey, C. (2019). Impact of legislation on youth indoor tanning behaviour: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 123, 299–307.
Gosselin, S., & McWhirter, J. E. (2019). Assessing the content and comprehensiveness of provincial and territorial indoor tanning legislation in Canada. Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada, 39(2).
2018 or earlier
McWhirter, J. E., Byl, S., Green, A., Sears, W., & Papadopoulos, A. (2018). Availability of tanning salons in Ontario relative to indoor tanning policy (2001–2017). Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 40–45.
Reimann, J., McWhirter, J. E., Papadopoulos, A., & Dewey, C. (2018). A systematic review of compliance with indoor tanning legislation. BMC Public Health, 18, 1–19.
Nadalin, V., Marrett, L. D., Cawley, C., Atkinson, J., Tenkate, T., McWhirter, J. E., & Rosen, C. F. (2018). Assessing a ban on the use of UV tanning devices among adolescents in Ontario, Canada: first-year results. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 109, 473–479.
Magwood, O., Kpade, V., Afza, R., Oraka, C., McWhirter, J. E., Oliver, S., & Pottie, K. (2018). Understanding women’s, caregivers’, and providers’ experiences with home-based records: a systematic review of qualitative studies. PloS One, 13(10), e0204966.
Quintana, Y., & McWhirter, J. E. (2017). Culturally appropriate behavioral change in maternal health: role of mobile and online technologies over time. Cognitive Informatics in Health and Biomedicine: Understanding and Modeling Health Behaviors, 217–233.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2016). Application of the Health Belief Model to U.S. Magazine Text and Image Coverage of Skin Cancer and Recreational Tanning (2000-2012). Journal of Health Communication.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2016). Coverage of skin cancer risk factors and UV behaviors in popular US magazines from 2000 to 2012. Journal of Cancer Education, 31, 382–388.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2015). Skin Cancer Early Detection Information in Popular US Magazines (2000-2012). Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 72(6), 1081–1082.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2015). Systematic review of population-based studies on the impact of images on UV attitudes and behaviours. Health Promotion International, 30(2), 397–410.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2015). North American magazine coverage of skin cancer and recreational tanning before and after the WHO/IARC 2009 classification of indoor tanning devices as carcinogenic. Journal of Cancer Education, 30, 477–481.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2015). Coverage of skin cancer and recreational tanning in North American magazines before and after the landmark 2006 International Agency for Research on Cancer report. BMC Public Health, 15(169).
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2014). A systematic review of visual image theory, assessment, and use in skin cancer and tanning research. Journal of Health Communication, 19(6), 738–757.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2014). Table II. Early detection information in popular US magazines (women’s vs men’s magazines). Health Commun, 29, 173–181.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2013). Visual images for patient skin self-examination and melanoma detection: a systematic review of published studies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 69(1), 47–55.
Cooke, M., Woodhall, J., & McWhirter, J. E. (2013). Research Brief No. 13-The Social and Health Service Needs of Aboriginal Peoples in Urban Southern Ontario. Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief, 1(4), 5.
McWhirter, J. E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2012). Visual images for skin cancer prevention: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Journal of Cancer Education, 27, 202–216.
McWhirter, J. E., Hoffman-Goetz, L., & Clarke, J. N. (2012). Can you see what they are saying? Breast cancer images and text in Canadian women’s and fashion magazines. Journal of Cancer Education, 27, 383–391.
McWhirter, J. E., Todd, L., & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2011). Comparing written and oral measures of comprehension of cancer information by English-as-a-second-language Chinese immigrant women. Journal of Cancer Education, 26, 484–489.
McWhirter, J. E., Todd, L. E., & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2011). Beliefs about causes of colon cancer by English-as-a-Second-Language Chinese immigrant women to Canada. Journal of Cancer Education, 26, 734–739.
Cooke, M., & McWhirter, J. E. (2011). Public policy and aboriginal peoples in Canada: Taking a life-course perspective. Canadian Public Policy, 37(Supplement 1), S15–S31.
Cooke, M., Guimond, E., & McWhirter, J. E. (2008). The changing well-being of older adult registered Indians: An analysis using the Registered Indian Human Development Index. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 27(4), 385–397.
For a full list of publications, please see Google Scholar.