Tell us about yourself in a paragraph or two: What is your name, and what are you studying? Where are you from? What was your dream job as a kid? What’s your favourite thing to do outside of school/work?
My name is Durdana Khan (she/her) and I am pursuing a doctoral degree from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University. Coming from a small town in Pakistan, I grew up in a family that always dreamed big and faced life’s challenges with confidence and a smile. Of the most cherished traits I inherited from my parents is the confidence to achieve my life goals and serve others. As a result, it was natural for me to pursue a medical profession.
Originally trained as a medical doctor, I completed my Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Promotion from Ohio State University on a Fulbright Scholarship. I have always enjoyed sports, poetry, cooking, travelling, and currently, I love spending time with my three teenage children.
What interested you about the CLSA?
My involvement with the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) began when I met my supervisor, Dr. Hala Tamim. She introduced me to a few databases available for secondary data analysis; CLSA was at the top of the list. I began exploring this database and discovered that the CLSA offers a plethora of possibilities and allows for the analysis of so many different aspects of older Canadians’ quality of life. CLSA is difficult to overlook as a Canadian researcher in aging and health.
What type of research are you doing with CLSA data? Have you published? If so, what are the findings (in lay terms)?
My career goals have matured out of a long-held interest in social determinants of health – the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Workplace and labor force conditions are important social determinants that shape health in powerful ways. My current doctoral research focuses on job factors, specifically working schedules and their long-term consequences on the health of the working population. More specifically, I will be exploring the association of shift work and specific health outcomes among aging populations.
My first published paper investigated associations between shift work exposure and age at natural menopause using CLSA data. Results of the study revealed that shift work, in particular rotating shift work, significantly influenced the timing of natural menopause. Overall, the study findings suggested that women who worked as a rotating shift worker in their current job or in their longest job were more likely to delay onset of menopause. Video Summary.
My second published paper was the first of its kind to find a link between shift work exposure and frailty using CLSA data. Results of the study revealed that exposure to shift work was significantly associated with frailty at three years of follow-up. Particularly, exposure to rotating shift work during the longest job among females was significantly related to frailty. Video summary.
My third paper about the relationship between shift work and cognitive impairment is in press under review. The findings highlight the negative impact of shift work on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.
What is the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve learned from your work with the CLSA? How do you think the CLSA will help you grow as a student or in your future?
CLSA has played an imperative part in my overall development and career advancement. It has given me access to information, resources, and tools that will help me improve my research skills, abilities, and expertise.
How do you think the findings using CLSA data will be useful to you, or others, in the future?
I am confident that my doctoral research will contribute to a better understanding of health outcomes that may be attributed to shift work and as a result, will help advocate for working environments that promote better health outcomes for middle-aged and older adults. Shiftwork is a growing occupational health risk due to its high prevalence and potential role as a determinant of socioeconomic-related health disparities.
Do you have any idea about what kind of job you’d like to do when you finish school?
I see myself working globally to improve occupational health outcomes with a special focus on the effects of shift work on resource constrained populations. I aim to find viable and workable solutions to the various issues surrounding shift workers.
What is a non-career related thing that you are grateful for because of your work with the CLSA?
The CLSA and its team deserve my gratitude for providing such an excellent learning platform for researchers. I appreciate the time and effort that went into developing this database and compiling all the relevant information. Special thanks to the CLSA and its team, who have always supported and helped amplify our research via their social media handles.
