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Unsustainable government health care spending cannot be blamed on drug costs
TORONTO - Medicare's lack of financial sustainability cannot be blamed on the cost of prescription drugs and the real problem is a poorly designed public health insurance system, according to a new study from The Fraser Institute, an independent research organization with offices across Canada.
"If spending on drugs was to blame for unsustainable growth in government
health spending, then it stands to reason that if we spent nothing at all on
drugs, all other parts of government health spending would be growing at
sustainable rates," said Brett Skinner, the Institute's Director of Health,
Pharmaceutical and Insurance Policy Research and author of The Misguided War
Against Medicines.
"But data from 2001 to 2005 shows that spending on all non-pharmaceutical
components of health care continually grew at unsustainable rates while
accounting for between 90 and 92 per cent of total government spending on
health."
Skinner, who has conducted extensive research into government spending on
health care, said this latest study came about because he wanted to test
claims in the debate around Canada's health care system that the rising cost
of prescription drugs and patented pharmaceuticals is primarily responsible
for rising health care costs.
"Blaming patented drugs for rising health care costs is a cheap excuse
for Medicare's financial problems and one that's based on a number of false
assumptions about drug spending in Canada," Skinner said.
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In The Misguided War Against Medicines, Skinner finds that:
- Patented drugs make up too small a percentage of government health
spending to be blamed for Medicare's lack of financial
sustainability. In 2005, patented prescription drugs accounted for
only 6.8 per cent of government health care spending in Canada.
- After-market prices for patented drugs have been stable for the past
18 years. Canadian government data shows that average prices for
existing patented prescription drugs in Canada have grown at a slower
annual pace than the general rate of inflation for 16 of the last 18
years, and have actually declined in six of those years.
- Introductory prices for patented drugs in Canada are lower than those
in the majority of the countries that the federal government uses for
international comparisons and far below American prices for identical
drugs.
- Many new drugs treat highly specialized conditions and small
populations of patients, thereby requiring higher per unit costs.
This means that while the price per patient is sometimes very high,
the small patient populations being treated mean the overall impact
on government health budgets is not large.
>>
The study agrees that spending on all types of prescription drugs is
increasing, but there are two reasons for that. First is the introduction of
new drug treatments that did not previously exist. The second is the
increasing use of drugs to replace or complement other forms of medical
treatment. But Skinner points out that these are positive developments that
lead to improvements in human health and can produce net cost savings when all
health spending is accounted for.
"Evidence shows that hospitalization rates declined at the same time as
drugs have increased as a percentage of government spending on health in
Canada," Skinner said.
In the end, the study concludes that the real driving force behind rising
health care costs is the flawed design of Canada's single-payer health care
system. Government health and drug insurance programs are not able to gain the
efficiency benefits of new medical technologies like patented pharmaceuticals
because such programs lack appropriate incentives for patients and providers
to make optimal use of medical goods and services. Instead, government
drug-insurance programs are notorious for restricting access to new medicines
in a misguided attempt to control costs.
"When governments are committed to enforcing egalitarian access, they
inevitably deny everyone access to the more expensive medical goods and
services, which are usually the latest and most advanced
technologies-including patented medicines," Skinner said.
"As a result, under a government health-insurance monopoly like we have
in Canada, patients go without the most advanced treatments if they do not
have the option to buy private insurance or pay directly for the latest
developments in health technology."
The study argues that properly designed, private-payment health systems
(insurance and out-of-pocket spending) are better structured to encourage the
rational allocation of health technology and optimize overall efficiency
gains.
"Canada should adopt a system like Switzerland's that offers universal
compulsory private health insurance that includes drug coverage. That way we
could have both the benefits of cost-efficiency and the broadest possible
access to advanced medicines and medical care," Skinner concludes.
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Health Council of Canada says public not getting information needed to evaluate progress of health care renewal
TORONTO - While the federal, provincial and territorial governments are making gains - and making good - on some commitments to renew health care, Canadians are not getting the detailed information they need to measure progress in improving health care, the Health Council of Canada concludes in its annual report to Canadians released February 1, 2007.
Four years after the 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal
- and following the infusion of billions of dollars in additional health
investments - how far has health care renewal advanced?
"In some cases, we know governments are measuring up; in other areas, we
know they're missing the mark. But all too often, we just don't know, or we
don't know enough. We don't have sufficient evidence to evaluate the strength
and sustainability of health care renewal on a system-wide basis," said Jeanne
Besner, Interim Chair of the Health Council of Canada.
"We need to strengthen our collective capacity to measure the performance
of health care systems across the country; we need to strengthen transparency
and accountability in health care," said Besner.
The Health Council's 3rd annual report to Canadians, Health Care Renewal
in Canada: Measuring Up?, tracks the progress governments have made in meeting
such commitments as reforming primary health care, reducing wait times and
health inequalities, modernizing health information systems, and improving
drug coverage. And while there is good news to share, the Health Council was
struck by the lack of comparable data and the prevalence of inconsistent or
incomplete reporting across the country.
First Ministers did not report on comparable health indicators this year,
as they had agreed to do, and the federal/provincial/territorial committee
that oversees this work has been disbanded. Information about how provinces
and territories spend targeted federal funds is not easily accessible, or in
some cases, not available at all. As of mid-January, it was not known if, or
how fully, Health Ministers had reported to First Ministers on home care goals
related to a Dec. 31, 2006 deadline. Without better data, jurisdictions will
fall short of their commitment to more transparent public reporting and
greater accountability.
The Council's report identifies both positive developments and troubling
shortcomings, and highlights regional successes in making health care renewal
a reality. Findings include:
<<
- There has been progress in primary health care reform with further
development, expansion and training of interprofessional teams across
the country. But it is difficult to measure and compare this progress
in a meaningful way because jurisdictions do not collect and report
information using agreed-upon indicators. The implementation of the
electronic health record is a crucial component of these reforms, yet
the rate of adoption in primary health care settings remains slow.
- Wait times are being reduced in most of the five targeted areas
(cancer treatment, heart procedures, joint replacement and sight
restoration - benchmarks for diagnostic imaging are still needed,
except in Ontario). In the absence of a pan-Canadian approach to
monitoring wait times for all procedures, it is not clear whether
these efforts are inadvertently increasing wait times for other
services. The Council advises that we standardize wait times
measurement and reporting, create centralized registries, and
continue to assess the impact of the focus on the five targeted
areas.
- Medical and nursing school enrollments are up and most jurisdictions
have developed health human resources plans, but only a few have set
targets based on the needs of their respective populations.
- A progress report on the implementation of a national pharmaceuticals
strategy was released with options for coverage of catastrophic drug
costs. But to date, there has been no action on implementation and no
indication if the federal government will help cover the costs.
Meanwhile, 3.5 million Canadians - including 600,000 in Atlantic
Canada - have little or no drug coverage and are financially
vulnerable should they require expensive drug therapies.
- There are more patient safety initiatives underway across Canada than
last year. But because information about adverse events - unintended
injuries or complications caused by the delivery of health care that
result in prolonged hospital stay, disability, or death - is not
collected and evaluated in a coordinated fashion, it is difficult to
determine whether patient safety is improving. At a minimum, each
jurisdiction should create a central mechanism for the mandatory
reporting of all defined adverse events.
- In a study of eight jurisdictions, the Health Council found no
uniformity in accreditation practices for health care facilities.
Some have 100 per cent participation, while others do not, and it
varies by province. Some accreditation reports are made public, but
most are not. The Council is again recommending that all health care
facilities be accredited as a condition of funding, and that the
findings from accreditation surveys be made public.
- The development of national public health goals is complete, but to
date only Nova Scotia has established targets. There has been a fair
amount of activity at the provincial and territorial level in
developing and implementing healthy living programs, but the federal
government has not yet announced any projects from the Healthy Living
Fund.
- Many governments - federal, provincial and territorial - offer
programs to address health inequalities experienced by Aboriginal
peoples, but the federal government's intent with respect to
implementing the Blueprint on Aboriginal Health and the Kelowna
accord remains unclear.
>>
"While there are many instances of progress and innovation, the picture
we have of health care renewal in Canada remains clouded. In too many cases,
the information is incomplete, inconsistent, or simply unavailable," said
Council Vice-Chair Ian Bowmer. "With billions of dollars being spent on this
historic undertaking, Canadians expect more."
This is supported by public opinion data. According to a
Council-commissioned synthesis of public opinion polling from 2002-2006,
Canadians clearly want to know what their governments are doing to improve the
health care system, how money is being spent, and whether investments are
resulting in a healthier population. This overview - Canadian Perceptions of
the Health Care System by Professor Stuart Soroka - is being released today as
a companion document to the Council's annual report.
The Council will be working closely in the coming months with
governments, stakeholders, and the policy and research communities to develop
a clearer picture of health care renewal. This will help us redouble efforts
where required, build on successes, and provide Canadians with a more
transparent accounting of how their health care system is measuring up.
The Health Council of Canada, created by the 2003 First Ministers' Accord
on Health Care Renewal following the recommendations of the Romanow and Kirby
reports, is mandated to monitor and report on the progress of health care
renewal in Canada. The 26 Councillors were appointed by the participating
provinces, territories and the Government of Canada and have expertise and
broad experience in community care, Aboriginal health, nursing, health
education and administration, finance, medicine and pharmacy.
The report, federal/provincial/territorial information tables, public
perceptions paper and a summary of the report's success stories can be
downloaded at www.healthcouncilcanada.ca.
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Indonesia To Declare Bird Flu A National Disaster
“Indonesia will declare bird flu a national disaster following a fresh flare-up in the country, which has the world's highest human death toll from the virus, the planning minister said on Wednesday January 31, 2007.
The move will guarantee financial support from a special budget fund for
efforts to tackle the disease. Six Indonesians have died of bird flu this
year, taking the country's death toll to 63, and several suspected cases
have been admitted to hospital since the start of the year. A spokesman of
Sardjito hospital in Yogyakarta said the hospital was treating 14
suspected bird flu patients. The H5N1 bird flu virus is endemic in poultry
in most provinces in the archipelago of 17,000 islands spread across
thousands of kilometers. ‘Bird flu has now entered the category of a
national disaster. It is an epidemic, the funding will be allocated from a
disaster fund in the state budget,’ National Development Planning Minister
Paskah Suzetta said. …” [Reuters/Factiva]
“… Declaring the outbreak a national disaster would allow for
nationally-coordinated measures and greater funding, Suzetta said
Wednesday. ‘It is now going that way. The president has given indications
that this is a national disaster that we should handle. So the handling
will no longer be on an ad hoc basis,’ Suzetta was quoted by the state
Antara news agency as saying. He said that the bird flu outbreak met the
criteria of a national disaster as it had already caused a lot of
casualties and its spread could not be contained. Local authorities are
currently responsible for the fight against bird flu in their own area
while the central government only provides guidance and vaccines, he said.
Declaring it a national disaster would allow handling procedures to be
standardized for all regions. …” [Agence France Presse/Factiva]
“Indonesia will begin the compulsory slaughter of thousands of backyard
chickens in its teeming capital Thursday, part of a high-profile campaign
to stamp out bird flu in the world's hardest hit nation. Authorities, who
gave residents weeks to voluntarily get rid of their birds, will go door
to door in some neighborhoods to make sure the order was carried out. …
The effectiveness of the slaughter campaign remains to be seen, however,
amid fears that many residents will hide their birds or that corrupt
officials will be susceptible to bribes. It will also have to reach well
beyond the capital. But Sutiyoso, who uses only one name, said he was
convinced that people now realize the dangers of the disease and would
comply. …” [The Associated Press/Factiva]
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Where is Canada's Foodservice Future Headed?
TORONTO - Breakfast continues to lead meals eaten out of home while freshness, small portions and organics are emerging as forces shaping Canadian menus according to cultural and food industry experts gathered in Toronto on January 30, 2007. Acclaimed demographer Dr. David Foot joins international food consultant and former Editor of McCall's magazine, Dr. A. Elizabeth Sloan; Editor and Publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, Rosanna Caira; market research experts NPD and foodservice operators Sir Corp., and Dairy Queen at the 15th annual Foodservice Interchange Conference. The event highlights what Canadians have been eating out of the home, and offers a preview of what's to come as we age, and continue to embrace new cultures, flavours and dining concepts.
"This conference underscores how the industry is looking to evolve so as
to meet Canadian's needs today while anticipating the future," said Gabby
Nobrega, Sr. V.P., Member Services & Communications, Food and Consumer
Products of Canada (FCPC). "Continuing to offer Canadians access to quality,
safe and interesting menu options which reflect our evolving culture and aging
population takes thoughtful planning and ingenuity. The fact that we are
seeing many of our favourite food service menu items making their way to the
grocery store is just one example of changes on the horizon," she adds.
What the Numbers Say
In his presentation How Changing Demographics are Redefining Consumer
Foodservice Needs, Dr. David Foot looks at the demographics which are driving
the trends. "As we age, we have different dietary needs and considerations
which will create a new reality for restaurants and institutions. We're also
going to see different age-related preferences," said Dr. Foot, author, Boom
Bust and Echo. "For example, as we get older the level of music and the amount
of spice factor heavily into our decision to eat out or not and if so, where."
Taste and Convenience
Canadians are certainly eating out, but there is also an increase in
meals purchased at restaurants for consumption at home according to Jane
Graham, General Manager, Foodservice Canada, The NPD Group and industry expert
Harry Balzer, Vice President, the NPD Group, Inc., (US). Their presentations
Eating Patterns in America and "Only in Canada, eh? What Makes the Canadian
Consumer Unique?" demonstrate that there are not many significant differences
between Canadians and Americans when it comes to food preferences. Among the
key trends are food safety, "healthy" or "better for you" options, fresh local
products and organics, but the real story is about how the industry makes
purchasing food away from home a convenient solution for time-pressed
consumers.
Can we Judge by the Covers?
Rosanna Caira, Editor of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine and
Hotelier Magazine orchestrated a retrospective look at the industry through a
series of cover stories in addition to the 10 foods that ruled in 2006. Her
presentation also looked at how food safety and the environment factored into
the industry's news and business operations. "The covers chronicle how the
industry has evolved and is tackling very difficult issues."
A Taste of Tomorrow
A fusion of a lot of trends and cultures are driving new tastes reports
Dr. A. Elizabeth Sloan who spoke on Putting the Trends to Work for You. "Other
influences including gender, comfort food, exposure to new flavours and the
growing exposure to gourmet among the mainstream are creating a very dynamic
dining scene," said Dr. Sloan. "The most important trend for operators to take
advantage of is the strong demand by consumers to have healthful menu options
which is a key driving force for diners of all ages, demographics, and
ethnicities. Creating a canvas for industry to really get creative is research
which proves there are distinct differences between men and women when it
comes to dining patterns. Now there's a real opportunity for industry."
The Classics meet the Concepts
SIR Corp.'s (Service Inspired Restaurants(R)) Corey Dalton, COO and
George Kakaletris, V.P. Marketing & Branding and Jean Champagne, Chief
Operating Officer, International Groups, Dairy Queen Canada, Inc., provided
behind the scenes stories about how the industry is creating and recreating
experiences for foodservice customers one detail at a time. Their stories
reflect both new establishments and the rebirth of a foodservice legend
underscore the innovation and resiliency of the industry.
"The key to success in the restaurant industry is knowing your customer,
understanding their needs, and providing them with a good experience," said
Champagne in his presentation Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. - A Smile and a Story.
Similarly, SIR Corp.'s Dalton believes the most important factor to ensure the
success of casual dining is to keep up with the demands of the consumer -
great quality at a great value, while continually updating menus to satisfy a
growing taste for healthy and ethnic foods."
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Building healthier communities through peer relationships all across Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region - On January 30, 2007, 14 peer workers will graduate from their 13-week certification training and begin to build relationships with their neighbours in communities all across Waterloo Region. Peer-led programs aim to decrease isolation and increase the health of individuals and whole communities.
The Waterloo Region Peer Program has been training and enabling peer workers to support their peers to improve their health since 1988. Last year, 37 peer workers ran 150 programs across Waterloo Region. The programs focused on nutrition and healthy eating, child and family health, and the health of New Canadians. Run out of a variety of community agencies, each program is unique – determined by the needs and strengths of the community.
A peer worker may hold a weekly drop-in for parents in their low-income neighbourhood where they discuss parenting strategies and build relationships that can make a real difference for new parents struggling with isolation. Another may coordinate workshops for refugees on health care, physical activity, or settling into schools and parenting in Canada. In another neighbourhood, the peer worker will run a culturally diverse community kitchen program where neighbours explore cooking nutritious and balanced meals on a tight budget.
Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre has been a long-time partner in the program. “This program is a successful partnership between Public Health and community-based organizations to increase the health of individuals and families across the Region”, says Dorothy Snyder, Executive Director of Our Place. “It benefits the families in the programs, and it also provides important opportunities for the professional and personal development for the peer workers themselves. What makes this program so valuable is that grass roots community organizations are able to deliver programs in a manner best suited for their community”.
The graduation ceremony for the new peer workers will be hosted at The Salvation Army Parent Child Resource Centre at 75 Tillsley Drive off Westmount Road in Kitchener (phone 519-745-4241). It will be held from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on January 30th.
Media are welcome to attend the graduation and to contact Dorothy Snyder further insight on the impact of the Peer Program.
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Hallman public lectures explore aging, health and well-being
WATERLOO - How best to prevent bone loss without using drugs will be one of the topics discussed at the University of Waterloo's Hallman visiting professorship lecture series, beginning next month.
The public lecture series, entitled Aging, Health and Well-being, starts Feb. 8 and ends in the spring. The series is hosted by the faculty of applied health sciences, which develops knowledge and programs to enhance health and wellness. Each lecture will be held at 3:30 p.m. in room 1621 of the Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion. Admission is free.
"The Hallman lecture series allows us to share with the community the knowledge that these speakers are bringing to students in our new interdisciplinary PhD program in aging, health and well-being," said Richard Hughson, associate dean for graduate studies and research in applied health sciences.
"The speakers will share the practical aspects of their research to help community workers, seniors and their families understand and even slow the aging process."
Catherine Archibald, organizer of the series, said the six renowned experts on the aging process will express their views about why it should not be just about living longer, but also about maintaining good health until the end of life.
* Feb. 8 -- Aging, Life Stories and Social Context. Speaker: Jaber Gubrium, professor and chair of sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia.
Narratives dealing with aging will be presented to show how intimately tied life stories are to the social contexts to which they relate. Life stories are a popular method to research experience through time. From rich narratives of the self to detailed accounts of social worlds, the emphasis is on the depth of experience from childhood to old age. Considered in social context, however, life stories take different shapes, influenced by the many organizations and interactions from which they are drawn.
* March 27 -- Osteoporosis: Can it be Prevented Without the Use of Drugs? Speaker: Clinton Rubin, distinguished professor and chair, department of biomedical engineering, State University of New York.
An examination of research into a biomechanical intervention will provide insight into a unique, non-pharmaceutical approach to prevent osteoporosis. Exercise is recognized as a critical regulatory signal to the skeleton, but it remains unknown which specific components are responsible for influencing bone mass. Evidence in animals and humans suggests that brief exposure to low-magnitude, high-frequency mechanical signals can benefit bone quantity and quality, and perhaps improve the musculoskeletal system.
* April 4 -- Aging and Well-being: What Can Be Learned from the Research on Leisure? Speaker: Valeria Freysinger, associate professor, department of physical education, health and sports studies, Miami University of Ohio.
The presentation will identify insights into aging and well-being from recreation and leisure research in order to expand the conversation beyond the economic and biological. Population aging is of great interest to scholars, political leaders, practitioners and older adults themselves. The viability of pension systems, rising health care costs, the quality of institutionalized care and biological/physical decline are issues attracting the most media attention. Meanwhile, leisure studies on the aging of individuals and societies, along with issues of health and well-being, are often overlooked.
* April 26 -- Express Lanes and Collectors: Using Decision-making to Ease Traffic Congestion in Acute Care. Speaker: Len Gray, professor of geriatric medicine, University of Queensland, Australia.
Standardized assessment protocols provide enormous potential to improve the efficiency and quality of care for frail older people in acute-care settings. The lecture will describe the philosophy and design of the interRAI Acute Care assessment system and its application to a variety of clinical scenarios, as well as its benefits to clinicians, hospital administrators, planners and policy-makers.
* May 8 -- Beyond the Fountain of Youth: Healthy Aging in the 21st Century. Speaker: Susan Kirkland, associate professor and clinical research scholar, department of community health and epidemiology and medicine, Dalhousie University.
The talk will consider aging at multiple levels of inquiry -- the cell, the individual and society. Society's fixation on staying young may not be synonymous with healthy aging. The sequencing of the human genome has expanded the potential to identify genetic traits associated with disease and longevity and to explore the complex interplay between genes and the environment. The dynamic and multifaceted process of aging over the life course is best examined through longitudinal studies that capture the changing individual within a changing social context.
* May 17 -- Fainting, Falls and Blood Pressure Regulation in the Elderly: Insights from Clinical Geriatric Research. Speaker: Dr. Lewis Lipsitz, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, and chief of gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
The presentation will show how treating hypertension or diabetes may improve brain blood flow and prevent cerebral microvascular disease, thus reducing the incidence of falls, fainting and cognitive impairment in elderly people. Both aging and hypertension are associated with abnormalities in blood pressure regulation that may cause acute reductions in brain blood flow during common daily activities and may result in fainting or falls. A chronic reduction in brain blood flow, which commonly occurs with hypertension or diabetes in the elderly, is associated with mental and physical deficits.
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Stem Cells May Help Heal Joint Injuries, Say Researchers
As anyone who’s ever injured a knee or elbow will tell you, recovery can be a long and painful process. Cartilage is an exceptionally slow-healing tissue, and, until now, the missing or damaged tissue is often irreplaceable. Researchers at the University of Guelph are hoping stem cells might provide the needed tissue replacements.
Biomedical sciences professor Dean Betts and doctoral candidate Thomas Koch are hoping to use stem cells to improve cartilage healing after joint injuries. They’re working with horses, where joint injuries are both common and costly, and say the research could be a model for helping human joint injuries.
“Equine joints are similar to human joints in aspects such as joint thickness and spontaneous athletic injuries, so the research may be transferable,” said Koch.
Much of the team’s research focuses on perfecting the technique for isolating, expanding and differentiating adult stem cells. They’re using blood from the umbilical cord of horses as a source of stem cells. Because most horses are observed when foaling, it’s relatively easy to collect the cord blood at that time.
Obtaining cord blood samples is non-invasive and much easier than obtaining stem cells from an embryo. Koch said there’s evidence that stem cells from cord blood are “younger” than bone marrow stem cells, which means they’re capable of more divisions, and creating more diverse tissue types. The younger stem cells may also be less prone to rejection when used to help heal cartilage in another body.
Because there are no other reports on isolating stem cells from equine cord blood, Betts and Koch are eager to gather as much information as possible. Already, they’ve succeeded in differentiating the cord blood stem cells into three different cell types including chondrocytes – the building blocks of cartilage.
Betts said the three-dimensional structure of cartilage and its attachment to the underlying bone is difficult to reproduce. Despite this, there have been encouraging results using osteochondral grafts – pieces of bone and cartilage grafted to the site of the injury. He hopes further research will reveal more ways to reconstruct the tissue either at the injury site, or as a graft that can be surgically implanted.
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Ontario Government Launches Expert Panel On Psychotropic Drugs
Advisory Body To Set Standards Of Care For Giving Certain Medications
To Children And Youth In Residential Settings
QUEEN'S PARK - The Ontario government has established an expert panel to develop standards of care for the administration of psychotropic drugs to children and youth in residential settings, including group and foster care homes across the province, Children and Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers announced January 24, 2007.
"Our government is committed to the health, safety and well-being of
children and youth receiving residential services," said Chambers. "We also
understand that frontline workers involved in the daily administration of
psychotropic drugs require support and guidance. That is why the expert panel
will make recommendations on training for frontline staff to help them provide
informed care and to monitor the impacts of medications."
The 13-member expert panel comprises leading health and social services
professionals who have expertise in psychotropic drugs and residential
services. In addition to developing standards, the panel will provide
recommendations on training frontline staff to help them provide informed care
and monitor the impact of psychotropic medications."
Psychotropic drugs, also called psychoactive drugs, are medications
capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behavior. Legal psychotropic drugs
include antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and tranquilizers
and are considered vital to the practice of psychiatry in the treatment of
mood and behavior disorders.
Glenn Thompson, appointed chair of the expert panel, is a former deputy
minister who has served in six provincial ministries. Following his retirement
from the Ontario Public Service in 1991, Thompson joined the Canadian Mental
Health Association (CMHA), Ontario Division, and was executive director for
nine years. He is currently the interim chief executive officer of the CMHA's
national organization.
"The panel will review current clinical practice and consult with key
clinical experts, professional and regulatory bodies, and service providers
before we make our recommendations," said Thompson. "Our work will help to
promote the safety and well-being of more young people in residential settings
from youth justice to child and youth mental health to developmental services
and child protection, including children's aid societies."
<<
The other panel members are:
- Kalyna Butler, a retired former psychiatry pharmacist, Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health, at the Clark Institute of Psychiatry in
Toronto. She has published a book called The Clinical Handbook of
Psychotropic Drugs for Children and Adolescents.
- Dr. Clive Chamberlain, a senior psychiatrist at the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health and an associate professor of psychiatry
at the University of Toronto. He works with children, adolescents and
their parents and is an authority on youth violence and societal
attitudes towards youth.
- Dr. Simon Davidson, chief of psychiatry and chief of staff at the
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), an associate professor
with the University of Ottawa and an associate member of CHEO. Dr.
Davidson is also a past president of the Canadian Academy of Child
Psychiatry.
- Sylvia Hyland, vice-president of the Institute for Safe Medication
Practices Canada, an independent, national non-profit agency committed
to the advancement of medication safety in all healthcare settings.
- Lucia Lee, executive director of the Murray McKinnon Foundation, an
organization dedicated to providing community-based supports to at
risk youth and youth in conflict with the law. She also volunteers
with other community organizations.
- Dr. Marty McKay, a clinical psychologist who has practiced in Toronto
since 1976. Dr. McKay has been a consultant to public sector and
governmental agencies including children's aid societies, the Ministry
of Community and Social Services and facilities for people with
medical and psychological disabilities.
- Laurine Martyn, residential director of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre,
Gail Appel Institute, established in 1986 to respond to the challenge
of improved mental health care for children.
- Dr. Ajit Ninan, a psychiatrist at the Child and Family Resource
Institute and an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry
at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Ninan recently completed his
child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of
Rochester.
- Dr. Wendy Roberts, director of the Child Development Centre at the
Hospital for Sick Children and a professor of paediatrics at the
University of Toronto. Dr. Roberts's current research focuses on
autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder.
- Dr. Diane Sacks, president of the Canadian Paediatric Society of
Canada and a guest lecturer on teen parenting issues. Dr. Sacks worked
as a paediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine for more than
30 years.
- Dr. Margaret Steele, chair of the Division of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario. Her research
interests are psychopharmacology and psychiatric education.
- Anne-Marie Watson is currently the director of service at the
Children's Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk where she is
responsible for child welfare services, operations, planning,
residential licensing and children's residential services.
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Ontario nurses bring their voices to Queen's Park
TORONTO - As Ontario's politicians prepare to face voters this year, more than 100 registered nurses are heading to Queen's Park to share their views on issues that promise to criss-cross the campaign trail, including health care, poverty and the environment.
Mary Ferguson-Paré, President of the Registered Nurses' Association of
Ontario (RNAO), says nurses are in a unique position to see how government
policies - from income distribution and minimum wage levels, to social
assistance rates and environmental protection - affect Ontarians everyday.
"Nurses support patients through some of their most vulnerable periods in
life," she says. "They know how policies affect social determinants of health
such as poverty, and they are ready to speak out for our vulnerable citizens."
During RNAO's 8th Annual Day at Queen's Park, RNAO members will be
speaking with 15 MPPs, including Minister of Health George Smitherman,
Opposition Leader John Tory, PC Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer, NDP leader
Howard Hampton, and NDP Health Critic Shelley Martel. Nurses will ask MPPs to
support RNAO's positions to increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour, improve
living conditions for those on social assistance, end the clawback of the
national child benefit from families who are receiving social assistance, and
improve working conditions for nurses to avoid a looming nursing shortage.
RNAO Executive Director Doris Grinspun says nurses are eager to hear what all
the parties plan to do to help achieve the goal of having 70 per cent of RNs
working full time. "More full-time jobs are essential to provide continuity of
care to patients, and vital to recruit and retain young people in the
profession. The government has guaranteed full-time jobs for newly graduated
nurses, and we want this promise backed-up with funding," she says.
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'Global Lifeguard' to be the first nationwide provider of personal health record access in Canada.
Aristex Health Solutions Inc. to provide Canadians with secure, online
access to medical records.
E-health initiative first to address healthcare reforms outlined by
Romanow, Kirby reports.
TORONTO - Aristex Health Solutions Inc. announces the launch of its flagship product, Global Lifeguard - an innovative new service that allows Canadians to conveniently access their secure medical records over the Internet. Global Lifeguard will be the first nationwide provider of personal health record access in Canada, offering members 24/7 access to their medical information from the comfort of their own home.
Personal health records (PHRs) have been gaining popularity as Canadians
seek to become more actively involved in the management of their personal
care. The benefits are countless, as PHRs allow members to better monitor and
understand their medical status, archive personal health information, and
easily manage the information of loved ones. PHRs also provide electronic
backups of important medical documents, and facilitate medical treatment
during emergency situations, and when traveling abroad.
The benefits of PHRs have become increasingly significant in light of
recommendations made by the influential Kirby and Romonow committees (2002),
which critically assessed the long-term sustainability of the Canadian
healthcare system. The implementation of PHRs and greater patient involvement
were among the most crucial reforms mandated by these reports. The Canadian
government has planned to address these recommendations from an institutional
standpoint, but, in response to overwhelming public demand, Aristex has
deployed Global Lifeguard as a critical first step towards a patient-driven
Canadian healthcare approach.
"Canadians are ready to play a more active role in their healthcare",
says Mario Voltolina, CEO of Aristex Health Solutions Inc. "At present,
Canadians often feel overwhelmed by the complexities of a burdened healthcare
system. Global Lifeguard strives to improve the Canadian healthcare experience
by putting more control in the hands of informed patients. Canadians will
better understand their personal care --- and better understanding leads to
better health".
Amidst growing concerns of Internet security, Aristex has developed
powerful safeguards to ensure the continued confidentiality of member
information. In addition to an extensive set of internal safeguards, Aristex
has partnered with Entrust, a world leader in the online privacy and security,
to protect and authenticate all member information.
The launch of Global Lifeguard is scheduled for March 2007. Initially
available only to select cities throughout Canada, Global Lifeguard will be
offered nationally by late 2007.
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Book Review
New Book Takes on America’s #1 Killer
Shows you how to treat your heart like you love it...
It’s the hardest working muscle in the human body—your heart. Even when you’re asleep, your heart is still hard at work, pumping blood through your body. So keeping our hearts in prime condition should be a top priority. Yet heart disease is taking a painful toll on millions of lives. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 71 million American adults now suffer from heart disease, stroke and other forms of cardiovascular diseases. That number is projected to increase as the baby boomer generation ages.
“Heart disease is America’s #1 killer,” says renowned cardiologist and author Dr. Gerry Maddoux. “Contributing to the problem is the fact that most laypeople don’t have a true understanding of how to keep their hearts healthy. After all, your heart didn’t come with an instruction manual.”
Until now, Dr. Maddoux’s new book, Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It is dedicated to helping people everywhere have healthier hearts. “This book is for everyone who has felt short of breath and worried, ‘could it be my heart?’” says Dr. Maddoux. “It’s for everyone who has sat anxiously by a loved one’s hospital bed in the cardiac care unit and for everyone who has wondered how to help prevent heart disease. I don’t want families to feel like they’re in this alone; they need good, sound information.”
Straightforward and easy to understand, Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It, is like having a written tour guide to navigate the human heart and how to take the best care of it. Dr. Maddoux maps out the anatomy of the human heart and how it works to give readers a much-deserved explanation of why they should eat healthy, watch their cholesterol and exercise. But that’s just the beginning.
Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It devotes entire chapters to the various complications of the heart, including congestive heart failure, silent coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure. It also details the relationship between your emotional health and the health of your heart. Chapters in the book also tackle common questions such as what could be the cause of shortness of breath or dizziness. Readers will also learn critical information in the chapter that outlines tactics for handling cardiac emergencies at home until paramedics can arrive.
Because women can experience different symptoms of heart disease than men, Dr. Maddoux has dedicated a chapter to pointing out the distinctions. “One of the first things that I am struck with is that women with coronary artery disease are more likely than men to complain of fatigue,” says Dr. Maddoux. “Women also give a different description of the pain and symptoms they feel during a heart attack and it’s critical for women to understand those symptoms.”
Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It also decodes all the medical terminology surrounding the array of diagnostic tests designed to detect heart disease. The book outlines very clearly the benefits and possible risks of the different types of tests. “I tend to favor an electron beam tomogram or some other type of rapid CT scanning,” says Dr. Maddoux. “It requires no IV, no injected drugs or substances and you get a tiny amount of radiation compared to other tests. It is a good screening test with no risks.”
Dr. Maddoux points out five key reasons why people need to understand the significance of taking care of their hearts and getting any problems diagnosed:
* 1 of every 2 males and 1 of every 2.4 women are currently destined to die of cardiovascular disease
* One million American people currently have atrial fibrillation, an electrical disorder of the heart
* Five million Americans currently have congestive heart failure
* An estimated 30 million Americans currently have metabolic syndrome, a short-cut to cardiovascular disease and heart attack or stroke
* Medical schools cut back on training programs at just the time they should have enlarged them. Due to the burgeoning population with diabetes, we are facing a health care crisis in cardiac disease.
Dr. Maddoux was inspired to write the book after meeting a heart patient while on vacation overseas. “The gentleman had a rough day of traveling and was experiencing new symptoms and worried that his medications needed adjustments,” says Maddoux. “After talking with him and some of his friends, they explained how they felt there was a great need for a book about the heart written in the form of a patient’s advocacy manual.”
With the aging of our nation and a limited number of cardiologists, Dr. Maddoux knew he needed to take action. “With the graying of America, the emergence of baby boomers added to our already tightly-stretched population of cardiologists, there is going to be no way to adequately become educated about your problem unless you read this material,” says Dr. Maddoux. For everyone who wants to improve their own heart health or learn more about the heart problems affecting a loved one, Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It will quickly become an indispensable reference book in your home.
For a review copy of Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It by Gerry Maddoux, M.D. (Sea Script Company 2007; 468 pp. paperback, $30 price)
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The Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit Challenge encourages
Ontario smokers to join together and butt out
Waterloo Region – To kick off National Non-Smoking Week, the Canadian Cancer Society wants smokers to butt out – and wants to reward them for it. Today launches the 2007 Driven to Quit Challenge, a province-wide challenge to the more than 1.6 million Ontario smokers to quit smoking. One successful quitter will drive away with a 2007 luxury sedan.
In order to enter the Challenge, a smoker must enlist a non-smoking buddy to support them.
“People start smoking for different reasons, but it is the addiction to nicotine that makes quitting smoking so hard. We know that many former smokers say a support network of family and friends was very important during their quit attempt. You can get involved by becoming a source of encouragement and support for a family member, friend or co-worker who smokes and is interested in quitting,” said Laurie Nagge, a Public Health Nurse with Region of Waterloo Public Health Tobacco Programs.
Quitting smoking is not just about “stopping” smoking. It also means changing how you think and feel about smoking. This is not easily done without the encouragement, emotional support and reinforcement of those around you.
“Along with the help of friends and family, I would encourage any smoker who is trying to quit to contact Smokers’ Helpline. Smokers’ Helpline provides both telephone and on-line support services that have been proven to help smokers across Ontario to be successful in their quit attempt,” said Nagge.
The Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit Challenge is designed to encourage Ontario adults who are daily smokers to quit smoking. Over 20,000 Ontario smokers are expected to participate in the Challenge this year. Those who remain smoke-free for the month of March will be entered into a draw on March 30, 2007 for the chance to win a number of prizes, including a grand prize of a 2007 Acura CSX provided by corporate sponsor Johnson & Johnson Inc. The registration period begins today and runs until February 28, 2007. The Driven to Quit Challenge is also supported by the McGuinty government.
Participants in The Driven to Quit Challenge can register online at www.driventoquit.ca by February 28, 2007. They may also use the site to challenge a friend, order a workplace package to promote the Challenge to co-workers, and access cessation information and resources.
The Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline is a free, confidential service that provides personalized support, advice and information about quitting smoking and tobacco use. The service is available in English and French at 1 877 513-5333; Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Smokers’ Helpline is also available online at www.smokershelpline.ca.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.
The Driven to Quit Challenge is a smoking-cessation promotional initiative managed by the Canadian Cancer Society, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and prize support from Johnson & Johnson Inc.
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“Travelhealthrecord.com” – Your Health Record Available Online, Anytime Anywhere.
Accidents and illnesses can occur while on vacation or traveling abroad on business, Travelhealthrecord.com provides access to critical health information over the internet.
Toronto, Ont – More than 14 million Canadians visited the United States last year and millions more traveled to other international destinations. Extended medical coverage has always been recommended by the insurance industry. But the need to access vital health information in case of an emergency is usually overlooked.
THealth Record Inc. has launched travelhealthrecord.com to provide a consolidated central database that maintains a traveler’s interactive medical record, containing critical information that could potentially save the traveler’s life should an emergency occur while traveling abroad.
Richard Wilk, the founder and owner of THealth Record Inc (THR), was diagnosed with cancer in his youth and survived. Having traveled over half the globe since then, he soon realized the critical need to have a record of medical data available should an emergency arise or the need to see a doctor when away from home. Since standards of medical healthcare vary widely in developing countries, not having access to simple information such as your current medication, allergies and blood type could prove to be life threatening. The site also provides links to health advisories for various countries when traveling abroad and what vaccinations might be required.
Wilk developed this site to provide an easy interactive way to input, store and access, through the internet, medical information wherever and whenever traveling. He has put together a comprehensive and simple set of forms that are easy to interact with and prompt for medications, allergies, immunizations, medical history and any special conditions or requirements that might be needed should you or your loved one contact an illness or a medical emergency while traveling abroad. Data on health insurance, your employer and nutritional information is also included. Emergency numbers for your doctor, pharmacist, next of kin, living will and power of attorney are all conveniently stored in one place. It can be printed and carried when traveling or accessed from anywhere on the internet and in some cases on your handheld device or cell phone.
Travelhealthrecord.com is designed for global use whether you’re a Canadian “snowbird” vacationing in Florida or a tourist from Australia visiting relatives abroad. It can be particularly handy for those with special medical conditions as well as those who just need the comfort of maintaining their own medical health history.
Wilk believes that until a universal standardized health record is developed that ties into patient files containing a doctors notes, hospital visits, laboratory results and other important data, the THR provides some comfort that at least the patient’s vital medical history is accessible when needed.
THR targets not only the traveler but school boards to access student info on field trips, groups and associations such as the Snowbirds, CAA and individual athletes and various sports groups traveling to tournaments and games. “With an aging boomer generation, the need to carry some health data while traveling will become as normal as carrying your passport” says Wilk. Sons and daughters can input the information for elder parents not familiar with internet use and mothers can do the same for their children who may have special needs and allergies.
He believes being prepared for any medical emergency and packing your travel health record with your bathing suit for your next trip makes for a worry free vacation.
Richard Wilk has for many years been consulting to the health and sciences sector and as founder of DigiLab Technologies, has partnered with a number of North American companies to provide digital glass slide imaging solutions to commercial and hospital laboratories.
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MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT IMPROVING ACCESS TO HOSPITAL SERVICES IN WATERLOO REGION
$318,500 will Support Neo-natal and Children’s Cancer Care at Grand River Hospital
WATERLOO REGION – The McGuinty government is improving access to hospital services for patients in Waterloo Region by providing $318,500 to Grand River Hospital, John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.
“Grand River Hospital is an integral part of our community, providing quality health care services to local residents,” said Milloy. “That’s why we are providing the funding necessary to further improve access to services through new and enhanced facilities.”
This investment will support expanded neonatal intensive care services and children’s cancer centre at Grand River Hospital. This means that patients will have better access to care that meets their needs, while staying close to home.
The funding announced today is part of the $54.8 million allocated provincially by the government to 21 hospitals that have new or expanded facilities.
“Our government is supporting our hospitals as they make improvements to their facilities so patients will have better access to quality care,” said Smitherman.
This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working to provide quality hospital care. Other initiatives include:
Increasing operating grant funding to hospitals to $12.9 billion in 2006/07, growing to $14 billion in 2008/09
Investing more than $142 million in an Emergency Department Action Plan, which contains system-wide solutions to ensure emergency rooms stay open and increase capacity in the health care system to meet the needs of Ontario patients
Providing a total of $41 million in capital funding to hospitals to repair and upgrade their facilities.
Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.
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Canadians Reveal to TransUnion their Top Resolutions for 2007
Spending More Time with Family is #1, Topping Diet or Debt Losing Ten Pounds Seen as More Difficult than Paying Off Credit Cards
TORONTO - As consumers make plans for self-improvement in the New Year, TransUnion commissioned GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media to gauge their top resolutions. Thirty-one percent of Canadians say spending time with their family is their #1 resolution, while 28 percent say eating healthy or losing weight and 22 percent say paying down debt.
Forty-four percent say it would be somewhat or very difficult to lose 10
pounds. Only one in four (26 percent) say paying off their credit cards will
be somewhat or very difficult.
"Spending time with your family and staying healthy are clearly very
important resolutions, but Canadians should also think about prioritizing debt
management this year," said Tom Reid, Director, Consumer Solutions at
TransUnion. "When you manage your credit effectively, you put yourself in the
financial driver's seat, saving yourself money and headaches down the road. In
the end, this leaves you with time and energy to devote to other areas of your
life."
The survey also revealed:
-- Canadians over 50 are just as likely as those age 18-49 to pick
spending time with family as the top resolution
-- Respondents over 50 are more likely to choose eating healthy or
losing weight (39 percent) than paying down debt (16 percent)
Methodology
GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media conducted this study using Random Digit
Dialing (RDD) methodology from December 18 to December 29, 2006. A total of
1,001 interviews were conducted among adults across Canada. Age, gender,
income and geographic information were collected. The margin of error for the
complete sample is +/- 3 percentage points. The margin of error for subgroups
may be higher.
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DVD and guide will broaden family and public understanding of dementia
WATERLOO - The Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) at the University of Waterloo is marking Alzheimer Awareness month with the release of a research-based drama on DVD for people experiencing dementia.
The play, entitled I'm Still Here, and an accompanying teaching-learning guide, seek to deepen understanding about dementia from the perspectives of people living with the disease and their families.
The play touches on loss, fear, sadness, hope and desire. Topics covered include concern with awareness of change, living with dementia, quality of life, bewildering absences, inventing new ways of living, slowing rhythms and cacophony, the caring experience involving mothers and daughters, the importance of caring nurses and other health-care professionals, and the power of love and respect.
"The intent of the DVD and guide is to diminish unnecessary suffering faced by persons with dementia and their families, especially the suffering that accompanies misunderstanding and stigma," says Sherry Dupuis, director of the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) and associate professor in the department of recreation and leisure studies at UW.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a term used to describe a group of brain disorders that cause memory loss and a decline in mental function over time.
The play, developed by nurse researchers Gail Mitchell and Christine Jonas-Simpson and playwright Vrenia Ivonoffski, captures important aspects of dementia, from its earliest stage to the final days. While the play dramatizes various experiences, the teaching-learning guide takes viewers through the major themes and key issues.
"I'm Still Here is a powerful and moving production that has the potential to not only change people's images of dementia, but also impact the way we approach dementia care," says Mary Schulz, senior manager of information, support services and education for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "The misconceptions surrounding dementia can be both harmful and isolating to people touched by the disease, and we applaud those behind I'm Still Here for giving people with dementia the chance to have their voices heard."
The play draws on findings from research conducted with people living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD), and from daughters whose mothers were diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The studies were conducted by Jonas-Simpson and Mitchell, who have more than 20 years of nursing practice with individuals and families living with ADRD. The play was written by Ivonoffski, artistic director of ACT II Studio at Ryerson University, with assistance from Jonas-Simpson and Mitchell. It is performed by actors from ACT II.
The guide highlights the voices of people with dementia from research studies. Dupuis's contributions drew from her 20 years working with persons with dementia and their families.
The DVD version of I'm Still Here was funded by MAREP, a major division of the RBJ Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging in the university's faculty of applied health sciences.
On its own, the DVD costs $55; $40 for persons with dementia or their family members. The DVD and teaching-learning guide package costs $85.95.
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3 out of 4 Canadians are concerned that chronic disease could impact their quality of life: survey
Veronica Tennant speaks about her fulfilling life and what steps she's
taking to stay healthy
TORONTO - According to a new national survey, the majority of Canadians fear that chronic disease could impact their quality of life and their ability to take on new challenges as they age. In conjunction with the release of the survey results, Prima Ballerina/Author/Filmmaker, Veronica Tennant talks about her own health concerns and why her health is the key to living a fulfilling life.
Since retiring from The National Ballet of Canada in 1989, Veronica
Tennant has taken on multiple new roles as International Award-winning
filmmaker, National Ambassador for UNICEF and inductee of Canada's Walk of
Fame. Tennant attributes her ability to pursue her dreams to her pro-actively
healthy lifestyle and says she shares the same concerns that many other
Canadians have about their long-term health.
"As Prima Ballerina of The National Ballet for 25 years, I learned as a
teen how critical it is to live a healthy lifestyle. I've spread my wings
since I left the ballet, and established an equally fulfilling second career
as a producer/director and filmmaker," says Veronica Tennant. "I know that
without my health, this would not have been possible."
The majority of Canadians surveyed also say that health is the most
important thing in life - even more so than sex and money. Furthermore,
98 per cent of Canadians agree that the lifestyle choices they make today will
have a direct impact on their health in the future. Interestingly, 3 in 4
survey respondents describe themselves as people who take charge of their
health, a sentiment echoed by Veronica Tennant.
"Although I have always eaten well and exercised regularly, I am now
taking extra measures to help me live a healthy life," said Veronica Tennant.
"My doctor recommended I take a multivitamin every day. I chose Centrum
Advantage, because it is formulated to help reduce the risk of developing some
of the chronic diseases that concern me the most."
Approximately 16 million Canadians currently live with a chronic disease,
with heart disease and cancer accounting for three out of every five deaths in
Canada. Yet, some estimates claim up to 70 per cent of chronic diseases are
preventable. Simple steps, such as healthy eating, exercising and taking a
daily multivitamin, may help reduce the risk of developing some chronic
illnesses.
The survey, which comes out as many people are trying to stick to their
New Year's resolutions, also asked people what they are doing today that they
were not doing five or 10 years ago. Eight-two per cent of survey respondents
said they try to eat healthier, 61 per cent said they try to exercise more and
39 per cent said they now take a multivitamin. To protect their health and
reduce the risk of chronic disease, 86 per cent of survey respondents said
they would consider taking a multivitamin that contains higher levels of
vitamins and minerals.
"Recent research shows that certain nutrients, specifically B-vitamins
and vitamins C, D and E, as well as lycopene, selenium and lutein, can play a
role in reducing the risk for certain health conditions," says registered
dietitian Jean LaMantia. "New Centrum Advantage has increased levels of these
nutrients, which may help reduce the risk of chronic disease, including heart
disease and some cancers. I recommend people take steps early to protect their
long-term health. Eating a well balanced diet, exercising and taking a daily
multivitamin, such as Centrum Advantage, can help you live a healthier life."
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Health Canada undertakes on-line consultations on a commission for mental health and mental illness in Canada
OTTAWA - Canada's New Government is launching on-line consultations to hear Canadians' opinions on the proposal to establish a mental health commission in Canada.
The creation of a mental health commission was a key recommendation of
the May 2006 Standing Senate Committee's report on mental health, mental
illness and addiction in Canada, titled "Out of the Shadows at Last:
Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada,"
the report summarizes the information gathered during a two-year study
involving Canadians from across the country.
Canada's New Government is building on this work done by encouraging
Canadians and stakeholders with an interest in mental health to participate in
these on-line consultations. Submissions should focus on the mandate,
function, and activities of the proposed mental health commission.
The consultations will be held on Health Canada's web site
(http://hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/mental/consultation/index_e.html) from January 15
to 25, 2007.
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Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) Announces Environmental Public Health Week 2007
Region of Waterloo Public Health would like to announce the celebration of the “Environmental Public Health Week 2007” in Canada the week of January 15-21.
Environmental Public Health Week recognizes the hard work of all Certified Public Health Inspectors/ Environmental Health Officers across Canada and the importance of environmental health programs in our health care system. These are dedicated professionals who are committed to promoting and protecting public health and continually meeting new challenges from our environment that can affect human health.
Public Health Inspectors protect the public by providing services in:
Food Safety Inspections Recreational Water
Safe Drinking Water Infection Control
Rabies Control Onsite Sewage Disposal Approvals
Personal Services Facilities Air Quality
Childcare and Institutional Facilities Tobacco Control
Environmental Public Health Week is celebrated in early January each year to correspond with the incorporation date of CIPHI, January 3, 1913.
Region of Waterloo Public Health Inspectors would like to remind everyone that handwashing is the most important thing anyone can do to stop the spread of infection. Washing your hands with warm water and soap, scrubbing your hands for at least 15 seconds, can help to protect yourself and others.
To learn more about Public Health Inspectors, CIPHI, and career opportunities in the field, contact Ken Diplock, Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-883-2008 and visit CIPHI on the web at: www.ciphi.ca.
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PEPID™ Offers BlackBerry Pearl™ device SD Card Capability for BlackBerry® Healthcare Users
MicroSD card speeds answers, improves functionality and expands memory
Evanston, Illinois - PEPID LLC (the developer of mobile medical information resources for healthcare) and an Alliance Partner of Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (makers of BlackBerry® wireless devices and enterprise platform solutions) announced January 16, 2007, a new feature for their line medical knowledge tools and drug information applications designed exclusively for use on BlackBerry® handheld devices.
PEPID now installs and runs from microSD (Secure Digital) cards available for the popular new BlackBerry Pearl™ device. This new capability dramatically reduces the memory space and time required to install PEPID knowledge tools, while speeding access and answers, allowing physicians and other health care professionals to access to point-of-care reference information more quickly than ever.
"We were the first developer in our space to take full advantage of the performance capabilities of BlackBerry devices," says John Wagner, President of PEPID LLC, "and we continue to upgrade our products to better serve the needs of our customers. PEPID for BlackBerry users already benefit from our deep medical and nursing content, now delivered with even greater speed."
PEPID for BlackBerry delivers mobile access to fully-integrated medical, clinical, and pharmacological information, including evidence-based medicine; medical calculators, dosing calculators, drug interactions generator and illustrations. There are specialty-focused applications for all emergency medical specialists, primary care physicians, internal medicine specialists, nurses, pharmacists, and emergency medical teams, physicians, residents, nurses, students, emergency medical teams, and pharmacists.
In addition to products for individual caregivers, PEPID provides referential content for hospitals and healthcare systems. Utilizing BlackBerry® MDS Technology, PEPID content will integrate into new and existing medical information systems for enhanced clinical decision-support and risk management to support better patient care and services.
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Medically unexplained physical symptoms become a substantial force
A substantial number of Canadians report symptoms of conditions that cannot be definitively identified through physical examination or medical testing.
These are known as "medically unexplained physical symptoms," and they characterize conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and/or multiple chemical sensitivity.
This new Health Reports study, "Medically unexplained physical symptoms," reveals that in 2003, 5% of Canadians aged 12 or older, an estimated 1.2 million people, had at least one of these three conditions.
About 1.3% of the population reported chronic fatigue syndrome, which is characterized by extreme tiredness.
About 1.5% reported fibromyalgia, which involves pain lasting three months or more in at least 11 of 18 specified areas.
About 2.4% reported multiple chemical sensitivity. People with this disorder develop a variety of symptoms when they are exposed to synthetic chemicals in doses that usually have no noticeable effect.
Among individuals with medically unexplained physical symptoms, about 14% had at least two of the three conditions.
Data from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey show the percentage of women with each of the three conditions was about double that of men.
As well, the proportion of people reporting at least one of the three conditions rose from 1.6% at ages 12 to 24 and peaked at 6.9% at ages 45 to 64. Among seniors, 6.0% were affected.
Each of the three conditions was more common among people in lower income households than among those in the highest income households.
According to the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey, 21% of people with medically unexplained physical symptoms had at least one psychiatric disorder, such as depression, bipolar I disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. In contrast, only 8% of people who did not have these unexplained symptoms had one or more psychiatric disorders.
The prevalence of mental disorders was particularly common among people reporting chronic fatigue syndrome.
More than one-quarter (27%) of people with medically unexplained symptoms needed help with activities such as meal preparation, everyday housework, getting to appointments and running errands. This was four times the proportion of only 7% among people who did not report any of the conditions.
Relatively large proportions of people with medically unexplained physical symptoms sought assistance from conventional and alternative health care providers.
In 2003, 22% of people with these conditions reported having consulted general practitioners more than 10 times in the year before the survey, compared with just 7% of people who did not report these conditions.
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Ontario government invests in bone health
-First and only osteoporosis therapy with vitamin D is now fully covered by the Ontario government -
TORONTO - Anchored by the latest in evidence-based medicine,the Janaury 9, 2007 announcement is heralded by Osteoporosis Canada as an "advance" in osteoporosis care and management for Ontarians and even Canada. "It is well-documented that improved access to effective medications leads to significant reductions in health care costs and increases in quality of life for those living with osteoporosis in Ontario," says Karen Ormerod, President & CEO of Osteoporosis Canada.
Considered a public health victory for many Ontarians, Canada's
Association for the Fifty-Plus (CARP) hopes this decision will impact the
current level of care for osteoporosis in Ontario, which is estimated to be
responsible for 68,000 emergency department visits, 62,000 hospitalizations
and 14,000 deaths, according to the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences
(ICES).(1) In fact, the Osteoporosis Action Plan: An Osteoporosis Strategy for
Ontario, (a report of the Osteoporosis Action Plan committee that was
submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) states that if
more people with osteoporosis had better access to effective therapies,
Ontario would be able to reduce the number of fractures and increase the
quality of life for thousands.(2)
Despite the fact that the Ontario Guidelines for the Prevention and
Treatment of Osteoporosis suggest alendronate as a recommended treatment
option, in the past, patients (seniors with no private coverage or those on
fixed incomes) in Ontario were forced to pay out-of-pocket for it.(3) "Until
now, patients who relied on Ontario's drug plan could only be fully reimbursed
for an older osteoporosis medication with a limited body of efficacy data,"
says Dr. Aliya Khan, Professor of Medicine, Divisions of Endocrinology and
Geriatrics at McMaster University and Director of the Calcium Disorders Clinic
at St. Joseph's Healthcare at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Access to treatment
Even though research has shown that up to one in five women who suffer a
hip fracture dies within one year,(4) osteoporosis remains a "silent killer"
because those at-risk cannot see or feel the thinning of their bones. As a
result, many patients do not appreciate the long-term benefit of the drugs
they are taking and will often discontinue treatment.
"Patients need access to sustained treatment to maintain healthy bone
density. In my practice, cost coverage is often a significant factor for
discontinuation which can be as high as 50 per cent after one year of
treatment for patients without private coverage," says Dr. Khan. "Now that the
province of Ontario is fully covering FOSAVANCE, we should see better outcomes
among this patient population when it comes to bone health. This decision
should be applauded."
Fracture prevention and alendronate
According to a recent report conducted by the Canadian Agency for Drugs
and Technologies in Health (a national body that provides Canada's federal,
provincial and territorial health care decision makers with credible,
impartial advice and evidence-based information about the effectiveness and
efficiency of drugs and other health technologies) alendronate showed
reductions in risks of non-vertebral fractures, hip fractures as well as wrist
fractures.(5) Additionally, the report cited alendronate as a more
cost-effective option for women 80 years of age and older because of an
increase in the risk of fracture among this age group.(6)
Other data also confirm the efficacy of alendronate. According to
numerous studies, alendronate sodium has demonstrated consistent and
substantial reductions in hip(7,8,9) and spine fractures(10,11,12,13), as well
as substantial increases in bone mineral density (BMD),the amount of calcium
contained in bone,(14,15,16) and reductions in bone turnover (the rate at
which bone is lost).(17,18)
Vitamin D is essential to calcium absorption
Vitamin D is an essential component of osteoporosis treatment and plays a
vital role in ensuring the body can absorb calcium from diet and/or
supplements. However, vitamin D inadequacy and non-compliance continue to be
significant issues in Canada, especially among people with osteoporosis. In
fact, more than 60 per cent of Canadians with osteoporosis are not getting
enough vitamin D.(19) Dosed as a single, once-weekly tablet, FOSAVANCE(R) with
2800 international units (IU) of Vitamin D(3) provides the assurance that
patients are receiving a significant portion of the Canadian recommended
intake of Vitamin D.
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Seventy-three groups shut out of Ontario long-term care public hearings: More hearings needed on crucial care issues for elderly, frail residents
TORONTO - Because only four days of public hearings have been scheduled, seventy-three groups and individuals concerned with the care of residents in Ontario's nursing homes, homes for the aged and rest homes, are being shut out of public discussions on Bill 140, the government's proposed long-term care act.
CUPE Ontario has learned that only 48 of 96 requests for standing at the two days of Toronto hearings scheduled January 16 and 17 will be granted. In Kingston, only 24 of 42 requests will be heard on January 23, 2007 while London will accommodate only 24 of 31 requests during its one-day hearing on January 24.
"This major piece of legislation will set out in law the type of care our
family members and loved ones receive in long-term care facilities for decades
to come," says Sid Ryan, CUPE Ontario President, which represents caregivers
in these facilities. "In a democracy, it is unconscionable that the Liberal
government would curtail public input into the bill, a bill which in its
currently flawed state, would have a dramatic impact on how residents are
cared for."
With almost 75,000 seniors in long-term care facilities across the
province, Ryan says that thousands of Ontario families have a vested interest
in how their loved ones are cared for, and how they themselves should be cared
for, should they need to enter a nursing home.
"There are numerous homes in every part of the province," says Ryan. "To
be fair to these families and the caregivers who work in these facilities, the
McGuinty Liberals should extend hearings to cities including Windsor, St.
Catharines, Niagara, Hamilton, Peterborough, Ottawa, North Bay, Timmins and
Thunder Bay."
Ryan said that it is possible that more groups may have been discouraged
from participating in the hearings because they were not informed of the
four-city hearings, or were unable to travel to these locations from their
home communities.
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Ontario Government's Investment Keeping Ontario Active
Community Organizations Encouraged To Apply For Grants To Increase Rates
of Physical Activity
TORONTO - For 2007-2008, the Ontario government is planning to invest $5 million into the highly successful Communities in Action Fund (CIAF) program, Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson announced January 8, 2007.
CIAF is a key initiative of the government's ACTIVE2010 Strategy and
Ontario's Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living. By improving
opportunities for community sport and physical activity, CIAF helps to remove
barriers to participation for children and youth, low-income families,
aboriginal people, older adults, women and girls, visible/ethnic minorities
and people with disabilities. Visit
www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/sportandrec/fund.asp for details.
"Our government is investing in this important program because it is
working at the community level to enhance health and fitness," said Watson.
"CIAF helps to provide Ontarians with access to sport and recreational
activities."
Over the last three years, more than $15.8 million in CIAF grants have
been awarded to approximately 542 organizations at the provincial and local
levels. The fund supports programs that reach people of all ages and
backgrounds. Programs funded by these grants include everything from dancing,
skateboarding, tai chi and a range of popular sports to after-school sport
programs for children and youth as well as mentoring programs.
"CIAF funding has helped us to make physical activity an easy choice for
children with developmental and physical disabilities," said Henk Engles,
Executive Director of the Ontario Track 3 Ski Association. "Sports create an
opportunity for children to develop self-respect, self esteem and
independence. These are life long skills which help young people integrate
into school and the community."
This year, application forms are available on the Ministry's website:
www.mhp.gov.on.ca. Applicants are encouraged to contact a ministry consultant
prior to filing an application; contact information can be found on the
website. The program guidelines have been expanded to encourage applicants to
demonstrate how their projects also meet two key additional ministry
priorities: injury prevention and mental health promotion. Where appropriate,
applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their project supports these two
priorities while increasing physical activity.
"The Communities In Action Fund has already helped thousands of Ontarians
become more active," said Watson. "We want to encourage as many organizations
as possible to apply for these grants and I'm looking forward to seeing the
great work that community organizations will do with CIAF support in 2007."
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UW's pharmacy school director will discuss how standard medications can pose risks
WATERLOO - The inaugural director of the University of Waterloo's new school of pharmacy and health sciences campus will outline how medications designed for the 'standard patient' may expose individual patients to unnecessary risk.
In a lecture on Wednesday, Jan. 24, Jake Thiessen will explore how drug development and application have largely been built on the concept of the average Joe. Thiessen's lecture, entitled Why Not Bring Medications and Their Uses Out of the Dark Ages?, will reveal how the new notion of personalized medicine could avoid further illness and save lives.
"An average molecule, an average biology, an average patient, an average disease, an average route of medication administration, an average health-care professional, an average treatment plan and an average contentment with average outcomes," he says. "How long society can tolerate averages and is there an alternative?"
"We are just beginning a journey whose destination is personalized medicine," says Dominic Covvey, the founding director of Waterloo Institute for Health Informatics Research (WIHIR).
"The new school of pharmacy at UW, and Dr. Thiessen in particular, are in the vanguard of efforts to deliver the fruits of genomic and proteomic research to the bedside and the physician's office for the benefit of us all. So, Dr. Thiessen is perfect as our series kick-off speaker and his topic is of great import and the ideal one for us to learn about."
This lecture launches the annual smarter-health seminar series, sponsored by WIHIR. The UW-based institute will dedicate the fifth year of its series to the theme Why Not? The question is the catchphrase for UW's 50th anniversary, celebrated throughout 2007.
The series will examine such questions as: Why not use the promise of information and communications technologies to improve health and the health-care system in Canada? Why not rethink how we provide health care? Why not do more to make it possible to receive health care at home or in the community?
Speakers will include Canadian Senator Michael Kirby; Tom Closson, retired president and CEO of University Health Network; Geoffrey Fong, UW professor of psychology; Vimla Patel, professor of biomedical informatics and psychiatry at Columbia University; and Octo Barnett, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as senior research director at Massachusetts General Hospital.
All presentations will be held at 3 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the William G. Davis Centre, room 1302, on the UW campus. The seminars are open to the public and admission is free. However, people are asked to register prior to each seminar. Contact the University of Waterloo Managing Director at (519) 888-4074
For those who cannot travel, the seminars are available via live webcasts, and there is an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.
Health informatics is an interdisciplinary area that develops, extends and applies concepts from computer science, information science, telecommunications and other disciplines with the goal of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health care.
WIHIR is a trans-disciplinary institute at the University of Waterloo delivering value to the health system through information, information management, and information and communication technologies research.
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“Phenomenal Woman” package is available only at Canadian Radisson Hotels, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Plaza Hotels
TORONTO – Carlson Hotels Canada, has announced a new package to celebrate Phenomenal Women, and at the same time, contribute to an important cause, women’s cancer research. In addition, one phenomenal woman will be awarded an exceptional trip for two to London, England.
The Phenomenal Woman package, available from now until April 15, 2007, will include one night accommodation at any Canadian Radisson hotel, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson or Park Plaza hotel, breakfast for two, plus a special gift bag for each of two guests staying in the same room. In addition, $10 from each Phenomenal Woman booking will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society to benefit research into women’s cancers.
Each gift bag will include:
· A special gift from Carlson’s Phenomenal Woman celebrity spokesperson, Amy Sky; her most recent CD, Life Lessons- The Best Of Amy Sky, which includes her song, ‘Phenomenal Woman’.
· The Canadian Cancer Society’s “Cancer Facts for Women: What you need to know” brochure.
· A $20 discount coupon for national retailer Laura Canada.
In addition, Phenomenal Woman t-shirts will be available for sale at each hotel with proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Women getting together for a quick ‘girlfriend getaway’ is a growing trend and we want to provide a unique experience for our female guests that would offer them a much needed break,” said Sandy Russell, Senior Director, Revenue Generation – Canada at Carlson Hotels Worldwide. “Providing potentially life-saving information about a disease that affects so many of us and our loved ones and contributing to the Canadian Cancer Society makes this campaign especially meaningful.”
For an Important Cause
The chilling reality is that 38 percent of Canadian women will develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes. This year alone, almost 30,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast, uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer. In developing Carlson’s Phenomenal Woman package, the decision was made to bring greater awareness to all types of cancers that affect women.
“The Canadian Cancer Society is proud to partner with Carlson Hotels to make a difference in the lives of Canadian women,” says Lesley Ring, Director, Corporate Development, Canadian Cancer Society. “Over the last several years, breast cancer awareness has grown tremendously. While this growth in awareness has made a huge impact on our ability to fund research and educate women about the disease, there are several other types of cancer that are specific to women that have not achieved the same level of funding and awareness. Together, we can raise funds to support research into women’s cancers, while sharing information that empowers women to make the best decisions to maintain and improve their health.”
The Inspiration for Phenomenal Woman
The Phenomenal Woman package was inspired by the song, Phenomenal Woman, recorded by Canadian recording artist Amy Sky. “Our female guests are women who inspire, share wisdom and knowledge in a spirit of friendship,” says Russell. “They also love to relax, listen to music, share a fabulous meal and hit the shops.”
Amy Sky, a prolific and talented songwriter and singer, is herself a busy mother of two young children, and is the face and the voice of Carlson’s Phenomenal Woman Package. Attracted to the package because of its recognition of the support that women can provide to each other, Sky said, “I have been blessed with phenomenal women in my life who have provided not only their unconditional friendship, but who have intuitively known how to give me exactly the support I needed, when I needed it.” she added, “The idea of spending a day or two away with my girlfriends sounds absolutely wonderful.” The lyrics for ‘Phenomenal Woman’ originated as an inspirational poem written by Dr. Maya Angelou, who gave Amy permission to adapt the words for the song.
The Contest
Guests of the Phenomenal Woman package are being invited to nominate a Phenomenal Woman in their life by writing a letter to Amy Sky to explain why the woman they are nominating is phenomenal. Judges will look at nominations from the perspective of “role model” and the grand prize winner will receive a four-night trip for two to the deluxe 5-star Radisson Edwardian May Fair Hotel in London, England. The prize includes roundtrip airfare from the closest Canadian gateway, luxurious spa treatments, breakfast daily and one dinner for two. In addition, the person who nominated the winner will have a $1,000 donation made on their behalf to the Canadian Cancer Society.
The Package
The Phenomenal Woman Package is available at any participating Canadian Radisson hotel, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson or Park Plaza hotel across Canada. Many participating hotels will supply guests with a list of services, such as spa services, that may be selected for an additional cost. That way, Phenomenal Women can pick and choose what they would like to do to make their own getaway special.
For reservations for the Phenomenal Woman Package visit www.girlsgetawaypackage.com, call 1-877-810-1846 or contact your travel consultant.
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A&W is Canada's first national hamburger restaurant to reduce trans fats
VANCOUVER - A&W Food Services of Canada announced January 3, 2007 that it is the first national hamburger chain to offer customers in all provinces across Canada a menu with zero or significantly lower trans fat menu items - including fries that are trans fat free.
"Our commitment to A&W customers has been to understand their changing
nutritional needs, while continuing to offer The Burger Family(R), Chubby
Chicken(R), A&W Root Beer(R), fresh onion rings and fries, menu favourites
that Canadian baby boomers have grown up with," said Paul Hollands, President
and CEO of A&W Food Services of Canada. "In response to our customers'
evolving food and lifestyle interests, and after intensive research and
testing, A&W is proud to offer menu items with significantly reduced trans
fats while still providing the same great taste and quality our customers
expect."
A&W began work to significantly reduce the trans fats in all menu items
over a year ago and now proudly offers lower and zero trans fat food items in
all restaurants across Canada. Products that have zero trans fat include: A&W
fries, Chubby Chicken(R) Burger, Chicken Grill(R) Deluxe, Swiss Veggie Deluxe,
poutine, and hash browns. Trans fats have also been significantly reduced by
more than 95 per cent in onion rings, Chubby Chicken pieces and Chubby Chicken
strips. Breakfast handheld sandwiches, such as the Bacon N' Egger(R) sandwich,
have also had their trans fats reduced by as much as 85 per cent.
This change in A&W's nutritional values supports Health Canada's
recommendations to reduce intake of foods that contain trans fatty acids. For
more information visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
A&W will also be updating the nutritional information on its website at
www.aw.ca to reflect this change. In 2007, all A&W restaurants across Canada
will also provide, upon request, updated hard copies of a brochure called Food
Facts, which contains detailed nutritional information. A&W is a member of the
Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association's voluntary Nutrition
Information Program which provides consumers with detailed ingredient
information in a consistent format.
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Health Canada Advises Canadians of High Lead Levels in Children's Pendant Necklaces and Key Chains
OTTAWA - On january 3, 2007 Health Canada is advising the Canadian public that certain children's metal pendant necklaces and key chains sold in Claire's and Ardène retail outlets across Canada are being recalled due to high lead levels. The four items, sold between February 2006 and December 2006, pose a risk of lead poisoning to children if chewed, sucked or swallowed and should be removed immediately from children's reach.
A description of each of the items affected by this recall follows below.
These items can be disposed of in regular household waste. Consumers who
purchased the monkey pendant necklace sold by Claire's may return the necklace
to the nearest Claire's store for a refund.
Description of Items
The "MONKEY" pendant necklace has a 40-cm (16-inch) silver-coloured metal
chain with a 2 cm x 2 cm (3/4 inch x 3/4 inch) metal pendant in the shape of a
monkey holding a brown glass or stone ball. Approximately 225 of the necklaces
were imported for sale through Claire's retail stores between July 2006 and
December 2006 for $6.99 each.
The "KITTY" pendant necklace has an 80-cm (32-inch) silver-coloured metal
chain with a 2 cm x 2 cm (3/4 inch x 3/4 inch) metal pendant in the shape of a
black cartoon cat's head. The word "kitty"appears on a silver bar below the
cat's head. The words "Best Friends" appear on the backing card. Approximately
1800 of these necklaces were imported for sale through Ardène's retail stores
between February 2006 and December 2006 for $8.99 each.
The "CHERRY BUD" pendant necklace has an 80-cm (32-inch) silver-coloured
metal chain with a 2 cm x 2 cm (3/4 inch x 3/4 inch) metal pendant in the
shape of two red cherries with green leaves. One of the cherries has the word
"Buds" on it. The words "Best Friends" appear on the backing card.
Approximately 1800 of these necklaces were imported for sale through Ardène's
retail stores between February 2006 and December 2006 for $8.99 each.
The key chain has silver-coloured metal rings and a short silver-coloured
metal chain with a 5-petal blue glass star-like flower set in silver-coloured
metal. The word "Best" appears on a silver-coloured metal bar below the
flower. The words "Best Friends" appear on the backing card. Approximately
1800 of these key chains were imported for sale through Ardene's retail stores
between June 2006 and December 2006 for $5.99 each.
Company spokespersons have advised Health Canada that these four items
are no longer being sold in Canada.
There is no lead exposure risk associated with normal use of these items;
however, there is a high risk of serious or even fatal lead poisoning if the
items are sucked, chewed, or swallowed. To date, Health Canada has not
received any reports of incidents or injuries from use of the products.
If a child has been observed sucking or chewing on the pendant necklaces
or key chain, and you suspect that lead poisoning may have occurred, contact
your family physician who can order a simple blood test to measure the child's
blood lead level. If you notice or suspect that a child has swallowed a leaded
item, contact your local poison control centre immediately.
Under the Children's Jewellery Regulations, the maximum limits of lead
for children's jewellery imported, advertised or sold in Canada are 600mg/kg
total lead and 90 mg/kg migratable lead. The limits apply to all accessible
components of the jewellery items.
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The Future of Things (TFOT) Top 2006 Stories in Science, Medicine, and Space
Contributed by Iddo Genuth & Lucille Fresco-Cohen
From discovering extrasolar planets to revealing new insights into the workings of life-threatening disease such as cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimers, 2006 was a year full of scientific innovation. In this article, TFOT returns to a few of the most interesting science, medical, and space related stories it covered over the passing year.
Today TFOT begins a tradition of summaries covering the some of the most interesting stories published on the site in the passing year in science medicine, and space.
more...
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Top Ten 2006 US Health Stories reported by abc news
It's been a busy year in medical news, with stories ranging from E. coli infections to New York City's ban on trans fats receiving broad coverage.
ABCNews.com polled dozens of experts to determine which of this year's stories were the most impactful, had the biggest implications for health in general, or both. Topping the list was the lingering threat of a bird flu pandemic.
But this wasn't the only health headline that grabbed attention. The development of Gardasil, a vaccine for the sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) could signal the end for cervical cancer, once one of the most deadly cancers among women.
More good news for women came in the form of a finding that breast cancer incidence has been on a steady and significant decline since 2001.
he following list is a top 10 roundup of what our experts felt were the most important health stories of 2006:
Infectious Disease — Bird Flu and the Threat of Viral Pandemics
As reports of avian influenza outbreaks continued to surface throughout the year, researchers made headway in understanding the H5N1 virus — as well as how this microscopic bug could lead to the next flu pandemic.
But some say the response to the risk shows we are still woefully unprepared.
"Although widespread pandemic influenza has not occurred, the inadequacy of the federal response to this risk may confirm [influenza expert] John Bartlett's prediction that avian influenza will be the Katrina of medicine," says Dr. Marvin Bittner, associate professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the Creighton University School of Medicine.
Sexual Health — HPV Vaccine Approved for Use
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of Gardasil, a vaccine that prevents infection by some strains of the cervical-cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV). Preventing HPV infection could, in turn, reduce womens' deaths from the disease, which total 270,000 worldwide and about 4,000 United States every year.
"The HPV vaccine, which, if widely used, has the potential to nearly eliminate cervical cancer and preinvasive neoplasia over the next 20 to 30 years," says Dr. Stephen Rubin, professor and chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. "We may be able to say goodbye to one of the world's major cancers — eliminated by a vaccine." "When administered to adolescent girls, it will prevent the large majority of cases of cervical cancer," says Dr. Stephen Edge of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute at the University at Buffalo. "Now this killer disease will largely be relegated to history."
Cardiology — Rethinking Drug-Coated Stents for Millions
Doctors may be forced to reconsider drug-eluting stents for their patients after research showed that clotting problems are associated with their use.
A Food and Drug Administration panel of expert advisers found that when used in approved cases, the drug-coated stents are safe and effective. However, since patients with conditions not specifically approved by the FDA for treatment with drug-coated stents make up nearly two-thirds of the cases in which the devices are used, millions of patients could be affected.
Some experts in the field note, though, that study and debate of this issue will continue well into 2007.
"This is a big story because so many hospitals jumped on this bandwagon with what some might view as a small number of trials," says Dr. John Sinnott of Tampa General Hospital. "We will hear more about this."
Immunology — Shingles Vaccine Approved
In May, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zostavax, the first vaccine against shingles. The vaccine could potentially prevent this disease in half of the 250,000 people who develop it each year, a majority of whom are older than 60.
The development also stands as an example of a vaccination that can actually improve health even when it is taken as an adult — debunking the notion that vaccinations are just for kids.
Bariatric Medicine — Medicare To Cover Bariatric Surgery for Many Obese Patients
As of February, obese elderly or disabled patients became eligible for a variety of surgical weight-loss procedures, such as gastric banding, under the U.S. Medicare health insurance plan.
The policy limited eligibility to patients with obesity-related medical problems who had already tried and failed other weight loss options; however, experts in the field believe that this development could have wide implications for the future of weight-loss medicine.
"This decision, combined with the increased girth of people will result in a rise in the number of individuals getting gastric bypass or lap band," says Dr. Mitchell Roslin, chief of bariatric surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, N.Y. "Furthermore, it makes it far more difficult for insurers to have exclusions for coverage for severe obesity. In other areas, private insurers have been forced to follow Medicare's lead."
Diet and Nutrition — NYC Bans Trans Fats
In December, New York became the first city in the country to ban artery-clogging trans fats from the menus from all restaurants. Research had already implicated trans fats as important contributors to heart disease, as they raise "bad" LDL cholesterol while lowering "good" HDL cholesterol.
Many predict other cities will follow the move; since the New York policy took effect, one Massachusetts lawmaker proposed a bill that would ban trans fats from all the restaurants in the state. Experts in the field suggest the New York policy may be just the beginning of a nationwide shift towards healthier eating in restaurants — possibly an important step in saving many people from heart disease.
Cancer — Breast Cancer Rates Show Significant Drop
It could be that more women are going off hormone replacement therapy. Or it could be that fewer women are going in for mammograms. Either way, researchers found that the number of breast cancer cases detected has dropped dramatically in the past five years.
"There is strong evidence that the rate of death from breast cancer has dropped 25 percent over the last five years," says Edge. "This is really big news."
While some attributed the sharp drop to the fact that millions of women quit hormone replacement therapy, others had doubts that quitting HRT could alone produce such a steep drop.
Plastic Surgery — Face Transplants Shown Viable
After the successful face transplant performed in France in November of 2005, it appears that plastic and reconstructive surgeons have accepted facial transplantation as a viable and useful technique. In early 2006, another partial facial transplant was successfully carried out in China. And more could be on the way.
Now for the downside. Public opinion of the technique remains split, as many believe the act of transplanting a face comes attached with a host of medical and ethical conundrums. In addition, finding suitable brain-dead donors present a recurring obstacle, say plastic surgery experts. In a report on the French operation, The New York Times said that the donor, a French woman in her 40s, likely hanged herself.
Plastic Surgery — FDA Says Yes to Silicone Breasts
After a 14-year moratorium, silicone breast implants have once again become an option for women in the United States — or most of them, at least. The decision by the Food and Drug Administration made silicone implants available to all breast reconstruction and revision patients, as well as women 22 years of age and older seeking cosmetic breast enhancement.
The move, though strongly supported by professional plastic surgery organizations, was denounced by consumer groups and women's groups alike. Additionally, companies manufacturing the implants will have to address former health concerns by conducting studies and a massive follow-up of a projected 40,000 women over the next 10 years, according to the FDA.
Ophthalmology — New Drug Approved for Common Cause of Blindness
In June, the FDA approved the first-ever drug designed to treat age-related macular degeneration. Though most young people will not likely be familiar with the condition, for those who suffer from it the new drug could mean the difference between blindness and sight.
The drug, called Lucentis, treats the so-called "wet" form of macular degeneration, the less common form of the disease. And while 85 to 90 percent of macular degeneration is actually the "dry" form, current estimates show that there are more than 200,000 new patients diagnosed with wet AMD every year, according to statistics from the American Society of Retina Specialists.
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What me worry? Canadians are cool about retirement healthcare costs especially when compared to U.S.
Americans are more than twice as likely to name healthcare costs as
greatest retirement fear
TORONTO - Canadians and Americans have drastically different fears when it comes to retirement, according to a recent national survey sponsored by Edward Jones and conducted by Decima Research and Kelton Research.
Comparably few Canadians worry about covering healthcare costs in their
retirement years, while this is the greatest fear amongst Americans. Only one
in ten Canadians (12 per cent) say this is their biggest concern, compared to
one in three Americans (30 per cent).
"There is already so much to worry about in terms of retirement income,
we're lucky we don't have the same major healthcare concerns our American
neighbours do," says Michelle Kay, Senior Retirement Planning Specialist with
Edward Jones. "Instead, our biggest concern is how we're going to maintain our
standard of living and we can do that by contributing early and often to an
RRSP."
Almost one in four Canadians told the survey their greatest fear about
retirement was the possibility of having to work longer to supplement their
income, followed by one in five who are anxious about having to cut back on
their desired lifestyle.
"While healthcare costs aren't a major concern, there are still important
reasons to financially plan for retirement," Kay says. "The best way to make
these fears less burdensome is to map out how you're going to pay for your
retirement lifestyle and start with a financial plan today."
<<
Fast Facts about the poll
-------------------------
- Canadians between the ages of 25-34 are the group most concerned about
covering healthcare costs in retirement at 15 per cent. Those between
the ages of 18-24 are least concerned, only 6 per cent state this as
their largest fear
- Canadians between the ages of 35-44 are the most concerned with having
to work longer (33%) those over 55 are the least concerned (10%)
- Only 5% of retired Canadians state having to work longer as the main
concern compared to 30% of those in the workforce
- Twenty-one per cent of Canadians already in retirement state that
having to cut back on desired lifestyle is their biggest concern
- British Columbians are most concerned about not being able to cover
healthcare costs (17%); Quebecers are the least concerned (5%)
- Canadians between the ages of 24-35 are the group most concerned about
covering healthcare costs (15%); those 18-24 are the least concerned
(6%)
- Those in Ontario are the most concerned with having to cut back on
desired lifestyle (23%) while Albertans are the least concerned (11%)
- Those in Alberta are most concerned about having to work longer to
supplement retirement savings (35%) while those in B.C. are the least
concerned (14%)
>>
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Life expectancy in Canada for both sexes combined surpassed 80 years for the first time in 2004, increasing from 79.9 years to 80.2.
Between 1979 and 2004, life expectancy among men rose 6.4 years, while among women, it increased only 3.8 years.
Life expectancy rose in 2004 for both sexes, but the growth was stronger among men. For men, life expectancy increased by 0.4 years to 77.8 years, while for women, it went up by only 0.2 years to 82.6.
Women born in 2004 are expected to live about 4.8 years longer than their male counterparts. This was down slightly from 5.0 years in 2003.
The widest gap between male and female life expectancy during the last quarter century was in 1979 at 7.4 years. The gap in female-male life expectancy in 2004 was the smallest in the past 25 years.
Infant mortality rate remains stable
In comparison to 2003, Canada's infant mortality rate remained stable in 2004 at 5.3 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. During the past 25 years, the rate has declined by 52%.
In 2004, the infant mortality rate among boys fell to 5.5 per 1,000 live births, down from 5.7 in 2003. However, the rate among girls increased from 4.8 to 5.0 per 1,000 live births.
In 2004, infant mortality rates were below the national average in seven regions: Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories.
Between 2003 and 2004, infant mortality rates increased in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Yukon Territory. The highest increase was in Yukon.
Death increase one of smallest in the past 25 years
In total, there were 226,584 deaths registered in Canada in 2004, up only 415 or 0.2% from 2003. This was one of the smallest annual increases in the number of deaths in the past 25 years.
In 2004, a total of 114,513 men died, down 0.3% from 2003 and just the fifth decline since 1979. At the same time, the number of women who died rose 0.7% to 112,071. It was the smallest increase in female deaths in the past four years.
Gains in the overall number of deaths since the mid-1990s have been almost exclusively the result of continuing increases in female deaths. Deaths among men reached a plateau during the mid-1990s.
Deaths among women could soon outnumber those among men
Deaths among women could soon outnumber those among men, according to mortality data.
For every 100 female deaths in 2004, there were 102 male deaths. This sex ratio in 2004 was the smallest during the past quarter-century, and was well below the ratio of 135 in 1979.
At birth, boys still outnumber girls by a ratio of about 106 to 100 in Canada. The sex ratio for deaths fell below the sex ratio for births in 2000 and the falling trend continued.
Because of higher mortality among men at every age group, men tend to make up the majority of deaths at all ages, with one exception.
For several years, women have comprised the majority of deaths over the age of 80, for the simple reason that they make up the majority of the over-80 population.
Regions: Deaths down in three provinces, two territories
The number of deaths declined in three provinces and two territories in 2004: New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Provincially, the largest relative increase in deaths (+3.4%) occurred in Prince Edward Island, followed by Nova Scotia.
Prince Edward Island was also the only province with an excess of female deaths; for every 100 female deaths, there were only 95 male deaths.
Female and male deaths were approximately equivalent in numbers in five provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. All other provinces and territories had an excess of male deaths.
| Deaths by geography |
| |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 to 2004 |
| |
number |
% change |
| Canada |
226,169 |
226,584 |
0.2 |
| Male |
114,905 |
114,513 |
-0.3 |
| Female |
111,264 |
112,071 |
0.7 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
4,281 |
4,308 |
0.6 |
| Prince Edward Island |
1,183 |
1,223 |
3.4 |
| Nova Scotia |
8,064 |
8,241 |
2.2 |
| New Brunswick |
6,257 |
6,247 |
-0.2 |
| Quebec |
54,927 |
55,624 |
1.3 |
| Ontario |
84,207 |
83,142 |
-1.3 |
| Manitoba |
9,867 |
9,903 |
0.4 |
| Saskatchewan |
9,007 |
8,844 |
-1.8 |
| Alberta |
18,585 |
18,675 |
0.5 |
| British Columbia |
29,320 |
29,923 |
2.1 |
| Yukon |
133 |
166 |
24.8 |
| Northwest Territories |
202 |
153 |
-24.3 |
| Nunavut |
134 |
121 |
-9.7 |
|
Ontario Government Recognizes The Role Of Extended Families In Ontario
Job-Protected Family Medical Leave Now Includes Relatives And Close
Friends
MARKHAM - The Ontario government is recognizing the changing nature of family in Ontario by extending Family Medical Leave to include relatives and close friends, Labour Minister Steve Peters said December 18, 2006.
"We have expanded Ontario's Family Medical Leave to allow employees to
care for additional family members and people who are like family," said
Peters, speaking to community leaders at the Markham Chinese Cultural Centre.
"We're on the side of employees who need assurance that while they are caring
for a gravely ill loved one, their jobs will be protected."
Family Medical Leave gives employees up to eight weeks of job-protected,
unpaid leave to care for a gravely ill family member, when there is a
significant risk of death within 26 weeks. A recent change now allows
employees to provide care for extended family members as well as friends who
may be like family.
Ontario's Family Medical Leave dovetails with the federal government's
Compassionate Care Benefits Program that permit workers in this situation to
apply for Employment Insurance benefits while away from work.
"Family Medical Leave is the result of a compassionate government that
understands and cares about all Ontario families," he added. "It allows people
to better balance their work and family responsibilities in the same way as do
maternity and parental leaves. We are supporting Ontarians during important
and difficult times in their lives."
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Pilot study provides diabetic patients and caregivers with high-tech approach to monitoring and care
WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute began this week to evaluate the use and impact of a GPS-supported monitoring and alerting system to track diabetic patients’ daily life events and health conditions. This pilot system provides an automated and accurate monitoring of a person’s daily activities, travel and exercise.
Led by Sean Doherty, associate professor of geography and environmental studies at Laurier, and Paul Oh, MD, from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, the pilot project is supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and The Health Technology Exchange (HTX), as well as the expertise of several key technology partners: BlackBerry™, Standard Register’s ExpeData®, Life:WIRE™, Medtronic and TELUS. The system uses commonly available GPS-enabled handsets, secure wireless technologies and a specially developed software application that aggregates all the data into meaningful information for the physician.
“We all know that exercise, heart rate and diet are important factors in successful management of a diabetic patient’s condition,” said Oh. “We anticipate that this GPS-supported monitoring and alerting system will place greater control of health management in the hands of the patient. At a minimum, it will allow individuals to gain a greater appreciation of the effects their work, travel, recreation and eating habits have on their health.”
Approximately 50 patients are expected to participate in the 90-day trial, which will involve monitoring each patient’s daily activities over a three-day period.
“The heart of the system is the software application, which takes a trace of a patient’s GPS location co-ordinates at regular intervals as input, and then provides as output a detailed and highly accurate report of the patient’s activities and trips by start/end time, activity location, mode of travel, environment and other attributes,” said Doherty. “This essentially adds key ‘when’ and ‘what’ attributes to the existing ‘where’ capabilities of GPS technology, with minimal burden to the respondent.”
When combined with physiological monitoring – blood glucose, heart rate and food intake – the system provides an opportunity to assess the impacts of spatial-temporal daily behaviours on health. Web-based retrospective analysis tools for patients and caregivers have also been developed, including automatically generated activity/exercise/food diaries and interactive maps.
The system combines multiple technologies to provide a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use, automated patient data collection solution which requires very little input from the patient:
Medtronic’s Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS), a sensor and monitor that logs blood glucose levels every five minutes for up to 72 hours.
Bluetooth®-enabled heart rate monitor and 3-axis accelerometer communicates directly to a BlackBerry device.
Standard Register’s ExpeData Digital Writing Solution captures handwritten dietary logs with a digital pen and transfers the information to a Bluetooth-enabled BlackBerry handset.
Life:WIRE’s interactive application allows for remote notifications to gather and analyze data and present results via the mobile device or Web interface.
BlackBerry handsets provide GPS location information and securely transmit all the data over the TELUS network.
The low participant burden with this system, combined with the accuracy of Web-based reporting and wide availability of GPS-enabled BlackBerry handsets, are expected to make this monitoring and alerting system widely accessible and acceptable for a variety of future healthcare applications.
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Canada among top spenders but access to health care still ranks behind other nations
CALGARY - Canada's universal-access health care system comes with high-end costs but delivers bargain basement results when compared to universal-access systems offered in other countries, according to a new study released December 18, 2006 by The Fraser Institute.
"Canada spends more on health care than any industrialized country other
than Iceland when spending is adjusted for age of the population. But despite
the significant sums of money we throw at our health care system, we wind up
with longer waiting times and inferior access to technology and physicians,"
said Nadeem Esmail, Director of Health System Performance at The Fraser
Institute and co-author of the study.
How Good is Canadian Health Care? An International Comparison of Health
Care Systems (2006 Report) compares Canada to other OECD (Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development) countries that guarantee access to
health care regardless of ability to pay. Twelve indicators of access to
health care and outcomes from the health care process are examined including
access to physicians, access to high-tech medical equipment, and key health
outcomes. The United States and Mexico are not included in the study because
they do not have publicly-funded, universal-access systems.
One of the key differences between Canada and other industrialized
nations with universal access to health care is that Canada is one of the few
countries with no user fees and the only country that outlaws privately funded
purchases of key health services.
"The countries that produce superior results at a lower cost than
Canada's monopoly-insurer, monopoly-provider system have user fees,
alternative, comprehensive, privately funded care, and private hospitals that
compete for patient demand," Esmail said.
"Evidence clearly shows that that health care costs can be significantly
reduced if consumers have to pay for a portion of the care they demand."
Health Care Spending
The average age of a country's population is a major determinant of the
amount of money it will have to spend in order to provide adequate health
care. In Canada, those aged 65 and over consume more than 45 per cent of
health care expenditures yet make up only 13 per cent of the population.
When spending is adjusted for age, Canada spends more on health care than
any other OECD nation except Iceland. Countries that spend significantly less
than Canada include Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.
User Fees and Private Providers
More than three-quarters of the countries in the OECD that provide
universal access also charge user fees for access to hospitals, general
practitioners, or specialists and in many cases, for all three. In most cases,
low-income citizens are exempted from paying user fees. Additionally, every
other OECD country has some form of user-pay, private provision of health
care. While many OECD countries rely primarily on public hospitals to provide
publicly insured services, more than half of the countries permit private
providers to deliver publicly funded care.
The Number of Doctors
On an age-adjusted basis, Canada has among the fewest number of
physicians in the OECD. Canada ranks 24th out of 28 countries with 2.3 doctors
per 1,000 people for a total of 66,583 doctors. Only Turkey, Japan, the United
Kingdom and Finland have fewer doctors. To be comparable to first-place
Iceland, Canada would need 57,071 more doctors than we had in 2003. In 1970,
when public insurance first fully applied to physician services, Canada placed
second among the countries that could be ranked in that year.
Access to Technology
In terms of age-adjusted access to high-tech machinery, Canada performs
dismally. Canada ranks 13th out of 24 countries in access to MRIs; 17th of 23
in access to CT scanners; seventh of 17 in access to mammographs, and 18th of
20 in access to lithotriptors. Lack of access to machines has also meant
longer waiting times for diagnostic assessment and mirrors the longer wait
times to access specialists.
Comparing Health Outcomes
In this study, seven outcome measures have been used to rank the
performance of the OECD countries. Canada ranks 16th in the percentage of
total life expectancy that will be lived in full health; 21st in infant
mortality; 14th in perinatal mortality; ninth in potential years of life lost
to disease; fourth in mortality amenable to health care, 10th in the incidence
of breast cancer mortality, and second in the incidence of mortality from
colorectal cancer.
"All the countries that have fewer years of life lost to disease and a
lower mortality rate amenable to health care than Canada also have private
alternatives to the public health care system and user fees at the point of
access to care," Esmail said. "With this overwhelming evidence, why do so many
Canadians refuse to even consider options other than our current single payer,
government-driven monopolistic health care system? Other countries have
created working, successful health care systems at lower cost and we should be
looking to emulate that success rather than fighting at every turn policies
that other countries have clearly shown can provide benefits."
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McGuinty government Strengthens land ambulance services
Additional $1.1 Million Investment in 2007 Another Step Towards 50/50 Cost Sharing
WATERLOO REGION – The McGuinty government is announcing an additional $1,151,884 in planned funding for 2007 to strengthen land ambulance services in Waterloo Region, John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre announced December 15, 2006 on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.
“We want Ontarians to know that quality ambulance services are available to them whenever they face a health emergency,” said Milloy. “This additional investment will enable our government and Waterloo Region to maintain the high standards of land ambulance services that are currently provided in our community. The people of this province deserve nothing less.”
“We’re making good on our promise to invest additional funds on land ambulance services to balance the sharing of costs with municipalities,” Smitherman said. “These are crucial services to every resident of Ontario. It’s important that all partners are working together to provide the best land ambulance services possible.”
Other initiatives by the McGuinty government benefiting the health of Ontarians include:
Committing more than $142 million in new resources through a three-point Emergency Department Action Plan to address challenges faced by emergency departments in Ontario
· Proceeding with a $96 million comprehensive plan to reduce ambulance offload delays and improve critical care at Ontario hospitals.
· Increasing operating grant funding to hospitals to $12.9 billion in 2006/07, $13.4 billion in 2007/08, and $14 billion in 2008/09.
This initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.
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Mental health study shows Canadians need a break from their Christmas break
VANCOUVER - A significant new Canadian study indicates that financial pressures coupled with the strain of "doing more" during the holiday season are placing already stressed Canadians under considerably more strain. The comprehensive two-part study, which focused on understanding winter holiday-triggered stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, polled mental health consumers and family members as well as doctors from across the country. The poll was conducted by MD Analytics, Canada's most innovative healthcare research firm, on behalf of the Canadian Mental Health Association, National (CMHA-NAT) in partnership with Desjardins Financial Security (DFS).
The consumer study sourced insights from people diagnosed with anxiety or
depression, as well as those who experience stress, anxiety or depression
symptoms during the winter holiday season.
"We've known for some time that December and January are extremely
stressful months, but what we didn't know was how far-reaching the effects of
holiday stress would be," says CMHA-NAT Chief Executive Officer Glenn
Thompson, MSW, RSW. "This is the first time researchers have quantified winter
holiday season-related stress anxiety and the occurrence of depression
symptoms."
The study showed that added social pressure, financial stress, raised
holiday expectations, an increased feeling of loneliness, increased family
interaction and the "commercialization of the winter holiday season" topped
the list as catalysts for holiday-related stress and anxiety, potentially
leading to a diagnosis of anxiety or depression. The study also indicated that
a staggering 76.6 percent of people who have been diagnosed with anxiety or
depression experience a return or exacerbation of their symptoms during the
winter holiday season.
One positive finding in the Holiday Mental Fitness study on
holiday-triggered stress and anxiety symptoms shows that the survey
respondents with an anxiety or depression diagnosis believe that attitudes are
changing when it comes to the social stigma surrounding the use of
anti-depressant medication.
73.1 percent of respondents with an anxiety or depression diagnosis
agreed that the prescribed use of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication
was more socially acceptable than it was five years ago. This could signal the
commencement of a general shift in thinking towards the treatment of mental
illness in this country.
Noting that the results of the last national health survey of Canadians
indicate that financial worries undermine the quality of workers' lives and
provoke stress, anxiety and even depression, Denis Berthiaume, Senior
Vice-President, Individual Insurance for Desjardins Financial Security,
emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of the assistance services
available during this period of the year.
"In addition to the distress it causes the person who is experiencing the
problem, an individual's physical and mental health disorders can have a
significant impact on others, such as colleagues in the workplace, family
members and friends. People should be aware that solutions are available to
help them overcome stress, financial insecurities and uncertainties. They
should not hesitate to seek out these services if they need them. Taking
action to resolve their financial problems will certainly enable them to
better enjoy the holiday season," says Berthiaume.
Of respondents who pursue additional stress-coping strategies during the
winter holiday season, 66.7 percent said that they coped with the winter
holiday season by taking time for themselves - in essence, taking a break from
their holiday break. "This is an important insight for all Canadians because
it comes from respondents who have experienced winter holiday-triggered
stress, anxiety or depression symptoms or who have been diagnosed with anxiety
or depression," says MD Analytics Managing Partner Howard Glase.
Other ideas for coping with holiday stress included advance planning for
gift buying, re-emphasizing the spiritual aspects of the holidays, moderating
food and alcohol consumption and restricting the number of social events
during the holidays.
"The Canadian Mental Health Association has developed a list of ten tips
for maintaining strong mental fitness throughout the winter holiday season,"
says CHMA-NAT CEO Glenn Thompson. "They are really common sense strategies,
but during such a hectic time of year, the first thing people tend to do is
take care of others before looking after themselves."
You need to look at ways to reduce holiday stress if you are:
<<
- irritable
- losing sleep
- losing or gaining weight (this can be hard to tell around the
holidays - it could just be all the good food)
- feeling tense - with muscle aches or headaches
- feeling overwhelmed
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Canada's Leading Cardiovascular Centre Awarded CFI Funding of $10 Million for Landmark Research
New Funds Support World-Class Research in Nuclear Imaging and Genetic
Investigation of the Causes and Treatment of Heart Disease
Research Investment Expected to Reach $20 Million with Matching
Provincial Funding and Other Partners
OTTAWA - Two national cardiac research centres at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) have been awarded a total of more than $10 million by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to identify and treat the causes of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Matching funding from the Province of Ontario, expected in a few months, coupled with other financial support will push the research investment to some $20 million.
UOHI's Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre received CFI funding
of $4.7 million to support a significant program that employs advanced gene
sequencing, DNA analysis and microchip technology to identify and map the
genetic makeup of CAD. Another $3.3 million went to the Heart Institute's
National Cardiac PET Centre to develop a Molecular Imaging Program applying
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) as a research tool for evaluating the
function of cell and molecular processes in heart disease. Both research
centres are the only such facilities in Canada dedicated to cardiovascular
disease. An associated infrastructure operating award of some $2.4 million
brings the overall amount of CFI funding to more than $10 million.
"The overall objective of our genetic work is to identify genes
responsible for CAD," said Dr. Robert Roberts, President and CEO, UOHI. "This
funding provides the ability to add new, more advanced research equipment. It
also allows us to recruit people with expertise in genetics and genomics
research. We estimate we will be recruiting at least 10 to 15 new
investigators. Over the next five years, we plan to train at least 20 or
30 technicians and our goal is to recruit more world-class researchers."
Genetics research at the Heart Institute moved into high gear with the
opening in June 2005 of the Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre(TM), the
only one of its kind in Canada. Major studies are underway to explore the
genetic clues in heart arrhythmia and the so-called thin-gene, which may play
a role in regulating body weight. One major part of the project now is
investigating the genetic differences between patients who suffer CAD and
people who do not. The genetics laboratory is equipped with a unique biorobot
for processing DNA from blood samples. DNA micro array technology now permits
identification of 500,000 genetic markers with the goal of determining
patterns of activity in genes.
"This research requires dedicated advanced technology and a new approach
in how we will go about detecting heart disease," said Dr. Roberts. "To
continue this project over the long-term will require the analysis of billions
of markers, something that would be impossible to do without the support of
CFI and our other partners."
Funding of the National Cardiac PET Centre builds upon its acclaimed
expertise in nuclear cardiology, where radio isotopes are used to gain insight
into heart disease.
"We have the critical tools to evaluate tracers in animal models and
humans," said Dr. Rob Beanlands, Chief of Cardiac Imaging and founding
Director of the National Cardiac PET Centre. "UOHI's nuclear cardiology
department sees about 6,000 patients each year. Half of them come from outside
the Ottawa region and many are from other provinces. Innovative research at
the Heart Institute will increase our understanding of the disease, point to
novel therapies, and improve cardiac patient care in Canada and abroad."
Cardiac PET measures the metabolic activity of cells and can help detect
heart ailments. The nuclear cardiology imaging technology is widely used as a
diagnostic tool in both cancer and heart disease. As a cardiac diagnostic
tool, PET assesses the viability and blood flow of the heart. A tiny amount of
radioactive substance called a tracer is injected into the patient. The tracer
releases energy that is 'traced' by special cameras to reveal areas of the
heart that are not getting enough blood, for example. If serious blockage is
found, results can help a cardiologist determine the most suitable treatment.
"The National Cardiac PET Centre has established itself as an
international research leader during the last five years," said Dr. Beanlands.
Several significant PET projects are currently evaluating men and women at
risk for heart events such as heart attack. Studies involve men and women with
sleep apnea, an obstructive sleep disorder often associated with loud snoring,
and an evaluation of the heart's function, its metabolism and its nerve
function on patients who have heart failure, for example.
Support from the CFI enables institutions to set their own research
priorities in response to areas of importance to Canada. This allows
researchers to compete with the best from around the world, and helps to
position Canada in the global, knowledge-based economy.
"Today's announcement acknowledges the extremely high calibre of
cardiovascular research underway in the Canadian life sciences network and
underscores that our work is second to none." said Dr. Gilles Patry,
President, University of Ottawa.
Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO, The Ottawa Hospital, said:
"Ultimately, the discoveries and developments of this research will advance
our ability to prevent, treat and eventually eradicate heart disease. This is
powerful work with profound medical, economic and social value."
|
Two-Tier Health Clinic Opening in Kingston Contravenes Law: Ontario Health Coalition Calls on Ministry to Take Action
KINGSTON, ON - The Ontario Health Coalition has requested that the Minister of Health take action to stop a two-tier clinic from siphoning doctors and nurses out of the public health system to serve wealthy queue-jumpers with unnecessary health services. The clinic is opening its doors in Kingston December 12, 2006.
The clinic, called "Health For Life" charges an initial year fee of
$2,500 and $2,000 each subsequent year for enhanced health services. Marketing
for such "boutique" medicine clinics is generally targeted to those who are
known as the "wealthy well" or the "worried wealthy".
"In our view, even at this stage, the company's advertising appears to
violate Ontario's Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act by offering to
confer preferential access to insured health care services," said Ross
Sutherland, RN, Kingston Health Coalition co chair. "In addition, the Canada
Health Act requires the province to provide equal access to medically
necessary health care. If violations are found the clinic risks fines under
Ontario law and the province risks cuts to its transfers from the federal
government under the Canada Health Act. Any physicians that sell two-tier
services risk fines and discipline for professional misconduct."
"We believe that this situation is unethical, unlawful and destructive,
and we are asking the McGuinty government to act immediately to stop it, " he
added.
"We are deeply concerned about the attempt to create Americanized
two-tier health services and undermine the achievements of universal
Medicare," added Natalie Mehra. "In its advertising, the company is charging a
fee for preferential access to physician and related services, co-mingling
unnecessary services with those that are insured by OHIP. The Health Coalition
raised the issue with the Ministry this afternoon. We are optimistic that the
government will intervene to protect the principle of equal access to health
services for all Canadians, regardless of income."
Background:
1) The offer to accept payment for conferring preferential access, the
act of paying or providing preferred access for those who pay, or failure to
report such activities contravenes the Commitment to the Future of Medicare
Act and are subject to a fine that the Ministry can levy.
2) The provision of intake, medical history and medical records are
covered by OHIP and cannot be subject to fees under the Commitment to the
Future of Medicare Act.
3) Clinics that provide preferred access to insured services as a result
of paying fees are in violation of the Canada Health Act that states that the
health care insurance plan of a province "must provide for insured health
services on uniform terms and conditions and on a basis that does not impede
or preclude, either directly or indirectly whether by charges made to insured
persons or otherwise, reasonable access to those services by insured
persons..." The province is expected to enforce the CHA and can have its
transfer payments from the federal government reduced for violations.
4) Clinics cannot refuse patients who refuse to pay block fees and cannot
provide preferred access for those who do pay the fees.
|
National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses - 2005
Many nurses regularly work overtime and many have more than one job. A ground-breaking new study indicates that psychosocial and interpersonal factors (including work stress, low autonomy and lack of respect) are more strongly associated with health problems among Canada's 314,900 nurses.
The first-ever National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses examined links between their work environment and health. It found that nurses face a broad range of physical and emotional challenges in a demanding, often hectic, workplace.
The proportion of nurses who reported a high level of work stress (as determined by the level of job strain, physical demands, and support from co-workers and supervisors) was higher than that for employed people overall. Job strain results when the psychological demands of a job exceed the worker's discretion in deciding how to do it.
Nearly one-third (31%) of female nurses were classified as having high job strain. The figure for all employed women was 26%.
Job strain was strongly related to fair or poor physical and mental health, and to lengthy or frequent absences from work for health-related reasons. For example, 17% of nurses who perceived high job strain reported 20 or more sick days in the past year, compared with 12% of nurses who perceived less job strain.
The survey found that many nurses worked overtime, and only about 6 in 10 had full-time jobs in 2005.
Nearly half (46%) of nurses reported that their employer expected them to work overtime, and 3 in 10 regularly worked paid overtime, for an average of five hours per week. One-half regularly work unpaid overtime, averaging four hours per week.
Note to readers
This report provides comprehensive findings from the 2005 National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses, the first nationally representative survey to focus on nurses' working conditions and their physical and mental health.
From October 2005 through January 2006, nearly 19,000 nurses reported information on the conditions in which they practice, the challenges they face in doing their jobs, and their physical and mental well-being. They answered questions pertaining to their experiences and perceptions of work organization, including staffing, shift work, overtime and employee support. The survey also collected information on work stress, role overload, respect in the workplace and quality of patient care.
Whenever possible, this report compares nurses' demographic, social and lifestyle characteristics with those of all employed Canadians aged 21 or over. Data for these comparisons were drawn from other Statistics Canada surveys — the Canadian Community Health Survey, the Labour Force Survey and the Workplace and Employee Survey.
The target population was Canada's 314,900 regulated nurses, the largest occupational group in the health care sector. To be included in the survey, each nurse had to be registered with a provincial/territorial nursing college, association or council, and employed in nursing.
A collaborative effort, the survey was conducted in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Health Canada.
Among female nurses, a substantial share (19%) had more than one job. This was more than double the proportion of 9% among employed females in the general population.
A key finding concerned the support nurses feel they receive from co-workers. A disproportionately high share (45% of female nurses and 51% of male nurses) reported low support from co-workers compared with employed Canadians in general (33% of females and 32% of males).
On the positive side, the vast majority of nurses reported that they had the support of their supervisors and immediate managers, and that they felt free to use their own judgment in making important decisions.
Overall, 9 out of 10 nurses reported that they had good working relations and collaborated well with doctors. And over one-half of nurses said that they were able to spend time with their patients, thanks to adequate support services.
Although relatively few nurses reported low respect from superiors or poor working relations with physicians, these factors were linked to health problems. For example, 12% of nurses who felt that they received low respect from superiors said their mental health was only fair or poor, compared with 4% of nurses who reported higher levels of respect.
In the year before the survey, over half of nurses had taken time off work due to physical illness, and more than 1 in 10 had been away because of their mental health.
Canada's nurses: A profile
An estimated 314,900 nurses were employed in Canada in 2005. The vast majority, 95% or 297,600, were women.
Nurses accounted for 2% of all employed individuals aged 21 or older, and female nurses made up 4% of all employed women in this age group.
Most of Canada's nurses (79%) were registered nurses (RNs), and 20% were licensed (or registered) practical nurses. Registered psychiatric nurses accounted for less than 2% of employed nurses.
Almost 9 out of every 10 nurses were employed in positions involving direct patient care. The remaining 12% were in administrative, management, education or research positions. About 59% of nurses worked in hospitals, the rest in long-term facilities, community health settings, or other areas such as doctors' offices.
Nurses were significantly older than the employed population aged 21 and over. The average age of female nurses was 44.4 years, 3.4 years older than employed women in general. The average age of male nurses was 42.9 years, about a year older than all employed men.
Stress, collaboration and respect
The survey data showed that the level of work stress encountered by nurses, their level of job dissatisfaction, and the physical demands of their job were all higher than in the general population of employed people.
About 45% of female nurses, and 51% of male nurses, felt they had low support from their co-workers. In the employed population overall, the estimate for each sex was around 33%.
More than 60% of both female and male nurses said their jobs were physically demanding. This was well above the proportions of 38% of women and 46% of men in the employed population as a whole.
Job dissatisfaction was also more prevalent among nurses. About 12% of both female and male nurses were dissatisfied with their job, compared with 8% of all employed women and men. However, only 4% of nurses said they actually planned to leave nursing in the next year, and most of these nurses were retiring.
Nurses' perceptions of their working relations with physicians were overwhelmingly positive: 87% reported good relations; 81%, a lot of teamwork; and 89%, collaboration.
Quality of care
Nurses also shared their impressions of changes in the quality of care during the year before they were surveyed. Over one-quarter (27%) reported a deterioration in care, and only 16% reported an improvement. But a majority of nurses (57%) said there had been no change in the quality of care.
The nurses who reported deterioration cited two main factors: fewer staff and too many patients. Those reporting improved care attributed it to better management and training, as well as more staff.
Nurses were also asked about "adverse events," such as how often in the previous year a patient had received the wrong medication or dose. Nearly one in five (18%) reported that such incidents had occurred occasionally or frequently.
Just over one-third reported that patients occasionally or frequently experienced "nosocomial infections", infections that originate in a hospital or similar setting. And close to one-third said that on an occasional or frequent basis, a patient in their care had been injured in a fall during the previous year.
As for nurses themselves, 1 in 10 reported occasional or frequent injury on the job in the year before the survey.
Nearly half (48%) of nurses who were caring directly for patients reported that, at some point in their career, they had been injured by a needlestick or other sharp object that had been contaminated by use on a patient. About 11% reported having had such an injury in the past year.
Almost 3 in 10 nurses (29%) who provide direct care said they had been physically assaulted by a patient in the previous year. Over 4 in 10 reported emotional abuse from a patient.
Physical and mental health
About 37% of nurses reported they had experienced pain serious enough to prevent them from carrying out their normal daily activities in the 12 months covered by the survey. Three-quarters of the nurses with activity-limiting pain in the previous year blamed work-related factors.
About one nurse in three said that their physical health (and one in five their mental health) had made it difficult to handle their workload in the last month.
Nurses were more likely to have experienced depression in the previous year. About 9% of both female and male nurses had experienced depression, compared with 7% of all employed women and 4% of men.
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U of G Prof Finds Way to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
For many people, it’s difficult to avoid weight gain over the holiday season, but a University of Guelph professor has found that overweight adults who took a daily supplement of a common dietary fat lost weight and kept it off over the holidays.
In the new study published in the International Journal of Obesity, applied nutrition professor Andrea Buchholz and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison gave half of their 40 overweight study participants a daily supplement of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for six months and the other half a placebo capsule.
“Despite no differences between the CLA and placebo group with regards to calorie intake or physical activity throughout the study, the CLA group still managed to lose weight prior to the holiday season and didn’t gain any weight over the holidays,” said Buchholz. “Within the placebo group, holiday weight change was significantly greater compared with the pre-holiday period.”
During the same holiday period (November and December), the CLA group lost weight and the placebo group gained 1.5 pounds of fat mass. “There’s evidence that you don’t lose that holiday weight, so that 1.5 pounds of fat mass would really add up year after year,” said Buchholz.
Even though both groups reported decreases in physical activity over the holidays, the CLA group still managed to reduce body fat mass.
Over the course of the study, the CLA group lost 2.2 pounds of fat. “That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s not just weight, that’s fat mass,” she said. “There was a tendency to lose it over the abdomen, which is even better because that’s the type of fat that’s really metabolically active and can put you at risk for heart disease.”
CLA is a naturally occurring form of linoleic acid (a type of polyunsaturated fat) that’s found in dairy products and meat. It has a molecular structure that gets metabolized differently from regular linoleic acid, said Buchholz. “Mice and other animals lose weight and body fat on CLA, but the human data weren’t consistent.”
There are different forms of CLA, and studies that mixed the two more common forms together showed the greatest promise, so the researchers decided to give their participants a mixed-form capsule of CLA.
This was the first study examining the effect of mixed-isomer CLA to use a four-compartment model to measure fat mass. This method combines underwater weighing, bone measurement, total-body water measurement and body weight. “It’s time-consuming and costly, but it’s one of the most accurate ways of measuring body fat,” said Buchholz.
The researchers also took blood samples at the beginning and end of the study to determine whether there were any risks from taking the supplementary form of CLA. “We looked at effects on liver function, inflammation and insulin resistance and found no adverse effects,” she said. “It looks as though there are very few risks in taking the mixed-form supplements (which can be found in pharmacies and health-food stores) and lots to be gained.”
An alternative to taking the supplementary form of CLA is getting the fatty acid from food sources, said Buchholz. “Many studies show that low-fat dairy products are helpful in maintaining low body weight, which can probably be partly attributed to the CLA.”
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| Raw Milk is Dangerous, Current Debate Should Not be Happening in 21st Century, says Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario
TORONTO - The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) is calling for an immediate crackdown on the illegal, and highly dangerous, sale of raw milk.
"It is simply unconscionable that this debate - with all of the incontrovertible health and medical research about the inherent danger of drinking raw milk - could be going on in this day and age," said Rosemary Moran, Provincial President, FWIO. "Our number one priority since our founding over 100 years ago is the health and safety of mothers and children and the pasteurization of milk is just as critical today as it was then. To put it in the strongest possible terms, raw milk is dangerous and its illegal sale is a clear threat to people's health."
The FWIO applauds the unequivocal support for pasteurization by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, and the ongoing efforts of provincial Health Units and Medical Officers of Health to protect consumers who may be misled or confused by the scientifically unsupported views of those who support suppliers of raw milk for public consumption.
"We have seen and heard of numerous examples of the severe consequences of raw milk, as provided by numerous Medical Officers of Health," said Winnie Trachsel, FWIO board member, Guelph / Central Area, and a working dairy farmer. "This is another Walkerton waiting to happen if swift and concrete action isn't taken to crack down on unlicensed food processors."
The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario is also deeply concerned that endorsements of raw milk by Greg Sorbara, the Finance Minister of Ontario, MPP Bill Murdoch, and several Toronto-area chefs and restauranteurs, are misleading for consumers and do not reflect the vast body of scientific research into the inherent danger of these products.
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Canada's spending on health care to reach $148 billion this year
OTTAWA (CP) - Health spending continues to outpace inflation and population growth but the rate of growth is slowing, says the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Canadians will spend $148 billion on health care this year or $4,548 per person, says an institute report Tuesday.
Despite controversy over two-tier health care, the ratio of public-to-private spending has remained stable over the past decade, at 70 per cent public and 30 per cent private.
Per capita expenditures are expected to grow by 2.8 per cent this year, after inflation and population growth are taken into account.
"There certainly seems to be continued investment, but we're also seeing the rate of growth appearing to slow down," Glenda Yeates, president and CEO of the federal-provincial statistics agency, said in an interview
The federal government has been reinvesting in health since budget cuts in the 1990s precipitated a crisis throughout the health system.
Drugs continue to grow as a proportion of health spending, taking a share that is second only to hospitals. Drug costs are also larger than physicians' pay, but the rate of growth appears to be slowing - a six per cent increase expected this year compared with 8.9 per cent last year.
The report breaks down health spending by age and finds that the biggest expenditures, by far, come at the beginning and the end of life. Per capita spending was $7,565 for infants under one year of age and $8,969 for seniors.
Canada's per-person health spending is only half that of the United States, but its spending as a proportion of Gross National Product is fifth among OECD countries.
The study doesn't trace federal dollars but the overall rise in spending suggests provinces are passing through the money they received from Ottawa under the 2004 first ministers health accord, says Yeates.
"The total public sector (spending) has basically gone up $6 billion from 2005 to 2006, so it's certainly consistent with what you would expect."
The report finds that government spending varies widely across the country.
In 2004, the most recent year for which a breakdown is available, per capita spending ranged from a low of $2,987 in Newfoundland and Labrador to a high of $3,072 in Alberta.
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| U of G Prof Finds Way to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
For many people, it’s difficult to avoid weight gain over the holiday season, but a University of Guelph professor has found that overweight adults who took a daily supplement of a common dietary fat lost weight and kept it off over the holidays.
In the new study published in the International Journal of Obesity, applied nutrition professor Andrea Buchholz and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison gave half of their 40 overweight study participants a daily supplement of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for six months and the other half a placebo capsule.
“Despite no differences between the CLA and placebo group with regards to calorie intake or physical activity throughout the study, the CLA group still managed to lose weight prior to the holiday season and didn’t gain any weight over the holidays,” said Buchholz. “Within the placebo group, holiday weight change was significantly greater compared with the pre-holiday period.”
During the same holiday period (November and December), the CLA group lost weight and the placebo group gained 1.5 pounds of fat mass. “There’s evidence that you don’t lose that holiday weight, so that 1.5 pounds of fat mass would really add up year after year,” said Buchholz.
Even though both groups reported decreases in physical activity over the holidays, the CLA group still managed to reduce body fat mass.
Over the course of the study, the CLA group lost 2.2 pounds of fat. “That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s not just weight, that’s fat mass,” she said. “There was a tendency to lose it over the abdomen, which is even better because that’s the type of fat that’s really metabolically active and can put you at risk for heart disease.”
CLA is a naturally occurring form of linoleic acid (a type of polyunsaturated fat) that’s found in dairy products and meat. It has a molecular structure that gets metabolized differently from regular linoleic acid, said Buchholz. “Mice and other animals lose weight and body fat on CLA, but the human data weren’t consistent.”
There are different forms of CLA, and studies that mixed the two more common forms together showed the greatest promise, so the researchers decided to give their participants a mixed-form capsule of CLA.
This was the first study examining the effect of mixed-isomer CLA to use a four-compartment model to measure fat mass. This method combines underwater weighing, bone measurement, total-body water measurement and body weight. “It’s time-consuming and costly, but it’s one of the most accurate ways of measuring body fat,” said Buchholz.
The researchers also took blood samples at the beginning and end of the study to determine whether there were any risks from taking the supplementary form of CLA. “We looked at effects on liver function, inflammation and insulin resistance and found no adverse effects,” she said. “It looks as though there are very few risks in taking the mixed-form supplements (which can be found in pharmacies and health-food stores) and lots to be gained.”
An alternative to taking the supplementary form of CLA is getting the fatty acid from food sources, said Buchholz. “Many studies show that low-fat dairy products are helpful in maintaining low body weight, which can probably be partly attributed to the CLA.”
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| Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson announces investment in the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit at Tobacco Control Conference
NIAGARA FALLS - Six months after enacting the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, messages of success and strength were reinforced to delegates at the Ontario Tobacco Control Conference 2006 in Niagara Falls this morning by Minister of Health Promotion, Jim Watson.
The Minister also announced the McGuinty government is investing $4 million for the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU) at this morning's opening remarks.
"We set a target to reduce tobacco consumption by 20 per cent before the end of our mandate in 2007, and we're well on our way," said Watson at the conference. "The latest figures indicate an 18.7 per cent reduction in smoking rates since Ontario began tobacco control efforts in 2003. We do, however, have a long way to go, and we are looking to research to guide us to help keep Ontarians healthy and smoke-free."
Over the last 18 months, OTRU has led 13 unique projects important to tobacco control and members of the OTRU network have led more than 60 projects. Continued research and monitoring programs for tobacco control are essential to continued success in keeping Ontario smoke-free.
"This government is clearly demonstrating their commitment to tobacco control research," said Dr. Peter Selby, Director of Clinical Research at OTRU. "This investment will help build insight into creating a healthier Ontario and it greatly benefits all the positive and necessary work done by OTRU."
OTRU works with renowned research institutions like the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Cancer Care Ontario and several other research institutions.
"Not only does this investment ensure OTRU is able to provide a comprehensive independent evaluation of our Smoke-Free Ontario strategy, it gives OTRU the resources it will need to research and monitor the province's needs to continue to successfully live smoke-free, said Minister Watson.
This investment will help researchers truly understand smokers' needs to help them quit smoking and lead healthier lives.
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$1 Billion More Needed For Bird Flu says World Bank
“As much as $1.3 billion more is needed to fight bird flu, with more than
$500 million of that going to Africa, World Bank and UN experts said on
Tuesday.
This is on top of the $1.9 billion pledged at a World Bank conference in
Beijing last January, said World Bank Economic Adviser Olga Jonas, who
will present her official estimates to a meeting of bird flu experts that
begins next Wednesday in Bamako, Mali. … [In an interview] Jonas said
globally, between $980 million and $1.3 billion is needed over the next
two to three years to fight bird flu. The money would go for everything
from rubber gloves and disinfectants to cash compensation to people whose
birds are culled if H5N1 is detected. Some money has gone to African
countries, but $566 million more is needed, she said, quoting figures
prepared for the 4th International Conference on Avian Influenza,
sponsored by the European Union, European Commission and the African
Union. …” [Reuters/Factiva]
“… ‘At the time of Beijing, in January 2006, the virus had not yet
appeared anywhere in Africa, or in Eastern Europe, or the Middle East,’
Jonas said. She said that today about 50 countries have been hit by bird
flu, against only a dozen when the Beijing conference was held 11 months
ago. At next month's gathering in Mali's capital, according to UN avian
influenza coordinator David Nabarro, ‘we'll be looking not just at the
needs of Africa but that will be a central focus of the discussion.’ …”
[Agence France Presse/Factiva]
“… Nabarro told reporters that many Asian countries including Vietnam,
Thailand and China have made substantial progress in programs to cull
infected flocks and quickly control outbreaks of the virus. ‘But I'm
afraid that the danger is still very much there,’ Nabarro said. …” [The
Associated Press/Factiva]
“… Asia's latest bird flu outbreak in South Korea, its first in three
years, showed that no country could let their guard down. ‘The outbreak is
not a surprise. If you look at South Korea, they are handling the outbreak
very effectively as they did last time,’ Director of the Food and
Agriculture Organization's Animal Production And Health Division, Samuel
Jutzi, said in an interview. [According to Jutzi, while Vietnam, China and
Thailand have made great strides,] … the international community should
continue to help Indonesia, where authorities confirmed the country's 57th
bird flu death on Tuesday, as well as impoverished Laos and Cambodia. …”
[Reuters/Factiva]
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Eighty Percent of Physicians Indicate Pharmaceutical Samples Key to Their Practice
VANCOUVER, Nov. 27 /CNW/ - A syndicated study examining pharmaceutical sample usage and preferences was released today. The study, prepared by MD Analytics, surveyed family physicians and general practitioners nationally and offers insights into sample use in key therapeutic areas as well as the impact samples have on physician prescribing. Drug sample availability is a major factor when physicians evaluate treatment options, accelerating the time for a patient to receive medication that best works for them. Disease areas where samples are most used to evaluate medication include depression, hypertension, asthma and erectile dysfunction. "This report offers important insights into the value samples provide, and the role they play in influencing prescription choices, especially since the majority of samples provided to patients are accompanied by a prescription for the same product." Tyler Hassman, Managing Partner, MD Analytics.
The study findings provide further understanding regarding:
- the extent to which samples are personally delivered by a pharmaceutical company representative and how this practice is changing
- the frequency with which sample delivery drives physician and representative meetings to exchange information
- the number of sample days considered ideal to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a drug across different drug classes
Government of Canada Launches Review of Canada's Access to Medicines Regime
OTTAWA - On November 24, 2006 The Government of Canada took the first step in reviewing Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) with the release of a consultation paper. The purpose of the paper is to focus dialogue on how CAMR might better meet its humanitarian objective of facilitating access to medicines in the developing world, while respecting international trade obligations and maintaining the integrity of the domestic patent system."By undertaking an early review of the relevant Patent Act provisions of CAMR, the government is demonstrating its continued commitment to being a global leader in improving access to medicines in developing and least-developed countries," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry.
"CAMR is one part of Canada's broader response to fighting public health problems such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics afflicting the developing world," said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health.
In force since May 14, 2005, CAMR implements an August 30, 2003, decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that waives certain trade obligations. This gives members that have pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity the right to grant compulsory licences authorizing the export of patented pharmaceutical products to countries that are unable to manufacture their own. The legislation establishing CAMR amended the Patent Act to permit the Commissioner of Patents to grant export-only compulsory licences to pharmaceutical manufacturers in Canada that wish to supply eligible importing countries with needed medicines. It also amended the Food and Drugs Act to require that any products exported under CAMR meet the same safety, efficacy and quality standards as those approved for sale in Canada.
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