Canadians

Health Care

August 28, 2023admin

Half of Canadians don’t have a primary care physician, some have stopped looking

A recent survey found that half of Canadians are without a primary care physician and of those who have one, most say it’s a struggle to acquire timely appointments with them.

One in five respondents also said that they do not have a family doctor in a survey conducted by Angus Reid Institute and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

The difference between a family doctor and a primary care physician is that a family doctor treats both children and adults, whereas a primary care physician mostly treats adults with internal medicine.

Of the Canadians who do have a family doctor, 29% said it was difficult for them to get an appointment and 37% said that it will often take days to retain an appointment. A minority of respondents, about 15%, said that getting an appointment with their family doctor was easy.

For those without a family doctor, 26% said they have quit looking altogether, while another 38% responded to having been searching for one for over a year.

“As a family physician working in Canada, I understand and I know the value of primary care,” said Dr. Kathleen Ross, president of the CMA, “And when you don’t have access to that, there’s delayed diagnosis, difficulty navigating a complex system, patients are left to their own devices to try and sort out their medical concerns. We need to address this urgently.”

In 2022, the CMA released a report that found family doctors have a higher rate of burnout compared to other medical and surgical specialists based on their own responses. A majority of family doctors, 69%, also responded to having a poor work-life balance which affected their mental health due to an increased workload.

It’s estimated that over 6.5 million Canadians do not have a family physician or nurse practitioner that

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Health Information

August 11, 2023admin

Helping youth harness the power of social media: Initiative teaches young Canadians how to create evidence-based health content

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of social media to quickly disseminate health information to vast online communities, impacting health decisions, participation in health systems and, consequently, the health of entire populations.

Never-ending streams of online posts, tweets and videos sharing health-focused information resulted in a co-occurring “infodemic,” overwhelming the public with a combination of accurate information and harmful misinformation.

When considering daily social media consumption, Statistics Canada estimates that 15- to 34-year-old Canadians are the highest active user group on social media. Moreover, “viral” spread or waves of online engagement are often tied to online trends or influencers. From the 2018 Tide Pod challenge to the most recent Nyquil Chicken Challenge, trends quickly spread and can pose physical, mental and even destructive health consequences.

As online trends continue to perpetuate misinformation, these trends can lead to particularly harmful consequences in marginalized communities. Many Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities continue to struggle with stressors relating to painful histories of exploitation, including medical experimentation, that can result in mistrust or skepticism of health-care systems. Furthermore, many BIPOC communities face an additional hurdle as the ingrained racism linked to colonialism within our health-care system impacts the delivery of health care and health information. Most existing online health information is Anglocentric, Eurocentric, text-heavy and based on the priorities of health-care providers. Likewise, online myth busting of health misinformation is available primarily on English platforms and spaces.

As such, there is a great need for health information to be tailored and adapted to the priorities of BIPOC communities. Thus, the Our Kids’ Health (OKH) network was established to create reliable resources and information for children, youth and caregivers across 10 different cultural-linguistic channels. Using an equity and diversity lens, social media content shared by OKH spans the

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Health Advice

June 23, 2023admin

Canadians’ Trust in Public Health Advice Vulnerable to Confusion Over Divergent Recommendations: Abacus Data Poll – Abacus Data

In a study commissioned by Spirits Canada, Abacus dove into how Canadians view alcohol, whether they trust Health Canada’s official guidelines for low-risk drinking, and what impact discrepancies in alcohol advice have on Canadians’ trust in health guidelines. 2,000 Canadians were interviewed between May 17^th and 21^st, 2023.

Most Canadians Are Moderate Drinkers; Understand Drinking Should Be Enjoy Sparingly

When asked what they think about beverage alcohol, most Canadian adults believe it is something to be enjoyed sparingly (35%), or in moderation (53%). Very few are teetotalers (8%) or believe alcohol is something to be enjoyed in excess (4%). With regard to health, Canadians take a more conservative view than Health Canada’s official low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines, with 72% assuming between 0-6 standard drinks a week is what healthy adults can consume safely.

How well do these attitudes and assumptions align with their reported lived experiences? Even accounting for possible under-reporting, the vast majority of the 2 in 3 Canadians who drink alcohol at least once per month say they drink within Canada’s official guideline of 10-15 drinks per week (78% consume 1-6 drinks per week), with only a minority drinking at the upper range of the Health Canada recommendations of 10-15 drinks a week.

Trust in Government, Institutions is High on Health-Related Matters

Trust in knowledge generating institutions, experts, and even government is quite high among the public when it comes to health. Most Canadians at least somewhat trust in Health Canada, NGOs, academics, and medical professionals when it comes to advising them on health-related matters.

When presented with Canada’s official low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines, which suggest maxing consumption at 2 (female) or 3 (male) standard drinks per day, 10 or 15 standard drinks per week, and 3 or 4 standard drinks on special occasions, most

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Health Advice

April 17, 2023admin

Well on Your Way – A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad

Introduction

The Government of Canada has developed this booklet to help you protect your health while travelling or living abroad. It includes essential information on understanding travel health risks; taking preventive measures before, during and after your travel; coping with a health emergency abroad; and accessing consular services in a health emergency.

We encourage you to take steps to reduce your risk of illness and accidents while abroad. With a little knowledge and preparation, you can protect yourself against many common and preventable travel-related illnesses.

Going abroad?

Be Prepared. Expect the Unexpected! Connect with the world and access travel advice for more than 200 destinations. Wherever you go, wherever you are, visit Travel advice and advisories or consult with us by telephone (1-800-267-6788 or 613-944-6788), TTY (1-800-394-3472) or email ([email protected]).

Know before you go

Standards of safety, hygiene and medical care in other countries may differ from those in Canada. These differences can seriously affect your health and your ability to access medical help while abroad.

Before departure, you should learn about the health risks in the country or countries you plan to visit, your own risk of disease and the steps you can take to prevent illness and injury. If you feel ill, consider delaying your departure. Health, security and avoiding injury are your responsibilities and should be considered before, during and after travelling abroad.

Protecting the health of Canadian travellers

Travel.gc.ca, the Government of Canada’s website for Canadians travelling and living abroad, provides information to help you stay healthy in other countries, including:

Travel Health Notices;

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Health Care

April 15, 2023admin

Opinion: Canadians are the biggest losers in the Supreme Court’s latest health care decision

It was 18 years ago that the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that waitlists for health care in Quebec were an affront to a patient’s constitutional rights – opening the door to private health insurance in the province.

Which is why the court’s decision last week not to hear an appeal of a B.C. Court ruling, which bans extra-billing and private insurance, is so puzzling. And infuriating. Because not much has changed in the nearly two-decade-long span since its landmark decision on this matter. In fact, it could be argued, the situation has deteriorated even further, with the crisis in our health care system worse than ever.

Only in Canada can the top court in the land give Quebeckers special rights and privileges when it comes to their health care needs and deny those same rights and privileges to B.C. – and, by extension, other provinces as well.

In June, 2005, the Supreme Court overturned a Quebec law that prohibited people from buying private health insurance for services that were covered by the public health care system. In a 4-3 decision, the court said the monopoly that the state exerted over medical services wasn’t justified.

“This virtual monopoly, on the evidence, results in delays in treatment that adversely affect the citizen’s security of person,” the court ruled then. “Where a law adversely affects life, liberty or security of the person, it must conform to the principles of fundamental justice. This law, in our view, fails to do so.”

What has changed since then that would persuade the court not to hear an appeal of effectively the same law in a different province?

While many are hailing the court’s B.C. decision, which effectively brings to a close Dr. Brian Day’s effort to give Canadians quicker access to health care services via

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Health Care

April 8, 2023admin

Do Canadians like provincial wellness treatment? Analyze exhibits no

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A new Ipsos poll exhibits much less than 50 percent of Canadians are pleased with their provincial wellness care system and the the greater part believe personal entities can give a lot quicker products and services.

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The developing unhappiness with Canada’s overall health care procedure turned evident over the pandemic when hospitals observed an maximize in health care qualified burnout and mass exodus across the country.

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The want for effective healthcare has plagued Canada for the earlier number of decades with quite a few Canadians stating wait moments for unexpected emergency room visits and acquiring a relatives medical doctor are too prolonged.

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The concerns with publicly funded well being care moved the perception of personal companies operating providers extra positively, with much more believing they can offer speedier solutions in contrast to community establishments, the Ipsos survey demonstrates

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The study, executed for the Montreal Financial Institute by the study company, reveals 48 per cent of Canadians are not delighted with the country’s well being treatment system. The poll was published April 6, 2023.

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The final results have been decrease amongst women (43 for each cent) and citizens of Atlantic Canada (25 per cent), as well as among the residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (34 for every cent).

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Ipsos performed the poll involving March 17 and 20, and spoke to 1,164 Canadians aged 18 and older.

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Comparable to preceding polls, four in 10 folks (38 for each cent) consider wellness treatment investments produced in the previous ten years have had no impact on the program. About 30 for every cent imagine the wellness treatment program has essentially deteriorated above the identical time period of time.

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Question in the process is larger among the the Atlantic provinces (46 for each cent) as opposed

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Health Care

March 9, 2023admin

Canadians divided on privatizing wellness care, survey finds

A new Angus Reid poll reveals 39 per cent of respondents nevertheless staunchly oppose paying for medical care even though the relaxation either aid privatization or are careful but curious about the plan.

The non-revenue firm polled just around 2,000 Canadians in early February and uncovered they fell into one of 3 groups: community wellbeing purists, non-public care proponents, or curious but hesitant about likely improvements.

30-nine per cent of Canadians slide into the very first classification, that means they see “tiny to no place for privatization” and think any movement in that course would only “exacerbate current problems” in the health and fitness-care process.

On the other close of the spectrum, non-public care proponents accounted for 28 for every cent of respondents, and this team thinks improved privatization or hybrid versions are a “vital evolution” for optimum treatment.

The curious but hesitant crowd (33 for each cent) say they see the likely worth in contracting for-financial gain medical professionals and spending for operations but are deeply anxious about obtain for very low-money Canadians and possible team shortages.

New currently: How do Canadians experience about Privatization? We’ve identified a few broad mindsets:pic.twitter.com/1Dzkmxbnzn

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Toronto surgeon David Urbach problems a ramp-up in personal clinics could entice medical doctors and nurses absent from the public sector seeking better pay out, top to longer clinic wait occasions and lessened high quality of care.

“I really get worried that people don’t entirely recognize the extensive-expression impacts of some of these alterations,” stated Urbach.

The poll results occur as the federal government and Canadian premiers hash out the particulars of a $46-billion wellbeing treatment transfer offer, which is staying pitched by Ottawa as a generational repair for an ailing system.

Ontario is the most up-to-date province to publicly fund surgical procedures at personal

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Health Information

February 20, 2023admin

1 in 4 Canadians more than 45 struggled to entry wellbeing treatment in 2020: survey

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A quarter of Canadians above 45 seasoned problems accessing health-care services in the course of the very first calendar year of the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance to survey effects released in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) this thirty day period.

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Having said that, the diploma to which people today have been impacted depended on elements like race, immigration standing, sex, age and schooling and money levels.

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As COVID-19 unfold in 2020, wellbeing-care suppliers coped with the pressure of clients ill with the virus by cancelling elective surgical procedures and in-particular person appointments and turning more to virtual care. Nationally, emergency division visits and inpatient admission stages dropped by 24 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, according to the Canadian Institute for Wellbeing Information. Home and principal treatment products and services were also influenced.

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In get to understand how these disruptions impacted older Canadians and their wellbeing-treatment demands in 2020, researchers from McMaster College, McGill University, Dalhousie University and the Community Well being Agency of Canada surveyed 23, 972 folks in between April 15 and Dec. 29, 2020, about their experiences accessing health treatment.

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What they identified was that the degree of issue respondents faced accessing health and fitness care assorted greatly dependent on a selection of social determinants.

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“Substantial unmet wellbeing-care wants were being documented by Canadian grown ups in the course of the to start with yr of the pandemic,” the authors wrote in the CMAJ paper on Feb. 14 that outlined the benefits of the survey. “The results of this review have vital implications for wellness fairness.”

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From September to December 2020, 25 for each cent of survey respondents knowledgeable difficulties accessing wellbeing-care expert services, 8 for each cent did not go to a healthcare facility or see a

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Health Care

February 18, 2023admin

The latest wellbeing treatment deal is a gain for retirees. The funds of young Canadians are collateral problems

Wellness Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and healthcare learners appear on as Primary Minister Justin Trudeau speaks all through a media availability at a clinical coaching facility on Feb. 7 in Ottawa.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Federal and provincial leaders just agreed Ottawa would improve its shelling out on clinical care by $196-billion over the subsequent decade. No point out was made of a approach to pay out for this new expense, nor was there any thing to consider of its financial implications for distinct generations.

So I ran calculations from my lab in UBC’s University of Population Wellbeing. Right here are the most important consider-aways: The new wellness dollars is a win for the individual finances of retirees. But it is a diverse story for younger people, who need to pay an at any time-increasing total in taxes for the medical needs of our growing older inhabitants by comparison with what infant boomers paid out for retirees when they were youthful.

These divergent generational impacts have to have additional notice from elected officers – anything much more most likely to be forthcoming if governments appoint substantial-position officials dependable for generational fairness.

These types of an official could draw attention to the point that more than the 10-year period, the $196-billion will spend for an excess $12,000 in professional medical solutions for each individual Canadian about 65, $4,400 for every single resident 45 to 64 and $2,900 for each human being under 45.

This facts is easily accessible, since the Canadian Institute of Health Data yearly publishes information about how health care investing per capita breaks down by age. When multiplied by Statistics Canada info displaying the quantity of Canadians in every single age group, it reveals that seniors receive 45 for every cent of healthcare paying out, even while they depict

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Health Advice

January 24, 2023admin

Canadians dump 500M kilograms of textiles a year. Ontario researchers hope to change that

A new study from researchers at the University of Waterloo and Seneca College hopes to divert tonnes of wasted clothing from landfills back onto people’s bodies.

The University of Waterloo said that Canadians toss away close to 500 million kilograms of fabric items on a yearly basis including such things as clothing, shoes and toys, but researchers hope a grading system will put an end to that.

Tag: Canadians

Half of Canadians don’t have a primary care physician, some have stopped looking

Canadians’ Trust in Public Health Advice Vulnerable to Confusion Over Divergent Recommendations: Abacus Data Poll – Abacus Data

Well on Your Way – A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad

Contents

Introduction

Opinion: Canadians are the biggest losers in the Supreme Court’s latest health care decision

Do Canadians like provincial wellness treatment? Analyze exhibits no

Canadians divided on privatizing wellness care, survey finds

1 in 4 Canadians more than 45 struggled to entry wellbeing treatment in 2020: survey

The latest wellbeing treatment deal is a gain for retirees. The funds of young Canadians are collateral problems

Canadians dump 500M kilograms of textiles a year. Ontario researchers hope to change that