Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de santé publique
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Can J Public Health · Nov 2010
Comparative StudyA comparison of methods for forecasting emergency department visits for respiratory illness using telehealth Ontario calls.
Anticipating increases in hospital emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory illness could help time interventions such as opening flu clinics to reduce surges in ED visits. Five different methods for estimating ED visits for respiratory illness from Telehealth Ontario calls are compared, including two non-linear modeling methods. Daily visit estimates up to 14 days in advance were made at the health unit level for all 36 Ontario health units. ⋯ Telehealth can be used to estimate ED visits for respiratory illness at the health unit level. Non-linear modeling methods produced better estimates than regression in larger health units.
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Can J Public Health · Sep 2010
CPHA and the social determinants of health: an analysis of policy documents and statements and recommendations for future action.
Recently published reports have raised the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) to a level of prominence that makes it difficult for governments and health agencies to ignore. This commentary analyzes CPHA (Canadian Public Health Association) policy statements and positions dating from 1970 to the present to identify where these stand in relation to seven SDH discourses. We locate where CPHA stands on the SDH, appraise its role in the SDH debate, and propose actions to better position CPHA to address SDH. ⋯ However, CPHA's response to the World Health Organization's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health shows a striking similarity to earlier commitments that have had limited impacts. We propose that CPHA consider analyzing some of the economic and political structures and justifying ideologies that have prevented its work in the public policy area from promoting public understanding and achieving public policy traction over the past 30 years. We also offer several steps that CPHA could take to reduce the gap between knowledge and action on the determinants of health in Canada.
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Previous large-scale population studies have reported that gay and bisexual men may be at increased risk for health disparities. This study was conducted to determine whether health status and health risk behaviours of Canadian men vary based on sexual orientation identity. ⋯ This study represents the largest-known population-based data analysis on health risks and behaviours among men of varying sexual orientations. These findings raise important concerns regarding the impact of sexual orientation on mental and sexual health. Limitations of this data set, including those associated with measurement of sexual orientation, are discussed. Further research is required to understand the mechanisms that influence these health resiliencies and disparities.