Saskatchewan Health

About: Saskatchewan Health is a government organization based out in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 442 authors who have published 489 publications receiving 7728 citations.

The Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network--toward timely and appropriate access.

Abstract: Earlier this year, a paper in Hospital Quarterly, "Creating a Surgical Wait List Management Strategy for Saskatchewan," described the development of a surgical wait list strategy for Saskatchewan. The initial strategy development process uncovered several issues that needed to be addressed including lack of data, inconsistent priorities and frustration on the parts of both providers and patients. This second paper outlines the key points of the recommended surgical wait list strategy and the work to date in its implementation.

The Impact of Cohousing on Older Adults' Quality of Life.

Abstract: The global population including Canada's is aging, which demands planning for housing that will support older adults' quality of life. This mixed-method study is the first Canadian study to examine the impact of cohousing on older adults' quality of life and involved 23 participants. The older adults rated their quality of life very high, especially in the environmental, physical, and psychological domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL_BREF) survey; quality of life in the social domain was rated low, which was surprising in light of the focus group data findings. Four themes of "belonging in a community", "life in the community", "changes associated with aging," and "aging in place" emerged from the qualitative data to explain factors that influence older adults' quality of life. This research provides foundational, strong evidence that seniors' cohousing is an innovative housing solution that can support older adults' quality of life.

Mining healthcare data for markers of the multiple sclerosis prodrome.

Abstract: Background Previous studies suggest the existence of a prodromal period in multiple sclerosis, but little is known about the phenotypic characteristics. This study aims to characterize the multiple sclerosis (MS) prodrome using data mining analytics in the healthcare setting. Methods We identified people with MS and matched general population controls using health administrative data in two Canadian provinces (British Columbia and Saskatchewan). Using a training dataset (66.6% of British Columbia's cohort), L1 penalized logistic regression models were fitted to predict MS from physician and hospital encounters (via International Classification of Diseases [ICD] codes) and prescriptions filled (as drug classes) during the five years before the MS case's first demyelinating event. Internal and external validation of identified predictors was performed using logistic regression on the remaining British Columbia (33.4%) and Saskatchewan data. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and Area under the Curve (AUC) metrics for the models’ predictive performance were reported. Results We identified 8,669 MS cases and 40,867 controls. Good predictive performance was observed for physician data (internal/external validation AUC = 0.81/0.79). Physician-generated ICD codes that were associated with MS and validated in both provinces included disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system, disorders of the eye, and cerebrovascular disease (aOR = 1.3–7.0). Overall, hospital and prescription data showed very poor and poor predictive performance (internal/external validation AUCs = 0.54/0.55 and 0.66/0.61, respectively). However, hospitalizations related to the urinary system or spinal cord diseases, or prescriptions for urinary antispasmodics or anti-vertigo preparations, were associated with 2 to 3-fold higher odds of MS (aOR = 2.3–3.3). Conclusions Findings provide insight into the clinical characteristics of the MS prodrome. Diagnostic codes from physician encounters were capable of differentiating between MS cases and controls.

Case management in primary care among frequent users of healthcare services with chronic conditions: protocol of a realist synthesis.

Abstract: Introduction A common reason for frequent use of healthcare services is the complex healthcare needs of individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions, especially in combination with mental health comorbidities and/or social vulnerability. Frequent users (FUs) of healthcare services are more at risk for disability, loss of quality of life and mortality. Case management (CM) is a promising intervention to improve care integration for FU and to reduce healthcare costs. This review aims to develop a middle-range theory explaining how CM in primary care improves outcomes among FU with chronic conditions, for what types of FU and in what circumstances. Methods and analysis A realist synthesis (RS) will be conducted between March 2017 and March 2018 to explore the causal mechanisms that underlie CM and how contextual factors influence the link between these causal mechanisms and outcomes. According to RS methodology, five steps will be followed: (1) focusing the scope of the RS; (2) searching for the evidence; (3) appraising the quality of evidence; (4) extracting the data; and (5) synthesising the evidence. Patterns in context–mechanism–outcomes (CMOs) configurations will be identified, within and across identified studies. Analysis of CMO configurations will help confirm, refute, modify or add to the components of our initial rough theory and ultimately produce a refined theory explaining how and why CM interventions in primary care works, in which contexts and for which FU with chronic conditions. Ethics and dissemination Research ethics is not required for this review, but publication guidelines on RS will be followed. Based on the review findings, we will develop and disseminate messages tailored to various relevant stakeholder groups. These messages will allow the development of material that provides guidance on the design and the implementation of CM in health organisations. Trial registration number Prospero CRD42017057753.

Incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Saskatchewan, Canada: 2001-2014.

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and destructive arthritis. Understanding the incidence and prevalence of RA within the province facilitates appropriate health care resource planning. To estimate the incidence/prevalence of RA over time for the overall provincial population, for specific age range categories, and for gender. Saskatchewan Provincial Administrative Health Databases (2001–2014) were utilized as data sources. Two RA case-definitions were employed: 1) > three physician billing diagnoses, at least one of which was submitted by a specialist (rheumatologist, general internist or orthopedic surgeon) within 2 years; 2) > one hospitalization diagnosis (ICD-9-CM code-714, and ICD-10-CA code-M05). Data from these definitions were combined to identify incident and prevalent RA cases. Using this data, annual incidence and prevalence rates were calculated for the provincial population, specified age range categories and gender categories. The number of RA cases meeting the case definition increased from 3731 to 6223 over the study period. The incidence of RA disease demonstrated variation within the study period with age and sex adjusted incidence ranging from 33.6 (95% CI 29.9–37.6) per 100,000 to 73.1 (95% CI 67.6–79.0) per 100,000. The prevalence of RA increased over time from 482 (95% CI 466.7–497.7) per 100,000 in 2001–2002 to 683.4 (95% CI 666.6–700.6) per 100,000 in 2014–2015. Both incidence and prevalence rates rose with increasing age. Women were found to have higher incidence and prevalence rates compared to men. In Saskatchewan, the overall prevalence of RA is rising while there has been variability in the incidence.