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.

An Effective Evaluation of a Small Scale Seniors Health Promotion Centre: A Case Study

Abstract: Small scale evaluations are discussed and a case is presented where the impact of a neighbourhood senior citizens' health promotion centre on its clients and community cannot be assessed through large scale, rigorous, evaluation approaches. In addition to the inherent difficulties of finding measurable substitutes for health, the small scale of the program was unlikely to produce a measurable impact on them and the high cost entailed relative to the resources invested in the program was unwarranted. Emphasizing the quantity and quality of services provided, the evaluation found that the centre, which was planned, organized and controlled by a community association, provided a wide range of quality, accessible disease prevention and health promotion services to seniors in a neighbourhood setting. Two high risk groups were emphasized, the frail elderly and Native Indian elderly.

Higher health care use before a clinically isolated syndrome with or without subsequent MS

Abstract: Background To establish whether a unique multiple sclerosis (MS) prodrome exists by comparing health care utilization in the five-year period before initial presentation with optic neuritis (ON) or transverse myelitis (TM) among those who were and were not subsequently diagnosed with MS. Methods Using population-based administrative health data we conducted a retrospective cohort study in three Canadian provinces. We identified individuals with a clinically isolated syndrome (ON or TM), who were eventually diagnosed with MS (CIS-MS) or not (CIS-non MS), and a control cohort matched on age, sex and region without a CIS. We compared rates of hospitalization, physician services use and prescription drug use in the five years before the first ON or TM claim (labeled years -1,-2,-3,-4,-5) using negative binomial regression models adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status and index year. Results We identified 1,155 CIS-MS cases, 20,638 CIS-non MS cases, and 108,726 matched controls. Compared to matched controls, the CIS-MS cohort had a higher hospitalization rate (years -5 and -1), physician visits (all years) and prescription drug use (years -4 and -1). Compared to matched controls, the CIS-non MS cohort had a higher rate of hospitalizations (all years), physician visits (all years) and prescription drug use (all years). Conclusion Health care use was higher in individuals with a CIS than without a CIS in the five years before an incident demyelinating event, regardless of whether they were subsequently diagnosed with MS. This suggests that there is a prodromal period before CIS which is not unique to MS.

Risk of death from human insulin

Abstract: In response to growing concerns surrounding the risks of human insulin, we conducted a 13-year historical cohort study of 4925 insulin users less than 40 years of age. This cohort was formed from the population of Saskatchewan, Canada, from 1978–90, using the computerized databases arising from the universal health insurance plan of this Province of 1.1 million inhabitants. Of 101 deaths, 53 occurred within the defined one-month time window of effect. The cohort resulted in 14,600 person-years of exposure to insulin use. The overall rate of death was 3.6 per 1000 person-years of insulin use (95% CI: 2.7–4.6). This death rate remained stable throughout the 13-year study period and did not increase after 1984, the year of introduction of human insulin in Saskatchewan. We found 46 deaths for animal insulin (4.0/1000/year) and 7 deaths for human insulin (2.3/1000/year). Among the latter 7 deaths, 1 death occurred in the group treated solely with human insulin (1.2/1000/year), and 6 deaths in those who were switched from animal to human insulin (2.8/1000/year). These observed differences are not statistically significant. The data from this rapid response pharmacoepidemiological study, which took 8 months to complete, do not support allegations that treatment with human insulin increases the risk of death. They do not however exclude the possibility that human insulin is associated with an elevated risk of fatal or non-fatal hypoglycaemia.

Enhancing prevention in the practice of health professionals.

Abstract: The National Enhancing Prevention Steering Committee is a partnership of eleven national health professional associations and Health Canada. Their joint mission reflects the view that "to ensure the health of Canadians and to ensure an effective health care system, all health professionals have a key role in assisting individuals and communities to increase control over and improve their health." This paper describes the development of the National Strategy for Enhancing Prevention in the Practice of Health Professionals and the learning from that five-year process.