Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Tags: health
| Principal Investigator: | Egeland, Grace M (2) |
| Licence Number: | 14709 |
| Organization: | Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE) |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2010
2008
|
| Issued: | May 12, 2010 |
| Project Team: | Kue Young (Co-Principal Applicant, University of Toronto), Crystal Lennie (Steering Committee Chair, ISR), Helga Saudny-Unterberger (Project Manager, CINE, McGill University), Ingrid Tensen (Nurse , on contract with CINE), Eric Dewailly (Co-Applicant, University of Laval), Laura Arbour (Co-Applicant, University of British Columbia), Laurie Chan (Co-Applicant, University of Northern British Columbia), Harriet Kuhnlein (Co-Applicant, McGill University / CINE), Hope Weiler (Co-Applicant, McGill University / CINE) |
Objective(s): The Inuit Health Survey was developed to better understand the factors contributing to health and the Inuit spirit of thriving in the face of changes. The medical chart review is part of this objective and participants were asked whether or not they wanted to participate in the Health Survey, and if yes, if they also wanted to be included in a follow-up within a 7 year period and be part of the International Inuit Health Study.
Project Description: The Inuit Health Survey was developed to better understand the factors contributing to health and the Inuit spirit of thriving in the face of changes. The medical chart review is part of this objective and participants were asked whether or not they wanted to participate in the Health Survey, and if yes, if they also wanted to be included in a follow-up within a 7 year period and be part of the International Inuit Health Study. Participants wishing to participate in the follow-up were asked permission for a nurse to review their medical chart to verify if heart disease, diabetes and related chronic medical conditions were present prior to their participation in the Inuit Health Survey so that any chronic disease developments can be documented within a 7 year follow-up. What is the purpose of the International Inuit Health Study? • It is to compare results with similar surveys in other Inuit regions in Circumpolar countries; and • Because some diseases that appear over time are not common, it will be beneficial to join data from different regions and health surveys in order to look at possible factors that may be leading to diseases or conditions. A nurse will travel to Inuvik, Aklavik, Ulukhaktuk and conduct a medical chart review for participants who consented to the medical chart review during their participation in the Inuit Health Survey in 2008. The medical chart review is part of the IPY Inuit Health Survey which has provided opportunities for local involvement through steering committee representation from each community, hiring of staff from communities, and through empowering individuals and communities that participated in the survey with information on results emerging from the survey. The medical chart review was delayed due to the high work-load on CINE staff and was, therefore, not done during the past year when we had a research license. Thus, a new application is submitted for a license to complete our work. A nurse, Ingrid Tensen, will conduct the medical chart review in 6 communities in ISR and the need for accommodation and meals will contribute economically to the region. Also, the fieldwork during the Inuit Health Survey in ISR in 2008 provided both economic and educational benefits for locally hired and trained research assistants and drivers. Local research assistants were trained in recruiting participants, which included bringing information to households, explaining the study to potential participants, showing the consent DVD, making radio announcements and helping with transportation. Economic benefits came from 3 land teams traveling to communities ahead of the Amundsen's arrival and needing accommodation and meals. In addition, a separate land-based team conducted the health survey in Inuvik and Aklavik and employed local research assistants. Thus, the research has and continues to involve local communities in all phases of the work. The information from the chart review will not be communicated to individuals or communities in the NWT as each participant already receives care from their local health providers. The information will be added to our existing database and will form baseline information for the International Inuit Cohort to better enable us to prospectively evaluate factors that protect or increase risk of the progression of chronic diseases. Feedback on survey results to date has been provided to the ISR steering committee in a November 2009 meeting held in Montreal. Further, personal results from the survey in 2008 were communicated back to each participant with information whether the individual needed a follow-up evaluation by their health care provider. This spring, the researchers intend to send out a plain language results booklet summarizing the survey findings. These types of communication activities are ongoing and will continue as more information is evaluated. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from May 12, 2010 to July 30, 2010.
