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While tobacco is sacred in many Indigenous cultures, the recreational misuse of commercial tobacco is highly addictive and harmful. Tobacco misuse is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the world. Smoking rates among Canadian Indigenous youth are at least three times higher than for their non-Aboriginal peers, an alarming statistic on many levels. The tolls on health from extensive tobacco use range from disproportionately high individual mortality and morbidity to heavy socioeconomic burdens on Indigenous communities. Paediatric health care providers are uniquely positioned to collaborate with community stakeholders to prevent and treat tobacco misuse in young people and their families, while understanding the cultural value of tobacco for many Indigenous peoples. Targeted interventions can positively impact length and quality of life, improve overall health and decrease the immense social and human costs of tobacco misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'usage du cannabis, la drogue illicite la plus consommee dans le monde, est frequent chez les adolescents canadiens. La consommation de cannabis a l'adolescence peut provoquer des modifications fonctionnelles et structurelles du cerveau en developpement et induire une atteinte cerebrale. Dans ce groupe d'age, la consommation de marijuana s'associe fortement a la dependance au cannabis et a d'autres troubles de l'usage d'une substance, a l'adoption et au maintien du tabagisme, a l'augmentation des troubles de sante mentale, y compris la depression, l'anxiete et la psychose, a une perturbation du developpement neurologique et a un declin cognitif ainsi qu'a une diminution de la performance scolaire et des realisations au cours de la vie. Le taux de soins medicaux aigus et d'hospitalisations chez les jeunes enfants qui ont consomme involontairement du cannabis est en hausse. Compte tenu du debat en cours sur la reglementation du cannabis au Canada, l'examen attentif des preuves de ses effets sur la sante et la mise en place de mecanismes de protection deviennent des priorites absolues en sante publique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is the most common illicit drug used worldwide and it is used frequently by Canadian teenagers. Cannabis use during adolescence can cause functional and structural changes to the developing brain, leading to damage. Marijuana use in this age group is strongly linked to: cannabis dependence and other substance use disorders; the initiation and maintenance of tobacco smoking; an increased presence of mental illness, including depression, anxiety and psychosis; impaired neurological development and cognitive decline; and diminished school performance and lifetime achievement. Rates of acute medical care and hospitalization for younger children who have ingested cannabis unintentionally are increasing. Ongoing debate concerning cannabis regulation in Canada makes paying close attention to the evidence for its health effects and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place, vital public health priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine changes in the awareness, use, feasibility, and barriers associated with the Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Children and Youth ages 0-17 years in a sample of Canadian paediatricians, and to assess tools/resources developed by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). Methods: Practicing paediatricians who were members of the CPS were invited to complete an on-line survey in February 2013. In response to survey findings, the CPS developed and promoted tools/resources to increase and improve paediatricians' counselling of the guidelines. The CPS membership was surveyed again in September-October 2014. Findings are based on responses from 331 and 217 (23% and 16% participation rate) Canadian paediatricians who completed the survey in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Results: No significant differences were observed for awareness, use, or feasibility associated with the physical activity or sedentary behaviour guidelines between 2013 and 2014. However, a lack of knowledge/training was reported as a barrier sometimes/often/always by paediatricians significantly less in 2014 (14%) compared to 2013 (32%). Insufficient motivation/lack of support from parents/caregivers/youth was also reported as a barrier less frequently in 2014 (64%) compared to 2013 (75%) but it was borderline non-significant (P=0.05). Only 9% of paediatricians were unaware of the new CPS tools/resources. Conclusions: The new tools/resources developed by the CPS appeared to reduce some barriers experienced by paediatricians in counselling families about the guidelines. However, this did not appear to translate into greater awareness or use of the guidelines. Continued tool/resource development and training initiatives may be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concussion is a common injury among children and adolescents participating in organized sports and recreational activities. Any child or youth who sustains a concussion should be removed from play immediately and medically evaluated as soon as possible. Cognitive and physical rest are recommended to allow symptoms to resolve. Cognitive rest may require temporary school absence and/or a modified class work or homework load. After symptoms have completely resolved at rest and a full return to school is achieved, the student can progress through a medically supervised, stepwise exertion protocol to return to play. Everyone involved in child and youth sports must recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion, and ensure that any child or adolescent suspected of sustaining a concussion is properly evaluated and managed by qualified medical personnel. The present statement replaces a previous Canadian Paediatric Society position statement published in 2006 and revised in 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To examine the awareness of, agreement with and use of the new Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for children and youth zero to 17 years of age in a sample of Canadian paediatricians. METHODS: The findings are based on responses from 331 paediatricians across Canada who completed an online survey in February 2013. Frequencies were calculated for each question. RESULTS: Few paediatricians reported being very familiar with the physical activity (6% for the early years, and 9% for children and youth) or sedentary behaviour guidelines (5% for the early years, children and youth). When made aware of the guidelines, a large percentage strongly agreed or agreed with the physical activity (99% for the early years, and 96% for children and youth) and sedentary behaviour recommendations (96% for the early years, and 94% for children and youth). Of paediatricians who performed well-child visits, 16% and 27% reported almost always making physical activity and sedentary behaviour recommendations, respectively, to parents or caregivers of children in the early years, compared with 37% for both behaviours among children and youth. Thirty-nine per cent (for the early years) and 46% (for children and youth) of paediatricians reported it would be highly feasible to briefly explain the guidelines at a well-child visit. The most common barriers reported for recommending the guidelines were insufficient motivation or support from parents, caregivers or youth, and lack of time. CONCLUSION: To increase the use of these new evidence-informed guidelines, strategies are needed to increase paediatricians' awareness and reduce perceived barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood stress leads to adverse developmental and health outcomes in adulthood, and childhood poverty is perhaps the most significant source of stress that exists today for Canadian children. Previously, three key factors were identified that are important in improving developmental outcomes in children: reducing the stress of poverty; connecting the mother to the child's education; and connecting the mother to social support. The Mom2Mom Child Poverty Initiative was established as a model to improve developmental outcomes for vulnerable children. Mom2Mom combines current evidence regarding the social and biological determinants of child health with direct advocacy. It provides mentorship, and financial and practical support to families, with the goal of improving outcomes for children living in poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les véhicules tout-terrains (VTT) sont largement utilisés au Canada dans le cadre des loisirs, du transport et du travail, tel que l'agriculture. En qualité de véhicules automobiles, ils peuvent être particulièrement dangereux lorsqu'ils sont utilisés par des enfants et des jeunes adolescents qui ne possèdent pas les connaissances, la taille physique, la force et les compétences cognitives et motrices nécessaires pour les conduire en toute sécurité. La magnitude du risque de blessures pour les jeunes conducteurs est exposée de manière explicite dans les avertissements figurant dans le manuel du conducteur et sur les étiquettes des modèles les plus récents. Elle est également et démontrée par le nombre important d'hospitalisations et de décès pédiatriques attribuables à des traumatismes liés aux VTT. Cependant, le port du casque est loin d'être universel chez les jeunes conducteurs, et les comportements de conduite non sécuritaires demeurent courants, tels que la conduite sans supervision ou avec des passagers. Malgré les avertissements de l'industrie et l'éducation publique qui font ressortir l'importance de comportements sécuritaires et les risques de graves blessures chez les enfants et les adolescents, on continue de recenser des blessures et des décès liés aux VTT. Tant que des mesures n'auront pas été prises pour réduire ces blessures de manière substantielle et efficace, il est essentiel de limiter la conduite par des jeunes, notamment ceux de moins de 16 ans, afin de réduire le fardeau des traumatismes liés aux VTT chez les enfants et les adolescents. Le présent document remplace le document de principes de la Société canadienne de pédiatrie publié en 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La majorité des blessures dont sont victimes les enfants et les adolescents sont évitables. Le présent document de principes contient des renseignements généraux, des conseils et une déclaration d'engagement à l'égard de la prévention des blessures au Canada. Il sert de base sur laquelle construire en s'attardant d'abord aux définitions, à l'étendue et aux priorités en matière de prévention des blessures. Il contient également une description du fardeau et du profil des blessures non intentionnelles, de même que les principes d'interventions de prévention efficaces. La version intégrale renferme une liste de ressources en vue d'obtenir des données et de l'information probante (www.cps.ca). Enfin, le présent document de principes peut être utilisé pour la défense généralisée de la prévention des blessures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are widely used in Canada for recreation, transportation and occupations such as farming. As motorized vehicles, they can be especially dangerous when used by children and young adolescents who lack the knowledge, physical size, strength, and cognitive and motor skills to operate them safely. The magnitude of injury risk to young riders is reflected in explicit vehicle manual warnings and the warning labels on current models, and evidenced by the significant number of paediatric hospitalizations and deaths due to ATV-related trauma. However, helmet use is far from universal among youth operators, and unsafe riding behaviours, such as driving unsupervised and/or driving with passengers, remain common. Despite industry warnings and public education that emphasize the importance of safety behaviours and the risks of significant injury to children and youth, ATV-related injuries and fatalities continue to occur. Until measures are taken that clearly effect substantial reductions in these injuries, restricting ridership by young operators, especially those younger than 16 years of age, is critical to reducing the burden of ATV-related trauma in children and youth. This document replaces a previous Canadian Paediatric Society position statement published in 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of child and youth injuries are preventable. This statement provides background, direction and a statement of commitment to the issue of child and youth injury prevention in Canada. It acts as a foundation to build upon by focusing first on definitions, scope and priorities for injury prevention. It also describes the burden and patterns of unintentional injury, and the principles of effective intervention for prevention. A list of resources for obtaining data and evidence-based information is included in the full-text version of this statement (www.cps.ca). This statement can also be used for broad-based injury prevention advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]