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Background: Understanding the complex interaction of risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing common diseases is challenging. The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP) is a prospective cohort study created as a population-health research platform for assessing the effect of genetics, behaviour, family health history and environment (among other factors) on chronic diseases.Methods: Volunteer participants were recruited from the general Canadian population for a confederation of 5 regional cohorts. Participants were enrolled in the study and core information obtained using 2 approaches: attendance at a study assessment centre for all study measures (questionnaire, venous blood sample and physical measurements) or completion of the core questionnaire (online or paper), with later collection of other study measures where possible. Physical measurements included height, weight, percentage body fat and blood pressure. Participants consented to passive follow-up through linkage with administrative health databases and active follow-up through recontact. All participant data across the 5 regional cohorts were harmonized.Results: A total of 307 017 participants aged 30-74 from 8 provinces were recruited. More than half provided a venous blood sample and/or other biological sample, and 33% completed physical measurements. A total of 709 harmonized variables were created; almost 25% are available for all participants and 60% for at least 220 000 participants.Interpretation: Primary recruitment for the CPTP is complete, and data and biosamples are available to Canadian and international researchers through a data-access process. The CPTP will support research into how modifiable risk factors, genetics and the environment interact to affect the development of cancer and other chronic diseases, ultimately contributing evidence to reduce the global burden of chronic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine (Joule Inc.) is the property of CMA Impact Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine (Joule Inc.) is the property of CMA Impact Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The Global Burden of Disease Study represents a large and systematic effort to describe the burden of diseases and injuries over the past 3 decades. We aimed to summarize the Canadian data on burden of diseases and injuries.Methods: We summarized data from the 2016 iteration of the Global Burden of Disease Study to provide current (2016) and historical estimates for all-cause and cause-specific diseases and injuries using mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability and disability-adjusted life years in Canada. We also compared changes in life expectancy and health-adjusted life expectancy between Canada and 21 countries with a high sociodemographic index.Results: In 2016, leading causes of all-age disability-adjusted life years were neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and mental and substance use disorders, which together accounted for about 56% of disability-adjusted life years. Between 2006 and 2016, the rate of all-cause age-standardized years of life lost declined by 12%, while the rate of all-cause age-standardized years lived with disability remained relatively stable (+1%), and the rate of all-cause age-standardized disability-adjusted life year declined by 5%. In 2016, Canada aligned with countries that have a similar high sociodemographic index in terms of life expectancy (82 yr) and health-adjusted life expectancy (71 yr).Interpretation: The patterns of mortality and morbidity in Canada reflect an aging population and improving patterns of population health. If current trends continue, Canada will continue to face challenges of increasing population morbidity and disability alongside decreasing premature mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents guidelines for primary care providers to prevent vision-related functional limitations in community-dwelling adults by screening them for impaired vision in primary care settings. Topics discussed include the grading recommendations according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE) and task force development of the recommendations with scientific support from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Background: Although many Canadian studies have provided disease-specific or patient group-specific utility scores, the utility score norms currently available for the general Canadian population are outdated. Canadian guideline recommendations for the economic evaluation of health technologies advocate for utilities reflecting those of the general population and for stratified analyses when results are heterogeneous; as such, there is also a need for age-, sex- and jurisdiction-specific utility score norms.Methods: We used data from the 2013-2014 Canadian Community Health Survey. We used the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 to calculate utility scores. We estimated means (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) and medians (with interquartile ranges [IQRs]) for utility scores. In addition to Canadian-level measures, we stratified all utility score norms by respondents' age, sex, and province or territory of residence. We weighted respondents' answers and computed 95% CIs using sampling weights and bootstrap weights provided by Statistics Canada to extrapolate the study findings to the Canadian population.Results: Respondents to the 2013-2014 Canadian Community Health Survey represented 30 014 589 community-dwelling Canadians 12 years of age and older (98% of the Canadian population); half of the respondents were female (50.6%), and the weighted average age was 44.8 (95% CI 44.7-44.9) years. The mean and median self-reported utility scores for Canadians were estimated at 0.863 (95% CI 0.861-0.865) and 0.927 (IQR 0.838-0.972), respectively.Interpretation: This study provides utility score norms for several age-, sex-and jurisdiction-specific strata in Canada. These results will be useful for future cost-utility analyses and could serve as benchmark values for comparisons with future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on possible harm to public health posed by bisphenol A in Canada. It mentions that perinatal exposure to the bisphenol A can alter the development of several organs and organ systems. It informs that bisphenol A is found in consumer products including baby bottles, reusable water bottles, and sports equipment. It reveals that in a Canadian study of 5476 people, 90.7 percent had detectable levels of bisphenol A.

Background: In prior studies, higher mortality was observed among patients who had elective surgery on a Friday rather than earlier in the week. We investigated whether mortality after elective surgery was associated with day of the week of surgery in a Canadian population and whether the association was influenced by surgeon experience and volume.Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study in the province of Ontario, Canada. We included adults who underwent 1 of 12 elective daytime surgical procedures from Apr. 1, 2002, to Dec. 31, 2012. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. We used generalized estimating equations to compare outcomes for surgeries performed on different days of the week, adjusting for patient and surgeon factors.Results: A total of 402 899 procedures performed by 1691 surgeons met our inclusion criteria. The median length of hospital stay was 6 (interquartile range 5-8) days. Surgeon experience varied significantly by day of week (p < 0.001), with surgeons operating on Fridays having the least experience. Nearly all of the patients who had their procedure on a Friday had postoperative care on the weekend, as compared with 49.1% of those whose surgery was on a Monday (p < 0.001). We found no difference in the 30-day mortality between procedures performed on Fridays and those performed on Mondays (adjusted odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.97-1.21).Interpretation: Although surgeon experience differed across days of the week, the risk of 30-day mortality after elective surgery was similar regardless of which day of the week the procedure took place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canada's universal health care system does not include universal coverage of prescription drugs. We sought to estimate the effects of adding universal public coverage of an essential medicines list to existing public drug plans in Canada.Methods: We used administrative and market research data to estimate the 2015 shares of the volume and cost of prescriptions filled in the community setting that were for 117 drugs on a model list of essential medicines for Canada. We compared prices of these essential medicines in Canada with prices in the United States, Sweden and New Zealand. We estimated the cost of adding universal public drug coverage of these essential medicines based on anticipated effects on medication use and pricing.Results: The 117 essential medicines on the model list accounted for 44% of all prescriptions and 30% of total prescription drug expenditures in 2015. Average prices of generic essential medicines were 47% lower in the US, 60% lower in Sweden and 84% lower in New Zealand; brand-name drugs were priced 43% lower in the US. Estimated savings from universal public coverage of these essential medicines was $4.27 billion per year (range $2.72 billion to $5.83 billion; 28% reduction) for patients and private drug plan sponsors, at an incremental government cost of $1.23 billion per year (range $373 million to $1.98 billion; 11% reduction).Interpretation: Our analysis showed that adding universal public coverage of essential medicines to the existing public drug plans in Canada could address most of Canadians' pharmaceutical needs and save billions of dollars annually. Doing so may be a pragmatic step forward while more comprehensive pharmacare reforms are planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the use of effective policy for the reduction of prescription opioids' harm in Canada. Topics discussed include the use of prescription opioids in pain treatment, the increasing public health crisis of prescription-associated deaths and morbidity, and the overall patterns and amounts of prescription opioids.

The article focuses on the mercury exposure management in northern Canadian communities. Topics mentioned include the physiological effects of mercury exposure, the importance of public health management, and the effects of food insecurity and nutritional concerns on the efforts to reduce mercury exposure. Also mentioned was the survey on the blood mercury concentrations to selected women and children.

Background: Comprehensive systems for surveilling prescription opioid-related harms provide clear evidence that deaths from prescription opioids have increased dramatically in the United States. However, these harms are not systematically monitored in Canada. In light of a growing public health crisis, accessible, nationwide data sources to examine prescription opioid-related harms in Canada are needed. We sought to examine the performance of 5 algorithms to identify prescription opioid-related deaths from vital statistics data against data abstracted from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario as a gold standard.Methods: We identified all prescription opioid-related deaths from Ontario coroners' data that occurred between Jan. 31, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2010. We then used 5 different algorithms to identify prescription opioid-related deaths from vital statistics death data in 2010. We selected the algorithm with the highest sensitivity and a positive predictive value of more than 80% as the optimal algorithm for identifying prescription opioid-related deaths.Results: Four of the 5 algorithms had positive predictive values of more than 80%. The algorithm with the highest sensitivity (75%) in 2010 improved slightly in its predictive performance from 2003 to 2010.Interpretation: In the absence of specific systems for monitoring prescription opioid-related deaths in Canada, readily available national vital statistics data can be used to study prescription opioid-related mortality with considerable accuracy. Despite some limitations, these data may facilitate the implementation of national surveillance and monitoring strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Surgery is the property of CMA Impact Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a high likelihood of becoming chronic and lead to a range of conditions with poor health outcomes. Identifying birth groups highly affected by HCV infection may better focus public health interventions and ensure their cost-effectiveness. Our analysis focused on studying the association of the birth year and reporting period with rates of cases of HCV infection reported in Canada over a 20-year period. Methods: Laboratory-confirmed acute or chronic HCV cases with information on sex, age and year of report from 6 provinces and territories that reported line-listed data to the Canadian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System from 1991 to 2010 were used. Sexspecific infection rates for 5-year birth groups born between 1921 and 1990 were calculated. Rates of HCV infection were log-logit transformed and underwent mean polish analysis and panel linear regression. Rate ratios of HCV infection in the 5-year age groups and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated, with rates in males and females born in 1941-1945 used as references. Results: Males born between 1946 and 1970 had 21%-40% higher reported rates of HCV infection, whereas females born between 1946 and 1975 had 12%-43% higher reported rates compared with rates in the respective sexes who were born in 1941-1945. Interpretation: Individuals born between 1946 and 1965 contributed the most to the rates of HCV infection reported in Canada between 1991 and 2010. The cohort effect was present in male and female cases of HCV infection with birth year up to 1970 and 1975, respectively. Our findings will support the development of HCV prevention programs and policies in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various health issues related to labour migration in Canada. It says that the country has admitted 192,519 international migrant workers on temporary work permits in 2008, which reflects a labour migration trend since 1980. It states that the increased labour migration creates challenges related to public health management. It adds that research on the access of migrant workers to medical care is limited.

The authors reflect on the essence of public engagement in setting health care priorities in Canada. The authors believe that the public engagement in health care keeps the principle of democracy, improves public trust in health care system and provides a perspective on the values and priorities of the community. They presented a table showing the barriers on public engagement in setting health care priorities and the responses.

The article discusses the prevention strategies for youth suicidal, which is considered as an important public health issue in Canada that is associated to psychiatric disorders or depression. The intervention approach is proven effective to reduce suicide rates, but it is associated with substantial methodological problems such as limited to nonrandomization, and short duration of evaluation. The suicide awareness curricula are often used as part of school-based suicidal prevention strategies which are considered to be effective including peer helper programs and post-vention.

Discusses the results of the Kirby Panel Report and the Romanow Commisison Report on the extent of health care gap between urban and rural areas in Canada. Comparison on the approaches used by both researchers on the problem; Efforts of the federal government in managing health care issues.

Background: An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began in Canada in February 2003. The initial diagnosis of SARS was based on clinical and epidemiological criteria. During the outbreak, molecular and serologic tests for the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) became available. How-ever, without a "gold standard," it was impossible to determine the usefulness of these tests. We describe how these tests were used during the first phase of the SARS outbreak in Toronto and offer some recommendations that may be useful if SARS returns. Methods: We examined the results of all diagnostic laboratory tests used in 117 patients admitted to hospitals in Toronto who met the Health Canada criteria for suspect or probable SARS. Focusing on tests for SARS-CoV, we attempted to determine the optimal specimen types and timing of specimen collection. Results: Diagnostic test results for SARS-CoV were available for 110 of the 117 patients. SARS-CoV was detected by means of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in at least one specimen in 59 (54.1%) of 109 patients. Serologic test results of convalescent samples were positive in 50 (96.2%) of 52 patients for whom paired serum samples were collected during the acute and convalescent phases of the illness. Of the 110 patients, 78 (70.9%) had specimens that tested positive by means of RT-PCR, serologic testing or both methods. The pro-portion of RT-PCR test results that were positive was similar between patients who met the criteria for suspect SARS (50.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 38.4%--63.2%) and those who met the criteria for probable SARS (58.0%, 95% CI 44.2%-- 70.7%). SARS-CoV was detected in nasopharyngeal swabs in 33 (32.4%) of 102 patients, in stool specimens in 19 (63.3%) of 30 patients, and in specimens from the lower respiratory tract in 10 (58.8%) of 17 patients. Interpretation: These findings suggest that the rapid diagnostic tests in use at the... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with diabetes mellitus are more likely to have cardiovascular, renal and ophthalmic comorbidity than those without diabetes. Information on the economic impact of diabetes and its complications on the Canadian health care system is limited. Methods: To estimate health care expenditures for diabetes and its major complications, we identified people with diabetes in 1996 in Saskatchewan, using the administrative databases of Saskatchewan Health. We grouped utilization and expenditure data for prescription drugs, physician services, hospitalizations, day surgery procedures and dialysis services accord-ing to cardiovascular, renal and ophthalmic services, according to billing codes and the American Hospital Formulary Services classification for prescription drugs. Results: Of the 38 124 people identified (48.5% female and 9.7% registered Indians), 46.6% had cardiovascular-related records, 19.8% ophthalmic-related records and 6.6% renal-related records. Registered Indians had significantly fewer ( p< 0.001) cardiovascular-related records than the rest of the diabetic population (35.1% v. 47.9%, respectively) but more renal-related records (11.7% v. 6.0%, respectively). The total 1996 Saskatchewan Health expenditure for the study group, within the observed categories, was estimated to be $134.3 million, of which $35.5 million (26.4%) was for cardiovascular-related services, $10 million (7.5%) for renal-related services and $3.3 million (2.5%) for ophthalmic-related services. Interpretation: In 1996, 36.4% of health care expenditures for people with diabetes was attributable to major comorbidity. Actions to prevent or control such comorbidity will yield significant cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because of established links between entrenched poverty and risk of HIV infection, there have long been warnings that HIV/AIDS will disproportionately affect Aboriginal people in Canada. We compared HIV incidence rates among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal injection drug users (IDUs) in Vancouver and studied factors associated with HIV seroconversion among Aboriginal participants.Methods: This analysis was based on 941 participants (230 Aboriginal people) recruited between May 1996 and December 2000 who were seronegative at enrollment and had completed at least one follow-up visit. Incidence rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independent predictors of time to HIV seroconversion among female and male Aboriginal IDUs.Results: As of May 31, 2001, seroconversion had occurred in 112 (11.9%) of the participants, yielding a cumulative incidence of HIV infection at 42 months of 12.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.3%-15.1%). The cumulative incidence at 42 months was significantly higher among the Aboriginal participants than among the non-Aboriginal participants (21.1% v. 10.7%, p < 0.001). This elevation in risk was present in both female and male Aboriginal IDUs. Among the female Aboriginal IDUs, frequent speedball (combined cocaine and heroin) injection (adjusted relative risk [RR] 3.1; 95% CI 1.4-7.1) and going on binges of injection drug use (adjusted RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.0-5.2) were found to be independent predictors of HIV seroconversion. Among the male Aboriginal IDUs, the independent predictors of seroconversion were frequent speedball injection (adjusted RR 2.9; 95% CI 1.0-8.5) and frequent cocaine injection (adjusted RR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0-6.5).Interpretation: In Vancouver, Aboriginal IDUs are becoming HIV positive at twice the rate of non-Aboriginal IDUs. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for an appropriate and effective public health strategy--planned and implemented in partnership with Aboriginal AIDS service organizations and the Aboriginal community--to reduce the harms of injection drug use in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers letters to the editor on medical subjects as of May 28, 2002. Public health capacity in Canada; Coronary artery bypass grafting in octogenarians; Telehealth; Eating disorders; Other issues.

AbstractCanada experienced a dramatic increase in legalized gambling in the 1990s, primarily because of governments' need to inease revenue without additional taxation. This article examines gambling from a public health perspective. The major public health issues include gambling addiction, family dysfunction and gambling by youth. Debates have emerged about the health, social and economic costs and benefits of gambling. Stakeholder and social policy groups have expressed concern about the impact of expanded gambling on the quality of life of individuals, families and communities. Epidemiological studies show that the prevalence of gambling in the general adult population is low but increasing. Of particular concern is the high though steady prevalence of gambling among youth. New technologies have been linked to gambling-related problems such as addiction to gambling by video lottery terminals. Gambling by means of the Internet represents another emerging issue. The article concludes with recommendations for health and social policy related to gambling. These recommendations incorporate a broad public health approach to create a strong research program and to balance risks and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights how the government of Newfoundland and Labrador requested physicians and pharmacists at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and the Newfoundland Pharmaceutical Association to provide guidance to the health care community for the use of drugs to treat upper gastrointestinal disorders. Methods; Results; Interpretation.

Presents a study to determine the extent to which home care practices vary by geographic region. Methods of determining regional variations in Ontario; Results; Suggestion that home care funding needs modification to ensure that all residents have equal access to services.

The article reports that two million adjuvanted doses of the pandemic H1N1 2009 flu vaccine have been shipped to the Canadian provinces and territories as a prepositioning measure. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported that there were two new deaths and 37 new admissions to hospital associated with pandemic H1N1 2009 from October 4-10, 2009, raising the total number of deaths in Canada to 80. Vaccination is set to begin in November 2009.

The authors look into the vulnerable populations as the magazine's fourth area of focus, alongside sepsis, health services and mental health. It notes a paper that calls the Canadian government to reform health care delivery for groups like prisoners, drug users, and refugees. It cites a commentary which considers vulnerability as conceived in health research and health care. It also cites a study that calls the economic burden of health care inequalities and of disease attributable to poverty.

This section offers news briefs on health-related issues as of July 2007. There are 460 confirmed cases of mumps in 8 Canadian provinces according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. A new guidance for HIV testing and counselling has been issued by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS within member nations. It cites the establishment of an Anglophone medical training program at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus.

Comments on the development of wait lists for public health services issues in Canada. Importance of public health wait lists; Examples of public wait lists and their corresponding population or health determinants; Dimensions proposed for wait lists in public health sector.

Addresses the instability of the Canadian public health care system. Need for resources to ensure that an aging population will have access to the increasing range of beneficial health technologies and services it legitimately expects; Role of the media and government is presenting health care costs as rapidly escalating; Reasons for restrained spending.

Comments on the 'Canadian Medical Association Journal' series on health and the environment. Discussion of the impact of exposure to outdoor air pollution, lead, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants such as DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and carbon monoxide; Idea that the series will help health care professionals learn practical strategies for identifying, investigating, and managing the health effects of exposure to environmental contaminants.

Editorial writers from the US descended on Ottawa recently for their annual meeting, and CMAJ contributing editor Charlotte Gray was one of the speakers. She said the visitors received widely differing views on the Canadian health care system and may have emerged from the meeting more confused than informed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses aspects of the physical access of health care facilities for people with disabilities in Canada. It examines the impact of the lack of knowledge of the physicians in administering quality medical care to the patients' health. It also cites the importance of the availability of medical equipments for the people with disabilities.

The article reports on the increase number of complaints over the professional misconduct of the regulatory colleges to the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA). It highlights the importance of transparency including criminal charges, specified continuing education or remediation program of the physicians. It also cites the role of the physicians in the administration of public health.

The article reviews health and social aspects of individuals and communities arising from gambling activities. The study conducted by Canadian Public Health Association on problem gambling in Canada stresses that lost wealth can have an impact on health for decades and even generations. Control strategies suggest banning gambling advertisements and a decrease in the number of licences and increase of prices through taxation.

Summary: Patient-centric markers are important, and when they can be conveniently measured they should dominate research questions. However, when the research question pertains to serious or potentially fatal illnesses and it will take years or even decades to answer with patient-centric outcomes, then a pragmatic approach based on common sense and surrogate markers should be adopted. This commentary discusses the important role that surrogate markers can play in medical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the legalization of smoking marijuana in Canada. The author states the need to develop safer modes of marijuana consumption and encourage through policy tools when marijuana is legalized. The author mentions that pubic health policy should actively prefer the nonsmoked forms of the marijuana.

The authors discuss the significant role of vaccination to the decline of pertussis incidence in Canada. Topics discussed include the study by Schwartz and colleagues which aimed to determine the effectiveness of pertussis vaccine in the country, the biology of pertussis, and the continued transmission of the disease despite more vaccine doses.

The author discusses protecting public consultation on plain and standardized packaging for tobacco products of Canadian government from tobacco industry interference. Topics include the argument of tobacco companies that the rule would violate the country's obligation under international trade and intellectual property agreements, the industry's move on trying to use trade law to battle public health efforts, and significant role of Canadian media in challenging industry-affiliated sources.

The article focuses on the physician Paul Dhillon, who share emotional stories of the relationship of rural doctors with the people in the communities in Canada. It features his book titled "The Surprising Lives of Small-Town Doctors," which was published for the gathering of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. It also cites the educational background and career of Dhillon in medicine.

The article discusses the re-emergence of vitamin D-deficiency rickets in Northern Canada and Alaska. Topics covered include the highlights of an article about rickets in Aboriginal children in the north published in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal" in 2007, details relating to incidence of rickets in Alaska from 2001 to 2010 and identified factors that cause rickets in Aboriginal children. It discusses the efforts of health care providers in preventing rickets.

Copyright of Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) is the property of CMA Impact Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the decrease in Clostridium difficile infection rates in Canada as of 2013. It mentions the number of people who died from the diarrhea-causing bacterium in Quebec in 2003. Factors contributing to reduced infection rates include mandatory reporting and tighter guidelines on hygiene and antibiotic use. Some physicians express doubt that mandatory public reporting has actually improved patient outcomes.

The article comments on evidence supporting the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care's recommendations regarding hepatitis C screening. Topics discussed include the assertion that the decision model commissioned by the Public Health Agency of Canada is a good quality evidence, limitations for using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system in the evaluation of model for the guideline, and the incorporation of health and cost outcomes.

The article reports on the plan of Health Canada to increase transparency into its regulatory process for drugs and medical devices by releasing clinical information submitted by drug and medical devices companies that receive market authorization. It mentions how access to clinical information submitted by companies will help people make informed decisions about their health, and increase public confidence; and plan to disclose information if the drug or medical device is approved for sale.

The article discusses the commitment and engagement of the federal liberal government to improve the health system in Canada. It highlights the implementation of the national standards for medical care to improve quality of life for the Canadians. It also cites the lack of timely access to medical care in the country.

Reports on remarks made by former president of the Canadian Bioethics Society Bertha Maria Knoppers at a meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Importance of active public involvement in genetics research issues; Calls for the addition of lay persons to ethics review committees.

The author discusses the issue related to difficulties at controlling blood pressure after stroke. He mentions that probability of being attacked by another stroke after a first stroke within 10 year is 43 percent. He highlights the statistics released by the Public Health Agency of Canada on the 80 percent surviving rate of stroke patient every year in the country. He emphasizes the risk factor of elevated blood pressure in the stroke patient.