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Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of the Community Paramedicine at Home (CP@home) program, a community paramedicine home-visit intervention, on reducing emergency medical services (EMS) calls among frequent users. Design A 6-month, open-label, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial with parallel intervention and control arms. An online automated platform (randomizer.org) was used to randomly allocate participants using a 1:1 allocation sequence. Setting In homes of frequent EMS users in four paramedic services and regions across Ontario, Canada. Participants Eligible participants were frequent callers (≥ 3 EMS calls within six months and ≥ 1 EMS call within the previous month), or had ≥ 1 lift assist call within the previous month, or were referred by paramedics. Intervention Community paramedics conducted risk assessments, provided health education, referred appropriate resources, and reported to family physicians for up to three home visits. The control arm received usual care. Primary outcome measure EMS calls in 6 months during intervention. Results Two thousand two hundred eighty four eligible participants were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups, with 265 participants lost to follow-up due to inability to retrieve participant records from EMS databases. There were 1025 intervention participants (52.7% female, mean age 69.65 years [standard deviation (SD) = 19.98]) and 994 control participants (52.0% female, mean age 69.78 years [SD = 19.09]). In the post-intervention intention-to-treat analysis (zero-inflated negative binomial regression), the EMS call rate was not significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76, 1.01). In the subgroup analysis, the intervention had a significant effect in the lift assist caller subgroup (IRR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.92), but no significant effect among the frequent caller subgroup (IRR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.14). The sensitivity analyses found a similar association for the lift assist caller subgroup. There was a significant subgroup effect (p-value for interaction

Abstract Background COVID-19 has changed healthcare access and delivery, especially impacting older adults. The Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program is a chronic disease prevention, management, and health promotion program for community-dwelling low-income older adults. We investigated a telephone-based CP@clinic program adaptation during the pandemic. Methods Community paramedics delivered CP@clinic via telephone to residents of 36 social housing buildings. They conducted screening for COVID-19, emergency preparedness, and social health factors. Community paramedics provided education on staying safe, self-isolating, self-monitoring, and preparing for pandemics using governmental infographics. Descriptive analysis was conducted on assessments completed between March and June 2020. Paramedic documentation was thematically analyzed to identify common themes. Results All 191 participants had ≥ 1 telephone visit and 34.6% had ≥ 2 telephone visits, 82.8% were aged 65 years and older, 30.9% had internet access, and 57.9% had cable TV (limiting exposure to COVID-19 information). The CP@clinic program infrastructure provided a platform for paramedics to swiftly contact many vulnerable older adults to screen for COVID-19, educate on safe practices, and facilitate healthcare access. One-quarter of participants screened positive for social isolation. Thematic analysis described participants’ experiences adapting to daily life in the pandemic, emotional experience during the pandemic, and paramedics supporting participants during the pandemic. Conclusions Public health interventions are needed for low-income or hard-to-reach older adults, especially during pandemics. Community paramedics were able to support vulnerable older adults living in social housing through the unique CP@clinic adaptation. This innovative program delivery increased vulnerable populations’ access to public health services and information at a time of great health need.

The Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program is a community program that utilizes community paramedics to support older adults in assessing their risk factors, managing their chronic conditions, and linking them to community resources. The aim of this project is to design a low-cost, portable, secure, user-friendly database for CP@clinic sessions and pilot test the database with paramedics and older adult volunteers. The CP@clinic program database using the Microsoft Access software was first developed through consultation with the CP@clinic research team. Next, the database was pilot tested with two sets of older adults and one set of paramedics to assess user experience. Volunteers completed a survey regarding their perceptions of the level of difficulty when using the database. A computer-based database was the best option as it provided flexibility while reducing costs. The final database should perform calculations and summarize risk assessment data, provide recommended resources, generate automated reports, capture changes in medical and medication history, and ensure that the sensitive information is secure. During pilot testing, the older adult participants and the paramedics indicated that the database was easy to use. This low-cost, user-friendly and secure database captures initial and follow-up data, incorporates algorithms that guide the paramedics, and calculates risk factor scores for the participants. This solution to a healthcare database is translatable to other health research studies in which ongoing patient data is collected electronically and longitudinally.

Abstract Objective Social housing programs are integral to making housing more affordable to Canadian seniors living in poverty. Although the programs are similar across Canada, there may be inter-provincial differences among the health of residents that could guide the development of interventions. This study explores the health of low-income seniors living in social housing in Quebec and compares it with previously reported data from Ontario. Results 80 responses were obtained in Quebec to compare with the previously reported Ontario data (n = 599) for a total of 679 responses. More Ontario residents had access to a family doctor (p

Abstract Background Community Paramedicine (CP) is an emerging model of care addressing health problems through non-emergency services. Little evidence exists examining the integration of an app for improved patient, CP, and family physician (FP) communication. This study investigated FP perspectives on the impact of the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program on providing patient care and the feasibility and value of a novel “My Care Plan App” (myCP app). Methods This retrospective mixed-methods study included an online survey and phone interviews to elucidate FPs ' perspectives on the CP@clinic program and the myCP app, respectively, between January 2021 and May 2021. FPs with patients in the CP@clinic program were recruited to participate. Survey responses were summarized using descriptive statistics, and audio recordings from the interviews thematically analyzed. Results Thirty-eight FPs completed the survey and 10 FPs completed the phone interviews. 60.5% and 52.6% of FPs reported that the CP@clinic program improved their ability to further screen and diagnose patients for hypertension, respectively (in addition to their regular screening practices). The themes that emerged in the phone interviews were grouped into three topics: app benefits, drawbacks, and integration within practice. Overall, FPs described the myCP app as user-friendly and useful to improve interprofessional communication with CPs. Conclusions CP@clinic helped family physicians to screen and monitor chronic disease. The myCP app can impact health service delivery by closing the gap between primary, community, and emergency care through an eHealth information-sharing platform.

Abstract Background Community paramedicine (CP) is an extension of the traditional paramedic role, where paramedics provide non-acute care to patients in non-emergent conditions. Due to its success in reducing burden on hospital systems and improving patient outcomes, this type of paramedic role is being increasingly implemented within communities and health systems across Ontario. Previous literature has focused on the patient experience with CP programs, but there is lack of research on the paramedic perspective in this role. This paper aims to understand the perspectives and experiences, both positive and negative, of paramedics working in a CP program towards the community paramedic role. Methods An online survey was distributed through multiple communication channels (e.g. professional organizations, paramedic services, social media) and convenience sampling was used. Five open-ended questions asked paramedics about their perceptions and experiences with the CP role; the survey also collected demographic data. While the full survey was open to all paramedics, only those who had experience in a CP role were included in the current study. The data was qualitatively analyzed using a comparative thematic analysis. Results Data was collected from 79 respondents who had worked in a CP program. Three overarching themes, with multiple sub-themes, were identified. The first theme was that CP programs fill important gaps in the healthcare system. The second was that they provide paramedics with an opportunity for lateral career movement in a role where they can have deeper patient connections. The third was that CP has created a paradigm shift within paramedicine, extending the traditional scope of the practice. While paramedics largely reported positive experiences, there were some negative perceptions regarding the slower pace of work and the “soft skills” required in the role that vary from the traditional paramedic identity. Conclusions CP programs utilize paramedic skills to fill a gap in the healthcare system, can improve paramedic mental health, and also provide a new pathway for paramedic careers. As a new role, there are some challenges that CP program planners should take into consideration, such as additional training needs and the varying perceptions of CP.

Abstract Background The Community Paramedicine at Home (CP@home) program is a health promotion program where community paramedics conduct risk assessments with frequent 9-1-1 callers in their homes, with a goal of reducing the frequency of 9-1-1 calls in this vulnerable population. The effectiveness of the CP@home program was investigated through a community-based RCT conducted in four regions in Ontario, Canada. The purpose of this current recruitment study is to examine the challenges met when recruiting for a community randomized control trial on high frequency 9-1-1 callers. Methods Eligible participants were recruited from one of four regions participating in the CP@home program and were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 1142) or control group (n = 1142). Data were collected during the recruitment process from the administrative database of the four paramedic services. Whether they live alone, their parental ethnicity, age, reason for calling 9-1-1, reason for not participating, contact method, and whether they were successfully contacted were recorded. Statistical significance was calculated using the Chi-Squared Test and Fisher’s Exact Test to evaluate the effectiveness of the recruitment methods used to enroll eligible participants in the CP@home Program. Results Of the people who were contacted, 48.0% answered their phone when called and 53.9% answered their door when a home visit was attempted. In Total, 110 (33.1%) of people where a contact attempt was successful participated in the CP@home program. Most participants were over the age of 65, even though people as young as 18 were contacted. Older adults who called 9-1-1 for a lift assist were more likely to participate, compared to any other individual reason recorded, and were most often recruited through a home visit. Conclusions This recruitment analysis successfully describes the challenges experienced by researchers when recruiting frequent 9-1-1 callers, which are considered a hard-to-reach population. The differences in age, contact method, and reason for calling 9-1-1 amongst people contacted and participants should be considered when recruiting this population for future research.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health and health care systems worldwide. ObjectiveThis study examined the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on ambulance attendances for mental health and overdose, comparing similar regions in the United Kingdom and Canada that implemented different public health measures. MethodsAn interrupted time series study of ambulance attendances was conducted for mental health and overdose in the United Kingdom (East Midlands region) and Canada (Hamilton and Niagara regions). Data were obtained from 182,497 ambulance attendance records for the study period of December 29, 2019, to August 1, 2020. Negative binomial regressions modeled the count of attendances per week per 100,000 population in the weeks leading up to the lockdown, the week the lockdown was initiated, and the weeks following the lockdown. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex and age. ResultsAmbulance attendances for mental health and overdose had very small week-over-week increases prior to lockdown (United Kingdom: incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.002, 95% CI 1.002-1.003 for mental health). However, substantial changes were observed at the time of lockdown; while there was a statistically significant drop in the rate of overdose attendances in the study regions of both countries (United Kingdom: IRR 0.573, 95% CI 0.518-0.635 and Canada: IRR 0.743, 95% CI 0.602-0.917), the rate of mental health attendances increased in the UK region only (United Kingdom: IRR 1.125, 95% CI 1.031-1.227 and Canada: IRR 0.922, 95% CI 0.794-1.071). Different trends were observed based on sex and age categories within and between study regions. ConclusionsThe observed changes in ambulance attendances for mental health and overdose at the time of lockdown differed between the UK and Canada study regions. These results may inform future pandemic planning and further research on the public health measures that may explain observed regional differences.

Background: Individuals living in poverty often visit primary healthcare clinics for health problems stemming from unmet legal needs. We examined the impact of a medical-legal partnership on improving the social determinants of health (SDoH), health-related quality of life, and perceived health status of attendees of a Legal Clinic Program (LCP). Methods: This was a pre-post program evaluation of a weekly LCP established within an urban primary healthcare clinic to provide free legal consultation. Patients aged 18 years or older were either approached or referred to complete a screening tool to identify potential legal needs. Those identified with potential legal needs were offered an appointment with LCP lawyers who provided legal counsel, referrals, and services. For those who attended the LCP, changes in SDoH and health indicators were collected via a self-reported survey 6 months after they attended the LCP and compared to their baseline scores using paired t -tests, McNemar’s test for paired proportions, and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for related samples. Results: During the 6-month evaluation period, 31 participants attended the LCP and completed both the baseline and 6-month surveys; 67.8% were female, 64.5% were white, 90.3% were not working full-time, and 61.3% had a household income of $700 to 1800 per month. At follow-up, 25.8% were receiving at least 1 new benefit and there was a statistically significant reduction in food insecurity (35.5% vs 9.7%, P

ObjectiveThis study describes cardiometabolic diseases and related risk factors in vulnerable older adults residing in social housing, aiming to inform primary care initiatives to reduce health inequities. Associations between sociodemographic variables, modifiable risk factors (clinical and behavioural), health-related quality of life and self-reported cardiometabolic diseases were investigated.Design, setting, and participantsThis was a cross-sectional study with an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was collected from residents aged 55 years and older residing in 30 social housing apartment buildings in five regions in Ontario, Canada.Outcome measuresThe proportion of cardiometabolic diseases and modifiable risk factors (e.g., clinical, behavioural, health status) in this population was calculated.ResultsQuestionnaires were completed with 1065 residents: mean age 72.4 years (SD = 8.87), 77.3% were female, 87.2% were white; 48.2% had less than high school education; 22.70% self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD), 10.54% diabetes, 59.12% hypertension, 43.59% high cholesterol. These proportions were higher than the general population. Greater age was associated with overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and CVD. Poor health-related quality of life was associated with self-reported CVD and diabetes.ConclusionsOlder adults residing in social housing in Ontario have higher proportion of cardiovascular disease and modifiable risk factors compared to the general population. This vulnerable population should be considered at high risk of cardiometabolic disease. Primary care interventions appropriate for this population should be implemented to reduce individual and societal burdens of cardiometabolic disease.

ABSTRACTThe views of community Elders and health care providers in a rural remote First Nation community in Ontario, Canada on their health care landscape and adapting the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) Program to their community are presented. Key informant interviews took place between September 2020 and March 2021, and were thematically analysed using the Framework Hierarchical Analysis. There were seven themes that emerged with many subthemes: available services in the community, health care access, health challenges in community, causes of frailty, health care and community appreciations, community-specific benefits of CP@clinic, and CP@clinic program considerations for adaptation. CP@clinic program considerations for adaptation included defining the role of CP, refining referral processes to capture the target population, advertising and promoting, ensuring community awareness, determining clinic setting and composition, focusing on advocacy and timely continuity, adding to the program through time, managing resistance, engaging community and partners, deploying cultural training and language accommodations, leveraging community assets, and ensuring sustainability. Focusing on continuity, engagement, and leveraging available resources may support the success of the CP@clinic program implementation. Findings from this study may be useful to other underserved communities in Canada seeking health programming.

Objective Paramedic assessment data have not been used for research on avoidable calls. Paramedic impression codes are designated by paramedics on responding to a 911/999 medical emergency after an assessment of the presenting condition. Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are non-acute health conditions not needing hospital admission when properly managed. This study aimed to map the paramedic impression codes to ACSCs and mental health conditions for use in future research on avoidable 911/999 calls.Design Mapping paramedic impression codes to existing definitions of ACSCs and mental health conditions.Setting East Midlands Region, UK and Southern Ontario, Canada.Participants Expert panel from the UK-Canada Emergency Calls Data analysis and GEospatial mapping (EDGE) Consortium.Results Mapping was iterative first identifying the common ACSCs shared between the two countries then identifying the respective clinical impression codes for each country that mapped to those shared ACSCs as well as to mental health conditions. Experts from the UK-Canada EDGE Consortium contributed to both phases and were able to independently match the codes and then compare results. Clinical impression codes for paramedics in the UK were more extensive than those in Ontario. The mapping revealed some interesting inconsistencies between paramedic impression codes but also demonstrated that it was possible.Conclusion This is an important first step in determining the number of ASCSs and mental health conditions that paramedics attend to, and in examining the clinical pathways of these individuals across the health system. This work lays the foundation for international comparative health services research on integrated pathways in primary care and emergency medical services.

Objectives Community Paramedicine (CP) is increasingly being used to provide chronic disease management for vulnerable populations in the community. CP@clinic took place in social housing buildings to support cardiovascular health and diabetes management for older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine participant perceptions of their experience with CP@clinic as well as potential ongoing programme benefits.Design This descriptive qualitative study used focus groups to understand resident experiences of the CP@clinic programme. Groups were facilitated by experienced moderators using a semistructured guide. An inductive coding approach was used with at least two researchers taking part in each step of the analysis process.Setting Community-based social housing buildings in Ontario, Canada.Participants Forty-one participants from four CP@clinic sites took part in a focus group. Convenience sampling was used with anyone having taken part in a CP@clinic session being eligible to attend the focus group.Results Analysis yielded six themes across two broad areas: timely access to health information and services, support to achieve personal health goals, better understanding of healthcare system (Personal Benefits); and sense of community, comfortable and familiar place to talk about health, facilitated communication between healthcare professionals (Programme Structure). Participants experienced discernible health changes that motivated their participation. CP@clinic was viewed as a programme that created connections within the building and outside of it. Participants were enthusiastic for the continuation of the programme and appreciated the consistent support to meet their health goals.Conclusions CP@clinic was successful in creating a supportive and friendly environment to facilitate health behavioural changes. Ongoing implementation of CP@clinic would allow residents to continue to build their chronic disease management knowledge and skills.Trial registration number Trial registration number: NCT02152891, Clinicaltrials.gov.

IntroductionCanadian youth are insufficiently active, and schools may play a role in promoting student physical activity (PA). Based on the Comprehensive School Health (CSH) framework, this study examined whether school characteristics are associated with secondary school students meeting national PA recommendations over time. MethodsWe used COMPASS survey data from 78 schools in Ontario and Alberta and 9870 Grade 9 and 10 students attending those schools. Students who provided two years of linked PA data (2013/14 and 2015/16) and gender were included. Multilevel analysis was conducted by gender, evaluating the relationship of school-level characteristics (guided by CSH) with students achieving all three PA recommendations after two years (≥ 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA ≥ 3 days/week, strengthening activities ≥ 3 days/week). ResultsMore than half (56.9%) of students achieving the PA recommendations at baseline were no longer achieving them after two years, and just a quarter (25.6%) of students not achieving the recommendations at baseline achieved them after two years. School-level factors were significantly associated with students achieving the recommendations, but these factors differed by student strata (i.e. by gender and baseline PA status). Generally, student access to equipment, public health partnerships and staff time for health were associated with increased odds of achieving the PA recommendations for certain students. ConclusionModifications to school characteristics within CSH may play a role in supporting students in achieving or continuing to achieve the PA recommendations after two years. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying dynamics of the observed relationships.

IntroductionLes adolescents canadiens ne sont pas suffisamment actifs, mais les écoles peuvent participer à la promotion de l'activité physique auprès des élèves. Cette étude, qui s'appuie sur l'Approche globale de la santé en milieu scolaire (AGSMS), visait à vérifier si certaines caractéristiques des écoles étaient associées à la mise en pratique des recommandations nationales en matière d'activité physique par les élèves de niveau secondaire au fil du temps. MéthodologieNous avons utilisé les données de l'étude COMPASS visant 78 écoles de l'Ontario et de l'Alberta et 9 870 élèves de 9e et de 10e année fréquentant ces écoles. Les élèves ayant fourni des données couplées sur leur activité physique durant deux années scolaires (2013‑2014 et 2015‑2016) et sur leur genre ont été retenus. Une analyse multiniveaux a été réalisée par genre dans le but d'évaluer la relation entre les caractéristiques des écoles (classées selon l'AGSMS) et la mise en pratique des trois recommandations en matière d'activité physique (60 min/jour ou plus d'activité physique d'intensité moyenne à élevée, activité physique d'intensité élevée 3 jours/semaine ou plus, activité de renforcement 3 jours/semaine ou plus) deux ans plus tard. RésultatsPlus de la moitié (56,9 %) des élèves respectant les recommandations en matière d'activité au départ ne les respectaient plus deux ans plus tard, et seulement le quart (25,6 %) des élèves ne les respectant pas au départ les avaient mises en pratique deux ans plus tard. Plusieurs facteurs liés à l'école ont été fortement associés à la mise en pratique des recommandations chez les élèves, mais ils étaient variables d'un groupe à l'autre (selon le genre et le niveau initial d'activité physique). De façon générale, l'accès à de l'équipement, les partenariats de santé publique et l'allocation de temps au personnel pour la santé étaient associés à une probabilité accrue de mettre en pratique les recommandations en matière d'activité physique chez certains élèves. ConclusionLa modification des caractéristiques des écoles dans le cadre de l'AGSMS peut aider les élèves à mettre en pratique les recommandations en matière d'activité physique ou à ce qu'ils maintiennent ces recommandations deux ans plus tard. D'autres recherches sont nécessaires pour éclaircir la dynamique à l'origine des relations observées.

Abstract Background Older adults living in social housing are a vulnerable population facing unique challenges with health literacy and chronic disease self-management. We investigated this population’s knowledge of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, and self-efficacy to make health behaviour changes (for example, physical activity). This study characterized the relationship between knowledge of health risk factors and self-efficacy to improve health behaviours, in order to determine the potential for future interventions to improve these traits. Methods A cross-sectional study (health behaviour survey) with adults ages 55+ (n = 599) from 16 social housing buildings across five Ontario communities. Descriptive analyses conducted for demographics, cardiovascular disease and diabetes knowledge, and self-efficacy. Subgroup analyses for high-risk groups were performed. Multivariate logistic regressions models were used to evaluate associations of self-efficacy outcomes with multiple factors. Results Majority were female (75.6%), white (89.4%), and completed high school or less (68.7%). Some chronic disease subgroups had higher knowledge for those conditions. Significant (p

Abstract Background Individuals living in poverty often visit their primary care physician for health problems resulting from unmet legal needs. Providing legal services for those in need may therefore improve health outcomes. Poverty is a social determinant of health. Impoverished areas tend to have poor health outcomes, with higher rates of mental illness, chronic disease, and comorbidity. This study reports on a medical-legal collaboration delivered in a healthcare setting between health professionals and lawyers as a novel way to approach the inaccessibility of legal services for those in need. Methods In this observational study, patients aged 18 or older were either approached or referred to complete a screening tool to identify areas of concern. Patients deemed to have a legal problem were offered an appointment at the Legal Health Clinic, where lawyers provided legal advice, referrals, and services for patients of the physicians. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare populations. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors predicting booking an appointment with the clinic. Results Eighty-four percent (n = 648) of the 770 patients screened had unmet legal needs and could benefit from the intervention, with an average of 3.44 (SD = 3.42) legal needs per patient screened. Patients with legal needs had significantly higher odds of attending the Legal Health Clinic if they were an ethnicity that was not white (OR = 2.48; 95% CI 1.14–5.39), did not have Canadian citizenship (OR = 4.40; 95% CI 1.48–13.07), had housing insecurity (OR = 3.33; 95% CI 1.53–7.24), and had difficulty performing their usual activities (OR = 2.83; 95% CI 1.08–7.43). As a result of the clinic consultations, 58.0% (n = 40) were referred to either Legal Aid Ontario or Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, 21.74% (n = 15) were referred to a private lawyer; one case was taken on by the clinic lawyer. Conclusion The Legal Health Clinic was found to fulfill unmet legal needs which were abundant in this urban family practice. This has important implications for the future health of patients and clinical practice. Utilizing a Legal Health Clinic could translate into improved health outcomes for patients by helping overcome barriers in accessing legal services and addressing social causes of adverse health outcomes.

Abstract Background The South Asian population in Canada is growing and has elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study sought to adapt an evidence-based community risk assessment and health promotion program for a South Asian community with a large proportion of recent immigrants. The aims were to assess the feasibility of implementing this program and also to describe the rates of cardiometabolic risk factors observed in this sample population. Methods This was a feasibility study adapting and implementing the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program for a South Asian population in an urban Canadian community for 14 months. CP@clinic is a free, drop-in chronic disease prevention and health promotion program implemented by paramedics who provide health assessments, health education, referrals and reports to family doctors. All adults attending the recreation centre and temple where CP@clinic was implemented were eligible. Volunteers provided Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu translation. The primary outcome of feasibility was evaluated using quantitative process measures and a qualitative key informant interview. For the secondary outcome of cardiometabolic risk factor, data were collected through the CP@clinic program risk assessments and descriptively analyzed. Results There were 26 CP@clinic sessions held and 71 participants, predominantly male (56.3–84.6%) and South Asian (87.3–92.3%). There was limited participation at the recreation centre (n = 19) but CP@clinic was well-attended when relocated to the local Sikh temple (n = 52). Having the volunteer translators was critical to the paramedics being able to collect the full risk factor data and there were some challenges with ensuring enough volunteers were available to staff each session; as a result, there were missing risk factor data for many participants. In the 26 participants with complete or almost complete risk factor data, 46.5% had elevated BP, 42.3% had moderate/high risk of developing diabetes, and 65.4% had an indicator of cardiometabolic disease. Conclusion Implementing CP@clinic in places of worship is a feasible approach to adapting the program for the South Asian population, however having a funded translator in addition to the volunteers would improve the program. Also, there is substantial opportunity for addressing cardiometabolic risk factors in this population using CP@clinic.

Abstract Background Poverty and food insecurity have been linked to poor health and morbidity, especially in older adults. Housing is recognized as a social determinant of health, and very little is known about subjective poverty and food insecurity in the marginalized population of older adults living in subsidized social housing. We sought to understand poverty and food insecurity, as well as the risk factors associated with both outcomes, in older adults living in social housing in Ontario. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using data collected from the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program. A total of 806 adult participants residing in designated seniors’ or mixed family-seniors’ social housing buildings attended CP@clinic within 14 communities across Ontario, Canada. Results The proportion of older adults reporting poverty and food insecurity were 14.9 and 5.1%, respectively. Statistically significant risk factors associated with poverty were being a smoker (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.23–4.62), self-reporting feeling extremely anxious and/or depressed (AOR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.34–8.62), and being food insecure (AOR = 23.52, 95% CI: 8.75–63.22). Statistically significant risk factors associated with food insecurity were being underweight (AOR = 19.79, 95% CI: 1.91–204.80) and self-reporting experiencing poverty (AOR = 23.87, 95% CI: 8.78–64.90). In those who self-reported being food secure, the dietary habits reported were consistent with a poor diet. Conclusion The poverty rate was lower than expected which could be related to the surrounding environment and perceptions around wealth. Food insecurity was approximately twice that of the general population of older adults in Canada, which could be related to inaccessibility and increased barriers to healthy foods. For those who reported being food secure, dietary habits were considered poor. While social housing may function as a financial benefit and reduce perceived poverty, future interventions are needed to improve the quality of diet consumed by this vulnerable population.

Abstract Background Falls in older adults is a widely researched topic. However, older adults residing in public housing are a vulnerable population that may have unique risk factors for falls. This study aims to describe the prevalence and risk factors for falls, fear of falling, and seeking medical attending for falls in this population. Methods Sociodemographic and health-related data was collected as part of a community-based health assessment program with older adults in public housing. Three pre-screening questions identified individuals at potential risk for falls; individuals who screened positive performed the objective Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors for four outcome variables: falls in the past year, seeking medical attention for falls, fear of falling, and objectively measured fall risk via TUG test. Results A total of 595 participants were evaluated, of which the majority were female (81.3%), white (86.7%), did not have a high school diploma (50.0%), and reported problems in mobility (56.2%). The prevalence of falls in the past year was 34.5%, seeking medical attention for falls was 20.2% and fear of falling was 38.8%. The TUG test was completed by 257 participants. Notably, males had significantly reduced odds of seeking medical attention for a fall (OR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.25–0.98) and having a fear of falling (OR = 0.42, 95%CI 0.24–0.76); daily fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with decreased odds of having a fall in the past year (OR = 0.55, 95%CI 0.37–0.83), and alcohol consumption was associated with increased odds of fear of falling (OR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.03–2.88). Conclusion Older adults residing in public housing have unique risk factors associated with social determinants of health, such as low fruit and vegetable consumption, which may increase their risk for falls. The findings of this study can be used to inform falls interventions for this population and identify areas for further research.

Abstract Background The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) uses volunteers to provide cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes screening in a community setting, referrals to primary care providers, and locally available programs targeting lifestyle modification. CHAP has been adapted to target older adults residing in social housing, a vulnerable segment of the population. Older adults living in social housing report poorer health status and have a higher burden of a multitude of chronic illnesses, such as CVD and diabetes. The study objective is to evaluate whether there is a reduction in unplanned CVD-related Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions among residents of social seniors’ housing buildings receiving the CHAP program for 1 year compared to residents in matched buildings not receiving the program. Methods/design This is a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial in community-based social (subsidized) housing buildings in Ontario and Quebec. All residents of 14 matched pairs (intervention/control) of apartment buildings will be included. Buildings with 50–200 apartment units with the majority of residents aged 55+ and a unique postal code are included. All individuals residing within the buildings at the start of the intervention period are included (intention to treat, open cohort). The intervention instrument consists of CHAP screens for high blood pressure using automated blood pressure monitors and for diabetes using the Canadian Diabetes Risk (CANRISK) assessment tool. Monthly drop-in sessions for screening/monitoring are held within a common area of the building. Group health education sessions are also held monthly. Reports are sent to family doctors, and attendees are encouraged to visit their family doctor. The primary outcome measure is monthly CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations over a 1-year period post randomization. Secondary outcomes are all ED visits, hospitalizations, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and participant experience. Discussion It is anticipated that CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations will decrease in the intervention buildings. Using the volunteer-led CHAP program, there is significant opportunity to improve the health of older adults in social housing. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03549845. Registered on 15 May 2018. Updated on 21 May 2019.

Abstract Background Determining the effectiveness of community-based health promotion and disease prevention programs requires an appropriate data collection tool. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive health questionnaire for older adults, called the HABiT, and evaluate its reliability, content validity, and face validity in assessing individual health-related items (e.g., health status, healthcare utilization) and five specific scales: knowledge, current health behaviors (risk factors), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), perceived risk and understanding, and self-efficacy. Methods Iterative survey development and evaluation of its psychometric properties in a convenience sample of 28 older adults (≥ 55 years old), half from a low-income population. Following item generation, the questionnaire was assessed for content validity (expert panel), face validity (participant feedback), internal consistency of each scale (Cronbach’s alpha), and test-retest reliability for each item and scale (Pearson’s r and phi correlations, as appropriate). Results Questions were drawn from 15 sources, but primarily three surveys: Canadian Community Health Survey, Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire (CANRISK), and a survey by the Canadian Hypertension Education Program. Expert consensus was attained for item inclusion and representation of the desired constructs. Participants completing the questionnaire deemed the questions to be clear and appropriate. Test-retest reliability for many individual items was moderate-to-high, with some exceptions for items that can reasonably change in a short period (e.g., perceived day-to-day stress). Of the five potential scales evaluated, two had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.60) and a subset of one scale also had acceptable internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was high (correlation ≥ 0.80) for all scales and sub-scales. Conclusions The HABiT is a reliable and suitable comprehensive tool with content and face validity that can be used to evaluate health promotion and chronic disease prevention programs in older adults, including low-income older adults. Some noted limitations are discussed. Data collected using this tool also provides a diabetes risk score, health literacy score, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for economic analysis.

Abstract Background Frequent users of emergency medical services for issues that could be more appropriately managed through non-urgent care deplete the limited resources of the health-care system. Community paramedicine is an emerging field that extends the role of paramedics beyond the traditional emergency response. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the impact of a community paramedicine home-visit intervention with frequent users on reducing ambulance calls, hospital visits, and admissions. The study will also provide a cross-sectional description of the characteristics of frequent users of emergency medical services. Methods/design An open-label, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial with parallel intervention and control groups will be conducted in four paramedic services in Ontario. The sample size has been calculated as 261 per group for a 25% reduction in ambulance calls. Eligible participants will be frequent callers (three or more calls in 6 months), individuals who call for at least one lift assist, or individuals referred to the program by a paramedic. Individuals will be randomly allocated to receive either the Community Paramedicine at Home (CP@home) program intervention or their usual care (control). Intervention participants will receive up to three visits from a community paramedic, who will conduct health risk assessments, provide health promotion and education, provide referrals to local resources, and fax reports back to the family physician. Data will be collected from administrative databases (e.g., paramedic services), a custom CP@home program database, participant surveys, and key informant interviews. An intention-to-treat analysis will be conducted, including descriptive statistics and multi-level modeling to find factors predictive of primary and secondary outcomes. A thematic analysis will be used to analyze the qualitative outcomes. An economic analysis will consider the cost-effectiveness of the program. Discussion CP@home has the potential to reduce the health-care system burden significantly by targeting current frequent users of emergency medical services. By targeting this population, CP@home aims to decrease ambulance calls and emergency department visits, reducing health-care costs and improving the quality of life of a vulnerable population. If successful, CP@home will inform the development of community paramedicine policies and the expanding role of paramedics in regions across Canada. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02835989. Registered on July 14 2016.