"Recipe Analyzer" -- Dietitians of Canada

Canadians now have a new tool to help them make healthy eating choices. Dietitians of Canada is pleased to announce the launch of Recipe Analyzer.

Recipe Analyzer is a unique interactive on-line tool that offers consumers a quick and easy way to assess the nutritional value of their favourite recipes. To use the tool, visit the Dietitians of Canada website: http://www.dietitians.ca/eatwell and click on Recipe Analyzer.

Recipe Analyzer lets you enter the list of ingredients of any recipe and then get:

• A full nutrient profile for a serving of that recipe
• The number of Food Guide servings the recipe provides
• Tips on how to change the recipe to make it more nutritious.

Users can create an on-line recipe binder and save their recipes, and they can also do comparisons of two different recipes to see how they measure up nutritionally.

Study shows the importance of support networks

A new study published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that patients with a large support network of family and friends report feeling less pain and anxiety prior to having a surgical procedure, which can have a substantially positive impact on their postoperative recovery.

“Strong social connectedness can have a tremendous impact on patient recovery by helping blunt the effect of stress caused by postoperative pain, as well as ease concerns about health, finances and separation from family members,” said Allison R. Mitchinson, MPH, NCTMB, research health science specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor (MI) Healthcare System.

Social network size and social connectedness have long been known to affect health and well-being. Stressful events such as having an operation can further increase the need for social support.

To read the press release, visit http://www.facs.org/news/jacs/socialconnect0208.html

Daily reading linked with higher levels of health literacy

The single best predictor of higher levels of health literacy is the act of reading every day—even more so than someone’s education—says a new report released in February by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL).

The report, Health Literacy in Canada: A Healthy Understanding, reveals that daily reading outside of work is associated with higher health-literacy scores—one-third higher than the average for those aged 16 to 65 and more than 50% higher for those 66 and older.

In 2007, CCL released initial results from an international literacy survey that showed 60% of Canadians lacked the necessary skills to manage their health and health-care needs adequately.

A Healthy Understanding builds on these results and provides new, in-depth analysis examining the relationship between levels of health literacy and the reported health of Canadians.

The report found:

• Those with the lowest levels of health literacy are more than 2.5 times as likely to report being in poor or fair health as those with the highest levels.
• Across Canada, the prevalence of diabetes increases significantly as health literacy decreases. A similar link—though not as strong—is found with high blood pressure.
• The three most vulnerable populations for low levels of health literacy are seniors, the unemployed, and immigrants (especially those who don't speak French or English).
• Health literacy is more complex than previously thought; requiring prose, document and numeracy skills, often in combination for the same task.

To view the full report and CCL’s new interactive online map, which offers health-literacy profiles for more than 49,000 communities and neighbourhoods across Canada, visit http://www.ccl-cca.ca/healthliteracy.

PatientsLikeMe.com: Online community of patients, doctors, and organizations

PatientsLikeMe.com was launched in 2004 by "three MIT engineers." It is described as:

a privately funded company dedicated to making a difference in the lives of patients diagnosed with life-changing diseases. Our personal experiences with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) inspired us to create a community of patients, doctors, and organizations that inspires, informs, and empowers individuals. We're committed to providing patients with access to the tools, information, and experiences that they need to take control of their disease.

For more, visit: http://www.patientslikeme.com

Patient education video and audio information

The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides a wealth of practical patient information. Especially helpful are video and audio files from AHRQ's Healthology website and Healthcare 411 series.

From Healthology:
Tips for Taking Medicines Safely (video; 5 minutes)

Next Steps After a Diagnosis (video; 8 minutes)

From Healthcare 411:
How to Ask Tough Questions of Your Doctor (audio; nearly 4 minutes)

Family Health Advocacy (audio; 10 minutes)

World Health Day 2008 Community Forum

Time sensitive

World Health Day 2008: Communities Uniting Against Environmental Destruction
A Community Forum

Wednesday April 2nd
7:00 - 9:00 PM
SFU Harbour Centre Room 1425
515 West Hastings Street

How do we achieve health for all when communities are faced with widening social and economic injustice, declining air quality, the destruction of natural environments through resource extraction and urban expansion, and intensifying wars of aggression? How are communities impacted by a mounting environmental crisis?

Join the Alliance for People's Health to mark World Health Day and learn how poor and marginalized communities around the world are fighting from the front-lines against the neoliberal policies at the root of environmental injustice. Find out how to get involved through community action for social and environmental change.

Speakers to include...
Guatemalan Mayan Community -- Leoncio Ventura & Yadira Toj
South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy -- Harjap Grewal
Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences -- Tim Takaro
Alliance for People's Health -- Dave Hendry
More speakers to be announced...

United we can build a healthy world for all!

Forum organized by the Alliance for People's Health & sponsored by the Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences
Email allianceforpeopleshealth@gmail.com
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/~aph

--
Alliance for People's Health
allianceforpeopleshealth@gmail.com
604-215-2775
672 E Broadway
Vancouver, BC
V5T 1X6

NEADS Conference November 2008: call for proposals

Time sensitive

NEADS Conference: Call for Proposals

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students
2008 national conference, "Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow"
November 14-16, 2008
Ottawa ON

Submission deadline June 5th
Visit http://www.neads.ca/conference2008

Stress Management and Epilepsy lecture

Time sensitive

Stress Management and Epilepsy
Dr. Josef Zaide and Dr. Audrey Ho
Thursday, April 17, 2008
7:00-9:00 PM

"Dr. Josef Zaide and Dr. Audrey Ho are very experienced in working with individuals with epilepsy and other neurological conditions. As well, both are long-time volunteers at the BC Epilepsy Society."

Part of the yearly Speaking of Epilepsy lecture series

Location: Chan Auditorium at BC Children's Hospital
4480 Oak Street, Vancouver
Free for current members, or $10 for non-members.

From BC Epilepsy Society Email Newsletter
March 5, 2008

Picking Up the Pieces: Moving Forward after Surviving Cancer workshop

Time sensitive
Registration required by: Friday, April 11th

Picking Up the Pieces: Moving Forward after Surviving Cancer for women with ovarian & gyn cancers
This workshop helps survivors:

• acknowledge changes
• grieve losses
• regain control
• explore possibilities
• adjust to their new normal

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008
Check-in: 8:30 am
Session: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC

Free registration includes lunch & refreshments
Limited enrollment
Registration required by: Friday, April 11th

To register: 1-877-413-7970, ext. 221
or online at http://www.ovariancanada.org

We would like to thank the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown for their generous support of this event. Rooms are available at $135.00 per night, single or double occupancy for those traveling from out of town. Tel 604-438-1200

This workshop will be facilitated by Sherri Magee Ph.D., co-author of the book
Picking Up the Pieces: Moving Forward After Surviving Cancer

Population Health Symposium: Inequities and Health

Time sensitive
Registration deadline is April 15, 2008

Population Health Symposium: Inequities and Health
April 29, 2008
8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Vancouver General Hospital
Paetzold Centre Auditorium (Jim Pattison Pavilion)
855 West 12th Avenue Vancouver, BC

The issue of growing health disparities is of paramount concern to our health system. This symposium is an opportunity to engage in an ongoing dialogue on issues surrounding the impact of the socioeconomic determinants of health. The purpose is to raise awareness of inequities, including an understanding of the research evidence and lessons from other jurisdictions. Topics will include:

• The communication of population health information
• The economic costs of poverty
• Policy options to be considered in addressing inequities

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Dennis Raphael (Director of the School of Health Policy and Management at York University) who will present the keynote address and facilitate our panel discussion. Panel and breakout session presenters will be Mr. Seth Klein (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), Dr. Vivian Labrie (Quebec National Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion) and Dr. Michael Hayes (Simon Fraser University).

The symposium is divided into two sessions. The morning will feature a keynote session and panel discussion. The afternoon will provide more in-depth presentations on each of the three topic areas and will provide an opportunity to identify potential areas of action.

Registration is free for this event but space is limited. To reserve
your space, please register for the event online at:
https://secure.pzinternet.com/theciainc/phs2008/

For registration inquires, please contact:
Sharon Baskett
Email: sharon@theciainc.com;
Tel: 604-945-3574

Registration deadline is April 15, 2008.

Ontario Health Promotion Summer School

Time sensitive

15th Annual Ontario Health Promotion Summer School (2008)

Health Promotion Under Pressure: Strengthening Community Action
presented by the Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto

June 23 - 25, 2008
(Preschool courses June 22, 2008)
Location: Westin Prince Hotel (Toronto)
at Don Mills and York Mills
Please identify the name of the event when reserving your accommodation (University of Toronto, Ontario Health Promotion Summer School) so as to take advantage of their reduced rates for Summer School guests.

Contact Information
Lisa Weintraub, HPSS Coordinator
416-469-4632 or hpss@rogers.com

Watch an introduction video about the Health Promotion Summer School by Suzanne Jackson, Director, Centre for Health Promotion and Co-Chair of HPSS 2008 (in French).

Listen to Pepper Lazore and Walter J. Cooke talk about the First Peoples' program.
** Videos are in .wmv format and will require Windows Media Player**

The Ontario Health Promotion Summer School is funded by:

* ONTARIO MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROMOTION
Healthy Eating and Active Living Strategy
Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy
* CANADIAN HERITAGE

http://www.utoronto.ca/chp/hpss/generalinfo.html

Guide to Health Education Materials for Adults with Limited English Literacy Skills

Culture, Health and Literacy: A Guide to Health Education Materials for Adults with Limited English Literacy Skills
Authored by Julie McKinney and Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi

Contents:

• What This Guide Is About
• Introduction
• History
• Materials Selection
• A Word About Non-English Materials
• How To Use This Guide
• Definition of Terms
• Materials
• Background Information
• Fact Books, Readers and Stories
• Bibliographies and Resource Guides
• Curricula and Workbooks
• Videos and Audiocassettes
• Websites
• Organizations and Agencies
• Indices
• Subject
• Language

Developed in 2000 by World Education in collaboration with the National Institute for Literacy with a generous grant from Metropolitan Life Foundation

Available at http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/docs/culture/index.html
This guide is also available in print. Copies cost $10 each.
To order a copy e-mail lpeterson@worlded.org
or call World Education at (617) 482-9485 x 491.

How to Create a Pill Card

How to Create a Pill Card is available at the AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) website.

"This guide was designed to help users create an easy-to-use 'pill card' for patients, parents, or anyone who has a hard time keeping track of their medicines. Step-by-step instructions, sample clip art, and suggestions for design and use will help to customize a reminder card."

Contents

• How to Create a Pill Card
• Why Create a Pill Card?
• What You Will Need to Create a Pill Card
• Getting Ready to Create a Personalized Pill Card
• Creating a Personalized Pill Card
• Using a Personalized Pill Card
• Pill Card Template
• Common Pill Shapes
• Common Images for Medication Uses
• Acknowledgment and Disclaimer

http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/pillcard/pillcard.htm