Health Literacy Network News

Ask an Expert: Seizures and Epilepsy

2009-01-14T14:20:00.001-08:00

Time sensitive

BC Epilepsy Society presents

Ask an Expert: Seizures and Epilepsy
Tuesday, January 20th
7-9 pm
Chan Auditorium at BC Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak St.
Vancouver, BC

The BC Epilepsy Society presents a panel discussion with medical and social service professionals specializing in epilepsy care and support.

A neurologist, nurse clinician, and social worker will answer your questions and discuss epilepsy related issues at this event.

$10 or free with BC Epilepsy Society membership
For more information call 604-875-6704 or go to www.bcepilepsy.com

This educational event is part of the annual Speaking of Epilepsy lecture series presented by the BC Epilepsy Society.

The British Columbia Epilepsy Society is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to serving the well being of people living with epilepsy. We empower, educate, and support British Columbians living with epilepsy and their families and fund research to find a cure.

University of the Fraser Valley Nursing Students' Health Fair

2008-12-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Where do you turn if you have health-based question, but it’s not urgent enough to call your doctor? Nursing students at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) know it’s sometimes hard to find up-to-date information and that’s one of the reasons why they organize an annual Health Fair.

Each fall, UFV’s fourth-year nursing students host a public health fair, where they provide face-to-face information about a number of common health issues. This year’s event took place at Sevenoaks Mall in Abbotsford on Friday, October 17. Topics covered by the nursing students include the newly introduced HPV vaccine, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, arthritis, childhood asthma, and preventive dental care for pre-school-aged children.

UFV Nursing faculty member Sheila Edwards says it’s a great opportunity for the students to thoroughly research a health issue and then present material and resources to the public in a friendly, informative way.

With the HPV vaccine being introduced to all Grade 6 and Grade 9 girls in this school year, Edwards says her students decided it was the perfect time to openly discuss the vaccine, its benefits, and the risks of cervical cancer. Their goal is to provide health-based answers to parents, girls, and women between the ages of nine and 26 years of age, and the public in general.

The students also determined that many parents have questions about dental care for preschool children; so again, this was a topic they have researched and are hoping to share their information.

The public health fair is part of UFV’s community health course taken by fourth- year nursing students. Edwards says it is a great opportunity for the students to deal directly with the public, while learning about topical issues. UFV nursing students have hosted these public health fairs for about nine years now.

Mental Health Café

2008-12-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

Mental Health café deals with real issues in Fraser Valley communities

Don’t try to tell University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) philosophy instructor Peter Raabe that talk is cheap.

Raabe is a true believer in the power of talking about problems large and small. The North Vancouver resident introduced a Philosophy Café-style open discussion group specifically focused on mental health issues, to that community more than eight years ago. Since then a similar café group has been established in Coquitlam and a one is just taking root in Chilliwack.

The philosophy café, he explains, is an open forum for people directly affected by mental health issues. Raabe is adamant it is not a “typical self-help group” but a positive discussion that helps participants come up with ideas and suggestions about how to cope with mental health concerns and the wellness of a community.

Philosophy cafés give people a chance to discuss mental health issues affecting them and the communities where they live. Raabe says the sessions are open, friendly, and led by trained UFV students who keep the topics on track and topical.

Raabe, who is a philosophical counsellor when not teaching at the university, decided to get the students involved when he realized the concept of mental health cafés was becoming popular and his time to coordinate them was limited. A good facilitator, he says, will lead the discussion, keep it on topic, and ensure it remains respectful even though some sessions can get heated. And that’s where his UFV students come in.

“I wanted to pass on the legacy, so to speak, so I put out a call to the Psychology department for students who might be interested in taking this on.”

Eight students came forward and Raabe drafted a six-week training schedule that taught them the strengths and the exact role of good facilitator. He explains that it is a skill; good facilitators don’t dictate, they ask questions, sometimes act as the devil’s advocate to keep the conservation flowing, keep the discussion on topic, and know how to end it on time. When the UFV students completed the training, they were rewarded with three course credits they could count towards their degree.

“The students are able to apply their philosophical skills in practice. It’s a real shifting of gears for students — we’re putting them into a position of mentor or advisor for adults of many different age groups,” adds Raabe. “The students see some positive opportunities, both for themselves and for the participants, and they are really happy to be doing this.”

Four of those students continue to facilitate the mental health cafés which take place monthly in Coquitlam and now in Chilliwack. Next week, the Chilliwack café takes on the topic of the pharmaceutical industry’s impact on the mental health community.

Scott Campbell, with Chilliwack’s Mood Disorders Group, says the mental health cafés are a great opportunity for all residents of a community to come together to discuss topical issues that generally affect the community as a whole.

Raabe likens the mental health café to a book club. The group meets regularly; topics for the next gathering are generally picked at the end of a session. Anybody can attend, anybody can suggest topics, and all voices are respected and listened to.

“There is no limit to what topics they choose,” he says. “And the important part of the facilitator is to empower the group to pick its own topics. Theses groups have jelled quickly and that might be because they are looking for information and they are looking for skills to deal with mental health issues. They can also look at possible solutions. But with a philosophical discussion there are sometimes three or four solutions. It’s never a simple case of what’s right or wrong.”

The next Chilliwack mental health café takes place Saturday, Dec 13, at 1 p.m. in the Minto Room at Evergreen Hall, at 9291 Corbould Street. It is hosted by the Chilliwack Mood Disorders Group. For more information, people can contact Scott Campbell at 604-793-4906.

The Coquitlam group also meets Saturday, Dec 13 at 1 p.m at the Pinetree Community Centre, 1260 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam. The topic for the December meeting is 'Holidays and Mental Health.' For more information about the Coquitlam group, people can contact Teresa Spurr at teresa_cafe@shaw.ca

Raabe expects the idea of the mental health philosophy cafés will continue to grow and is hoping other communities start similar groups. When the need arises, he will train more students who take on the role of facilitator.

“I know of nothing else like this in Canada,” adds Raabe. “There is not another café that deals with mental health issues on a continuing basis. Now we have people who are making suggestions and coming up with possible solutions or ideas to deal with mental health issues. That’s what it’s all about.”

UFV offers a minor in Applied Ethical and Political Philosophy as part of the Bachelor of Arts program. Students can also take a variety of philosophy courses for general interest. Applications for September 2009 are currently being accepted. To find out more, visit www.ufv.ca .

LATCH-ON Literacy Program

2008-12-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

North Island College launched LATCH-ON Literacy this past September, a literacy program developed specifically for young adults with intellectual disabilities, including Down Syndrome.

LATCH-ON, which stands for Literacy and Technology Hands-On, was initiated in 1998 at the University of Queensland in Australia by Dr. Anne Jobling, a Down Syndrome researcher, with the help of Dr. Karen Moni, a lecturer in English curriculum and literacy education. LATCH-ON was developed with a socio-cultural approach to literacy that uses a combination of technology and more traditional methods of instruction to enhance literacy development.

The program’s objectives include providing opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities to continue their literacy development in a post-secondary environment, using computer technology to enhance literacy, and enhancing self-concept and life opportunities (work placement) through the expected positive outcomes of improved literacy development.

North Island College welcomed both Dr. Jobling and Dr. Moni in late August where they provided a week-long intensive training session for NIC instructors, as well as for project partners from the Down Syndrome Research Foundation in Burnaby. It is expected that the program will reach up to 30 students from the North Island region during its two-year trial, 10 at each of the regional campuses located at Campbell River, Comox Valley and Port Alberni.

“This is the first time the LATCH-ON program has been offered in Canada, and we are extremely pleased that North Island College was selected as the pilot site,” says program coordinator, Sheila Doncaster, who also serves as the Chair of the Department of Access for Students with Disabilities.

Funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, LATCH-ON is a joint project of North Island College and the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. For further information about the LATCH-ON program, please contact Sheila Doncaster at (250) 334-5079 or sheila.doncaster@nic.bc.ca.

Survey: Network for Patient Education in Canada

2008-12-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

The Working Group on Canadian Patient Education is conducting a survey to assess patient education networking needs.

Individuals working in a patient education program at a health care centre in Canada are asked to complete an online survey

For more information or with questions contact:

Tracy Hutchings
905-537-4322 x 46620
hutchtra@hhsc.ca

OR

Farrah Schwartz
416-864-6060 x 3831
schwartzf@smh.toronto.on.ca

A collection of health literacy curricula

2008-12-10T12:38:00.000-08:00

Links to health literacy curricula collected after a discussion on the National Institute for Literacy Health and Literacy listserv.

"The curricula are organized by the following types: University courses, Medical School courses, Professional training programs, and Adult Basic Education/ESL/ENL program courses."
http://www.advancinghealthliteracy.com/curricula.html

Plain Language Tools

2008-12-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

Photo: JDurham http://photodaisy.blogspot.com

Finding a reader-friendly alternative to jargon or more complex terminology can be a challenge. The following plain language resources may help.

Plain Language Thesaurus for Health Communications
CDC National Center for Health Marketing
http://www.nphic.org/files/editor/file/thesaurus_1007.pdf

Reviewer's Guide to Evaluating Health Information Materials
by Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES
BeginningsGuides 2008
http://www.guidesforbeginnings.com/pdfs/articles/Reviewers-Guide.pdf

Plain English Lexicon: A Guide to Whether Your Words Will be Understood
Martin Cutts
Foreword by Christine Mowat, past Chair of Plain Language Association InterNational (plain)
http://www.clearest.co.uk/files/PlainEnglishLexicon.pdf

Words to Watch Fact Sheet
Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative
http://www.clearhealthcommunication.com/media/words-to-watch.html

Readability Toolkit
P R I SM [ Project to Review and Improve Study Materials]
Group Health Center for Health Studies
http://www.centerforhealthstudies.org/capabilities/readability/readability_home.html
Direct link to the Toolkit:
http://www.centerforhealthstudies.org/capabilities/readability/ghchs_readability_toolkit.pdf

Webcast: What is ABA and Why is it Important in the Treatment of Autism?

2008-12-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

Presented by Suzanne Jacobsen, Ed.D., BCBA
Clinical Director, ABA Learning Centre

Webcast available from Monday, December 15, 2008
Advance registration now open.

In B.C., once parents receive a diagnosis of autism for their child, they are expected to set up a treatment program grounded on Applied Behavior Analysis. But what exactly is ABA and why is it so crucial in autism treatment? This presentation explains the differences and overlap between commonly used terms that frequently confuse parents including:

Discrete trial
Lovaas therapy
Verbal Behavior
Pivotal Response Training
Positive Behavior Support
Natural Environment Teaching

This workshop is illustrated by wonderful video of children engaged in ABA and having fun while learning communication, academic and social skills.

The Speaker: Dr. Suzanne Jacobsen is well known to professionals and parents across B.C. for her exceptional range of expertise as a diagnostician, educator, psychologist and behavior consultant. She has lectured across North America and in Asia on various aspects of autism treatment. A registered psychologist and certified teacher, Dr. Jacobsen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a member of ACT's Advisory Council.

Who Should View this Webcast? This presentation was developed for parents primarily, but community professionals have found it to be informative in broadening their understanding of the breadth of ABA. To see feedback from previous participants, see the webcast overview page.

What is a Webcast? ACT webcasts are video-taped presentations that can be viewed over the internet by anyone with a fairly new computer and a high-speed internet connection. The webcast is an edited version of the live event. Subscribers can download a copy of the same handbook available at the event. This webcast is available at the convenience of the viewer, 24/7, for the full duration of your subscription. For information on ACT's move toward webcasts, see our fall 08 newsletter, ACT on Autism (.pdf).

A brief webcast preview is available for viewing on the ACT website. This will also ensure that your computer can access the webcast successfully. For further information on webcasting, including minimum technical requirements, see our webcasts FAQ.

To register call ACT* at 604-205-5467 or 1-866-939-5188.
*Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

2008/9 subscription cost for What is ABA? (available from December 15, 2008 to December 31, 2009):

Category 1 - Individual family or para-professional or student – $35
Category 2 - Family & One-to-One Staff (focused on 1 child or siblings – 8 or fewer users) – $100
Category 3 - Individual Professional – $50
Category 4 - Small Organization (8 or fewer users) – $200
Category 5 - Large Organization (9 – 20 users) – $300
Special – Don’t find your circumstance on this list – Call or email ACT for advice!

Manual: For a preview of ACT's new Autism Manual for BC, see www.actcommunity.net/AI/Manual.htm.
Bursaries: If you are low income, ACT has some bursary funds available. Please apply for a bursary before registering. See www.actcommunity.net/Foot/bursaries.htm for more information.

Support & Information: ACT’s team of Information Officers can provide support and information on a wide range of autism-related topics and can advise on whether a workshop or webcast is appropriate for your needs.
Contact ACT by email at info@actcommunity.net
or by phone at 604-205-5467 or 1-866-939-5188.

New article: "Literacy and Health: Implications for Active Living"

2008-11-13T09:36:00.000-08:00

"Literacy and Health: Implications for Active Living"
by Irving Rootman and Joan Wharf-Higgins in
Alberta Centre for Active Living's WellSpring (October 2007 Vol 18, No. 4)

"What’s in this article for you? This article focuses on the following main topics:

What is literacy and health literacy?
Why should active living practitioners be interested in literacy and health literacy?
Do people understand communications about physical activity?
What can you do to address literacy or health literacy in your practice?"

2008-10-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute (VRRI) in Alberta is an excellent source of information for people with disabilities and people who work with them. Plain language booklets are available from the website on a range of health and life skills. Also available are short, practical publications for service providers to facilitate respectful and successful communication and support. The following recent item caught my eye:

Speaking Plain Language: How disability support workers can use plain language with clients who may have limited literacy or language comprehension skills by Aiofe Freeman. (FastFacts Vol 1, no. 2 March 2008)

While resources on plain language writing are happily fairly plentiful these days, information about how to communicate verbally in accessible language is more unusual. This brief guide with a reference list offers practical tips for conversing with people who have difficulty understanding because of literacy or language challenges. While these tips sound like common sense, consistently putting them into practice can be tricky.

Suggestions include:

Think about your audience
Be aware of your tone
Reduce the amount of information you provide at one time
Use short and everyday words
Find out if you are being understood--but recognize that your listener may be uncomfortable admitting that they don't know what you're talking about!

How to be a "pleasantly assertive" patient

2008-10-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

Researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offer five ways to get more from your doctor.

These days, going to the doctor may seem more like speed dating than care giving. Patients get a few minutes with the clinician, and he or she does most of the talking. How can a person get the information they need and the outcome they desire in a 15-minute office visit? What if the treatment options don’t feel right? Is it too much for a patient to feel they are considered a partner in their own well-being?

Often, people leave their doctor’s office with more questions than answers, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine who are looking at how patients can get more of what they need from the health-care system. They have found that patients (or their advocates) who talk to physicians about their beliefs, values, lifestyle and
concerns can get better results from their health-care experience.

“Research shows if you ask doctors what they think is important to patients, and then ask patients what’s important to them, there’s not a great match,” said Dr. Michael Pignone, chief of the UNC division of general internal medicine.

But, as smart as doctors are, they aren’t mind readers, Pignone and his colleagues note. “A common problem is patients thinking that their physician will know how they – the patient – feels about specific decisions” said Dr. Carmen Lewis, assistant professor of medicine of general internal medicine and clinical epidemiology. “Doctors don’t – you need to tell them. People feel the doctor is the expert, but the individual is the expert about his or her lifestyle and how he or she values options and outcomes.”

Pignone offered some tips for becoming what he calls a “pleasantly assertive” patient, so that patients’ health-care providers can better help them.

Prepare for your visit. “It might seem silly, but it’s really helpful to write down your symptoms, complaint or problem, then summarize it into a couple of sentences,” Pignone said. “Bring your list and your summary with you to the visit. This allows the doctor to quickly review your condition and ask specific questions, instead of spending time focused on general issues. This one step can make visits 25 percent to 50 percent more effective.”
Have an agenda. “Before your appointment, decide what you want from the visit,” Pignone recommends. “For instance, if you’re suffering back pain, you might want to know what is causing the pain as well as a treatment plan for getting better. Make sure you share that with your doctor at the very beginning of your visit. It might feel funny at first, but your doctor will appreciate it. Sharing this information will help you all make better decisions about treatment, make the visit more efficient, and improve the chance that your health-care needs will be met effectively.”
Know your medical history and medications. “To help you get the treatment you need, doctors need to know what tests you’ve had – and when – as well as what medications you’re taking,” Pignone said. “Without that information, they might mistakenly re-order tests or prescribe medication that has a bad interaction with something you’re already taking. That can have adverse effects for your health and your wallet.”
Tell your provider about your values or lifestyle preferences that could affect your treatment. “It doesn’t make sense to agree to a treatment plan you know you won’t follow – it won’t result in your feeling better,” Pignone cautioned. “For example, if a Wednesday night smoking cessation class conflicts with your book club, it’s not going to be an effective intervention for you. On a more serious level, if you don’t want to deal with the uncertainty of a possible recurrence of cancer, you might prefer a mastectomy to a lumpectomy. Similarly, if you can’t afford medication or to take off work for recurring visits, tell your provider even if you’re embarrassed. There are often ways to work around the challenges if your care team knows about them.”
Clarify the decision to be made. “Sometimes you’re offered several options, so be sure you understand the alternatives and if you don’t, ask for clarification,” Pignone said. “Your doctor should be able to give you important details about each option either during the visit, or on a follow-up call. In addition to the details, ask them how good the medical information is.”

Pignone and Lewis acknowledged that this approach results in a very different doctor-patient relationship, but evidence shows that proactive patients tend to get more effective and efficient care.

“The sicker you are, the more this matters,” Pignone said. “But it’s harder to do. If you’re not comfortable interacting this way, involve other people who support you in your life to come with you and play this role.”

FDA education program for over-the-counter medications

2008-10-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), in cooperation with the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) and Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools, has launched "Medicines in My Home," an interactive educational program about the safe and effective use of over-the-counter medicines, located at www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome. The website includes a "Teachers Room," featuring a PowerPoint presentation, pre- and post test, in class lesson materials, and materials and activities for use in the home with family members. Key concepts students will learn from the program are:

The Drug Facts label tells you what a medicine treats, if it is right for you and your problem, and how to use the medicine;
Read the label and follow the directions carefully and correctly;
Two medicines with the same active ingredient shouldn't be used at the same time; and,
Measure medicines correctly with measuring tools made for medicines.

The program emphasizes that medicines should be used only with permission from an adult and that if there are questions about medicine use, ask a pharmacist or doctor. Materials are provided to encourage students to share what they learn with their families so that all family members can learn to use over-the-counter medicines more safely.

Research: Neutral HIV presentations more likely to be considered inviting

2008-10-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

A recent study by University of Illinois professor of psychology Dolores Albarracín and her colleagues at the University of Florida and the Alachua County Health Department in Florida found a method to increase enrollment among high-risk individuals in HIV prevention programs.

The study, which appeared in the September 2008 issue of Health Psychology, found that by offering an experimental introduction to a counseling session, public health institutions could increase enrollment by a significant amount.

Previous research by Albarracín found that those most likely to engage in behaviour that puts them at a high risk for HIV are also the least likely to enroll and stay in HIV intervention programs.

Therefore the researchers studied the effects of delivering different messages to participants screened for high-risk behavior as an invitation to a counseling program delivered at the Alachua County Health Department in Gainesville, Fla. They found one message that increased enrollment among participants.

All the messages informed participants who had signed up for a generic health study that they could speak to an HIV-prevention counselor. In the experimental condition, they were also told that the counseling session was not intended to change their behaviour, only to provide them with the most current information. Compared with a message that indicated that the counseling increased condom use, recipients of the experimental message enrolled at a rate higher by 15 percent. This effect was particularly strong when participants had no intention of using condoms at the beginning of the study.

“Public health experts around the world are regularly in search of the most effective methods for curbing preventable health problems,” Albarracín said. “HIV is a disease caused by a number of risky behaviors like unsafe sex and unsafe needle sharing, but health information is often disseminated without complete knowledge of how it will be received by audiences,” she said.

“The research indicates that people will be more receptive to information when they don't believe they are trying to be influenced,” she said. “This approach will be helpful in giving public health professionals effective ways to introduce the public to information without repulsing those they are trying to help most.”

Other researchers involved in the study were Marta R. Durantini, Allison Earl, and Josh Leeper, of the University of Florida, and Joann B. Gunnoe of the Alachua County Health Department.

Citation:

Beyond the most willing audiences: A meta-intervention to increase exposure to HIV-prevention programs by vulnerable populations.

Albarracín, Dolores; Durantini, Marta R.; Earl, Allison; Gunnoe, Joanne B.; Leeper, Josh

Health Psychology. Vol 27(5), Sep 2008, 638-644.

Read the abstract at http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/hea/27/5/638/

US health education in barbershops and beauty salons

2008-10-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

As part of its mission to train the next generation of physicians and scientists, the Mayo Clinic Center for Translational Science Activities (CTSA) offers the Health Disparities Field Experience, a unique course through Mayo Graduate School. For this year's fieldwork, course scholars and faculty are joining with the Center for Minority Health (CMH) at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health in its innovative program called 'Take a Health Professional to the People Day' on Sept. 18, 2008. This event has been recognized nationally with a feature on the Web site of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Health disparities — the gaps in health care access and outcomes among different populations — lead to higher rates of chronic illness, disability and death from preventable causes for minorities. Now in its seventh year, Take a Health Professional to the People Day deploys teams of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and public health educators to 10 barbershops and beauty salons in inner-city Pittsburgh to deliver health information and health screenings to customers. In 2007, 150 health professionals screened more than 556 African-Americans in these neighborhood settings.

Why take health education efforts to barbershops and beauty salons?

These settings are effective because they are familiar community assets and trusted institutions in African-American neighborhoods where people gather to connect and exchange information. "Far too many African-Americans have no 'medical home' to access health care services, so government programs that promote 'taking a loved one to the doctor' are not as effective for this community," explains Stephen B. Thomas, Ph.D., director of CMH and the Philip Hallen Professor of Community Health and Social Justice. "Therefore, CMH created Take a Health Professional to the People Day. By focusing our efforts on a single day, we believe we can help generate a greater understanding of the importance of regular health screenings while at the same time reaching people who tend to have the least access to health care." In addition, the program serves as an excellent training opportunity for health professionals, who benefit from engaging minority populations outside of the clinical environment.

For more information about Take A Health Professional to the People Day, the NIH-NCMHD Research Center for Excellence in Minority Health Disparities, and other activities of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Minority Health, visit the University of Pittsburg Center for Minority Health Web site.

Radio stories of living with HIV reduces stigma in Ethiopia

2008-10-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

Betengna, a radio program in Ethiopia that showcases the diaries of ordinary people living with HIV, may contribute to reducing HIV-related stigma, according to the results of a research study disseminated September 24, 2008 in Addis Ababa. Results of the research indicate that listeners of Betengna were found to have lower stigma toward people living with HIV and had greater knowledge about HIV transmission, prevention and management.

The program has aired on Ethiopian radio stations over the past two years, and it boasts an exposure of 29% in Addis Ababa and SNNPR, according to the study. It is also available for downloading on the National AIDS Resource Center’s website (www.etharc.org).

The radio diaries narrate the everyday experiences and challenges of living with HIV in Ethiopia and are broadcast weekly on five radio stations in Amharic, Tigrigna, and Oromoiffa languages. Betengna aims to decrease the stigma and discrimination that HIV positive people face in Ethiopia by exposing the human face of living with the disease and providing a platform for creating discussion on these issues among the general public. Over time, diarists cover a broad range of their everyday life experiences such as teen pregnancy, relationships with partners, family, friends and their communities, health issues, emotional and physical stress and living positively.

The research findings come from a household study conducted in November 2007 in four regions – Amhara, Tigray, Addis Ababa and SNNPR - in order to determine exposure to Betengna and the extent to which changes could be linked with exposure to the broadcast. Data was collected by a local research organization, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health.

Study results indicated that listening to Betengna was associated with increased empathy and affinity for the diarists and a better understanding of the challenges of leading an HIV positive life. Other indicators of decreased stigma were a greater perceived identification with people living with HIV and a stronger belief that HIV positive persons should be treated with respect. Caller feedback from listeners supports that Betengna is increasing empathy and reaching listeners on a more emotional level than just promoting rational thinking.

“Many people go to test after they become very sick. Sirak’s story motivated me to get tested and I found out that I’m HIV+,” indicated a male listener. “I live in South Africa, Cape Town. I always listen to Hiwot Mamo’s program and it really amazes me; she really is a wonderful woman. I just wanna tell her be strong and to always look after her self. Stay blessed,” commented a web listener.

The Radio Diaries are produced by the National AIDS Resource Center (ARC) and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center or Communication Programs (CCP). The program's design is based on and builds on similar projects run by CCP in Nigeria and Malawi. Betengna is produced in collaboration with the National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO) with technical assistance from Internews Network-Ethiopia. Funding is provided by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vulnerable Populations & Global Public Health Presentation Oct 31/08

2008-10-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

Vulnerable populations and global public health

UBC-School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) Grand Rounds
Presentation for Friday, October 31, 2008

Presented by: Katia Mohindra, Post Doctoral Fellow, Global Health Research Program, SPPH, UBC

Topic: Vulnerable populations and global public health: perspectives from some 'egalitarian' societies***

Date: Friday October 31, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM TO 10:00 AM
James Mather Building
Room: #253 - 5804 Fairview Avenue
Vancouver, BC

Please join us for the Grand Rounds. If you are unable to attend in person, please join us remotely through our website www.spph.ubc.ca and simultaneously via conference call.

Dial in: 1-866-596-5278
Conference ID: 7347312#

If you do join us via conference call, it is very much appreciated if you put your phone on mute to enhance the listening ability of all remote listeners.

**Presentations are the property of the presenter(s) and permission must be obtained before copying or distribution of presentation occurs. Presentations for rounds from the website are for viewing purposes only.**

Should you have any questions, please contact Sylvia at sylvia.froese@ubc.ca or 604-822-7646

[Posted on: Women-Health eNews - an electronic mailing list for activists, researchers, and policy makers, both nationally and internationally, who are working to improve women's health. The list was created and is managed by the BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health http://www.bccewh.bc.ca ]

Community Health Discusssions

2008-10-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

CHNET-Works! a project from Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa is hosting a series of Fireside Chats (FREE pan-Canadian discussions for community health professionals - via telephone/internet conferences). October, November and December 'chats' are focusing on: Climate Change and Health, Healthy Aging and Food Insecurity. Discussions need to include perspectives re: social ceterminants of health.

Info and registration: www.chnet-works.ca and click on Fireside Chats

[posted on the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) listserv October 29, 2008 by Dot Bonnenfant, CHNET-Works! Animateur]

Upcoming topics:
Climate Change and Health: shedding light November 20/08

Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum - an UPdate February 5/09

Climate Change and Health: newHealth Canada Report November 13/08

Children Vulnerable to Environmental Contaminants December 10/08

Health Care: Preparation for Age of Scarce Oil October 30/08

Climate Change and Health: A Breath of Fresh Air November 7/08

Healthy Aging: Housing, Support Service and Health November 26/08

Food Insecurity: The Cost of Living - a tool December 5/08

Info Tech and Health Promotion.... December 4/08

Healthy Aging #2 - Aging with Dignity February 12/09

Skateboarding and Youth: What's working? December 3/08

Scientific Cafe: Is menopause a disease? [Vancouver]

2008-10-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

Is menopause a disease?
We will discuss different perspectives from around the world on gendered aging with input by women doctors from Eastern Europe and India. How does the emergence and popularity of menopause-specific products, pills, and supplements reflect how we view menopause as a society? Hormone Therapy controversies - do women's hormones need replacing? "Bioidentical" vs. "synthetic" hormones: Is one better then the other, and what are the risks of ovarian hormone therapy? Hot flashes and night sweats - is estrogen the only option? Is osteoporosis inevitable?

Expert Panel:
Dr. Jerilynn Prior, UBC Professor of Endocrinology, Scientific Director of CeMCOR
Ms. Karen Coulson, Executive Director with Osteoporosis Canada (BC Division)
Dr. Sheela Mistry, foreign trained OB/GYN and Research Coordinator
Dr. Vesna Stajic, foreign trained MD and Research Coordinator

Date: Tuesday Oct 28th, 2008
Time: 7:00-9:00pm, doors at 6:30pm
Venue: Little Nest (http://www.littlenest.ca),
1716 Charles St, Vancouver (Commercial Drive)

Cost: Admission is free but space is limited - be sure to arrive on time! For more information see: http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/node/182

Health Information for Seniors

2008-08-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

NIHSeniorHealth is an "easy-to-use website [which] features health and wellness information for older adults from the [US] National Institutes of Health." Health information is organized alphabetically by name or in categories such as:
* Bones and Joints
* Cancer
* Diseases and Conditions
* Healthy Aging
* Heart and Lungs
* Memory and Mental Health
* Treatments and Therapies
* Vision and Hearing

Also available: "Exercise stories" with seniors sharing their experiences with various activities, a collection of health videos (with the option of reading the transcripts), and a training module called: Helping Older Adults Search for Health Information Online: A Toolkit for Trainers.

Iceberg Newsletter on FASD

2008-08-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Iceberg is a quarterly international educational newsletter on FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) from FASIS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Information Service), a parent/professional partnership based in Seattle, WA. Visit the website for events, resources and the current and back issues of this excellent newsletter.

"Because the problems we readily see are only the tip of the iceberg."
--Iceberg website

Study Explores Value of Recording Medical Visits for Cancer Patients

2008-08-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

Patients can find it hard to absorb what their doctors tell them during stressful moments. Recordings or transcripts of office visits could help people with cancer—or their family members—recall medical information they might otherwise have missed, a new review suggests.

“It is important to consider anything that can improve the cancer patient’s experience, especially interventions that can be easily accommodated within the normal office visit,” said lead author Marie Pitkethly, co-coordinator of the Scottish Primary Care Research Network in Dundee.

The review included 16 studies of 2,318 adults who either had cancer themselves or were dealing with a close relative with cancer. The researchers looked at the effects of providing recordings or summaries of doctor-patient interactions on information recall and understanding, participation in follow-up visits, satisfaction and other concerns.

The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews like this one draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.

Richard Frankel Ph.D., a professor of medicine and geriatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, said many people who receive cancer information at the doctor’s office do not accurately remember what the physician said.

“Anything that can be done to increase their potential for retaining information is worth trying,” he said. “This review shows that the use of audio or videotapes can be very useful in some patients, but not all patients. The primary lesson this review teaches us that there needs to be an individualized approach to having difficult conversations with patients.”

For more on this study:
Pitkethly M, et al. Recordings or summaries of consultations for people with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 3, 2008.

"Doctor and Patient, Now at Odds"--New York Times blog

2008-07-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

Doctor and Patient, Now at Odds

By TARA PARKER-POPE
Published: July 29, 2008
New York Times Health blog: Well

Excerpt:
“By the time you’re done with your training, you feel, in many ways, that you are as far as you could possibly be from the very people you’ve set out to help,” said Dr. Pauline Chen, most recently a liver transplant surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of Final Exam: A Surgeon’s Reflections on Mortality (Knopf, 2007). “We don’t even talk the same language anymore.”

Continued: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/doctors-and-patients-a-rocky-relationship/

Caregiver Workshops--September & October

2008-07-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

Vancouver Coastal Health Caregiver Workshops

September Workshop:
Four-week educational workshop series for family caregivers running from Sept. 3 - Sept. 24, 2008

Learn strategies for coping, connect with other caregivers, and find out about valuable resources and information to assist in decision-making. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all four workshops in the series.

Presenter/Facilitator: Sarah Galuska, MSW, RSW

Location: Evergreen Community Health Centre
3425 Crowley Drive, Vancouver, BC
Begins: September 3, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Registration deadline: September 2, 2008
Email: caregiversupport@vch.ca
Phone: Vancouver Coastal Health Central Intake Line--604-263-7377
Cost: Free - pre-registration is required

October-December Workshop
Six-week educational workshop series for family caregivers running from Oct. 21 - Dec. 2, 2008(no session Nov. 11th). Learn strategies for coping, connect with other caregivers, and find out about valuable resources and information to assist in decision-making. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all six workshop sessions. Pre-resgistration is required, but late registration may be possible.

Location: Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre
2110 West 43rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Begins: October 21, 2008
Tim: 6:30-8:30 pm
Registration deadline: October 20, 2008
Email: caregiversupport@vch.ca
Phone: Vancouver Coastal Health Central Intake Line--604-263-7377
Cost: Free - pre-registration is required. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all six workshop sessions.

Call for Articles: Breast Cancer & Women with Disabilities

2008-07-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is hoping to publish the Fall 2008 issue of our quarterly newsletter, Network News, on the topic of living with disabilities and breast cancer. We are looking for articles of up to 2,000 words plus a short bio of the author(s) (100 words or less) and hopefully a photo. Articles can be about research conducted on the issue, including barriers to diagnosis, treatment or supportive care.

We are also looking for articles by women living with breast cancer and a disability or disabilities. It may be that you were living with a disability before being diagnosed with breast cancer, whether a physical disability or mental illness. How did a breast cancer diagnosis affect your life? What challenges have you faced? Or perhaps your breast cancer treatments or surgeries left you with a disability. Consider sharing your experience and how you have learned, or are learning, how to adapt.

We are unable to pay contributors, but will send you as many copies of Network News as you like.

To check out a recent issue of Network News, go to http://cbcn.ca/en/?section=1&category=167&regionid=&page=9792

For information or to submit an article, contact:
Jackie Manthorne
Executive Director/Directrice générale
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
613-230-3044 ext. 222
1-800-685-8820
jmanthorne@cbcn.ca
www.cbcn.ca

Patient-physician Communication: Research

2008-07-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

With their waiting rooms crowded and exam rooms full, many physicians say they are too busy to be good communicators. Those who study physician time-management think otherwise. Certain communication skills can foster efficiency and effectiveness during an office visit without sacrificing rapport with patients, according to researchers at the University of Washington (UW) and the University of Rochester.

Their guide to a smoother flow of communication between doctors and patients appears in the July 14, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Their model is based on the authors' observation: "Effective communication in primary care must include skills that enhance the quality of care while helping patients and physicians use time wisely… Making the best use of available time is important for visits of any duration."

A few of the lessons the researchers presented in the resulting article, "Relationship, Communication, and Efficiency in the Medical Encounter: Creating a Clinical Model from a Literature Review" include:

focus the purpose of the visit with the patient: Instead of addressing each issue as it surfaces, creating a list at the start enables the doctor to confirm which problem is most medically urgent or most important to the patient. This approach also reduces the "Oh, by the way" issues brought up at the end of the visit.
understand the patient's perspective: Exploring the patient's viewpoint is useful for promoting self-management, suggesting healthy changes, assessing motivation, learning the patient's family and cultural beliefs, understanding the social and psychological problems that are diminishing the patient's ability to function, or getting to the root of medically unexplained symptoms.
reach a mutual agreement on a plan: The physician and patient decide on approaches the patient is willing to follow to manage or prevent the health concerns explored during the visit.

Throughout the office visit, it's helpful for physicians to:

establish rapport and maintain the relationship: Some ways doctors do this are by eye contact, recognizing others in the room, or a brief warm greeting, such as, "Nice to see you." On the other hand, too much small talk steals away time from considering the patient's problems.
practice mindfully: This occurs when physicians pay close attention to their own beliefs and reduce distractions in order to observe their patients' response to what is being said and done, and adjust accordingly. For example, a doctor lecturing on excess weight might notice the patient withdrawing. The doctor stops and asks about the patient's views. A physician who doesn't continuously monitor the interaction or doesn't check in with the patient may cover areas of little interest to the patient, and miss significant issues.
track topics: Sometimes an interview veers off course, particularly when there are multiple topics and no clear agenda. Unless the conversation is redirected, it's likely that no clear decisions will be made on some problems before the end of the visit. Sharing an impression of what has and hasn't been covered and realigning by agreeing on what to talk about next can keep the discussion organized.
acknowledge cues: When a physician responds with empathy to a patient's cues, a patient may reveal beliefs and preferences that can shape a successful treatment plan. Also, once their concerns are taken into account, most patients don't keep restating them. This saves time.

Researcher Larry Mauksch said, "Visits with the doctor that contain these fundamental elements lead to greater patient satisfaction, better adherence to medical regimes, increased self-management, better health outcomes, lower costs, and fewer malpractice claims. These skills enable physicians to do it right the first time, so they don't have to do it over."

The researchers are Larry Mauksch, a UW behavioral scientist in family medicine who studies and teaches doctor/patient communications; David C. Dugdale, an internal medicine physician and director of the UW Hall Health Primary Care Center; Sherry Dodson, UW clinical medical librarian; and Ronald Epstein, professor of family medicine, psychiatry, and oncology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and its Center to Improve Communication and Health Care.

To read more about the project: http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=42811

Youth Violence Prevention Workshop: Fort St. John

2008-07-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

Free Youth Violence Prevention Toolkit Training Workshop
Fort St. John workshop on August 19-20, 2008

This 'train the trainer' workshop provides training on how to conduct a workshop from the Native Women's Association of Canada Toolkit. Participants will learn the best ways to engage with youth on five main topics:

Domestic/Relationship Violence
Date Violence
Sexual Assault
Emotional/Psychological Violence, and
Bullying

To see a copy of the Toolkit, visit www.nwac-hq.org and look under Youth Projects. Workshops cover ideas such safety tips, early warning signs and ways to deal with it in the community.

Registration form: www.nwac-hq.org
Tel: 613-722-3033 ext 247

Consumer Health Tip Sheets

2008-07-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers many consumer health resources, including:

20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors
Patient Fact Sheet
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm

20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children
Patient Fact Sheet
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tipkid.htm

Quick Tips—When Getting Medical Tests
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/quicktips/tiptests.htm

Quick Tips—When Talking with Your Doctor
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/quicktips/doctalk.htm

Accessible Recreation/Exercise Facilities for People with Disabilities

2008-07-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

The Alberta Centre for Active Living's newsletter, WellSpring (June 2008) features an article about ensuring full participation of people with disabilities at community facilities. While aimed at recreational facilities, this article includes excellent tips for service providers of all types and for people with disabilities. Topics covered include:

Barriers in the physical environment
Barriers in the social environment
Psychological barriers experienced by people with disabilities.

"Are We Ready? Full Participation of People with Disabilities at Community Facilities" by Karen Robinson, Program Director, The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement.
WellSpring June 2008 Volume 19, Number 3
http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/publications/wellspring/2008/june.pdf

"Patient Power" radio and blog

2008-07-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

"Patient Power" is a radio show featuring University of Washington Faculty of Medicine physicians.

Every Sunday morning, Andrew Schorr's independently produced Patient Power radio show connects listeners with leading medical experts who talk about topics of interest to patients.

To listen on your radio:
Sundays
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT
570 AM KVI Seattle

To listen on your computer:
Webcast around the world: http://www.patientpower.info/
E-mail your questions: andrew@patientpower.info
Call in live at 206-421-5757 or 888-312-5757

Visit the website:
http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Global/NewsAndEvents/Patient+Power.htm

Read Patient Power blog
http://www.patientpower.info/blog/default.asp

Bringing Companions to Medical Visits: US Study

2008-07-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

According to a survey of 12,018 US Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older, bringing a family member or friend to medical visits improves patient satisfaction with medical care. Researchers found that:

38.6 percent of participants reported regularly being accompanied to medical visits
Companions included spouses (53.3 percent); adult children (31.9 percent); other relatives (6.8 percent); roommates, friends or neighbours (5.2 percent); non-relatives (2.8 percent); or nurses, nurse aides or legal or financial officers (less than 1 percent)
63.8 percent of companions helped with communication, including 44.1 percent who recorded physician comments and instructions, 41.5 percent who communicated information about the patient’s medical condition to the physician, 41 percent who asked questions, 29.7 percent who explained physician’s instructions and 3.3 percent who translated the English language
28.4 percent of companions were reported to be present for company and moral support, 52.3 percent to assist with transportation, 16.6 percent to help schedule appointments and 8.4 percent to provide physical assistance.

Beneficiaries with regular companions were more highly satisfied with their physician’s technical skills, information-giving and interpersonal skills. Those whose companions more actively helped with communication rated their physicians’ information-giving and interpersonal skills more favourably. This relationship was stronger among patients who reported themselves to be in worse health.

Article:
Jennifer L. Wolff; Debra L. Roter
Hidden in Plain Sight: Medical Visit Companions as a Resource for Vulnerable Older Adults
Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(13):1409-1415.

Online/telephone courses from PLAN

2008-07-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

NEW!! Home is Where the Heart is - ONLINE COURSE
$60.00
Available online
Description
PLAN's new interactive and engaging online course explores the different home options available for your relative with a disability. Videos and stories showcase inspiring living situations, checklists and interactive forms help you think about everything you need to consider when thinking about creating a home for your relative with a disability. This course comes with a downloadable practical guide and lots of inspiring ideas to help you start dreaming.

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop takes approx. 3 - 5 hours to complete. You may work at your own pace throughout the month and the facilitator will be available during the entire month.

July 8 - July 31, 2008
Register online: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=76&EID=2240
Register by phone: 604.439.9566
Register by email: inquiries@plan.ca

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
FREE
Available anywhere by telephone
Description
In planning for the future, you need the most current and relevant information. The Disability Savings Plan will become available in 2008. It will provide another tool for you to plan with. Join us in this FREE telelearning seminar to learn about the details, its implementation and how it will work for your family.

Wed. July 23 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm (PST)
Register online: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=76&EID=2936

Wed. August 13 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm (PST)
Register online: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=76&EID=2942

Wed. August 27 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm (PST)
Register online: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=76&EID=2943

or
Register by phone: 604.439.9566
Register by email: inquiries@plan.ca

2008 International Conference on Communication in Healthcare

2008-07-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

2008 International Conference on Communication in Healthcare
2-5 September 2008
Oslo, Norway
Earlybird rate available until July 18th

Program includes:

Teaching communication skills
Shared decision making
Disclosure of medical errors to patients
Analyzing clinical communication behaviour
Emotion and nonverbal communication
Communication in cancer care
Communication in different clinical settings
Family issues and communication with children
Gender issues in communication
Patient and provider perspectives
Cultural perspectives
Web-based interventions and information technology
Patient education

Plus posters and exhibition area.

http://www.each-conference.com/

Dr. Enid Wolf-Schein: Structured Methods in Language Education workshop

2008-07-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

Enid Wolf-Schein, Ed.D., CCC-SLP; Adjunct Professor University of Alberta
SMILE: Structured Methods in Language Education
August 14 & 15, 2008, Vancouver

Enid Wolf-Schein

What is SMILE? SMILE jump-starts literacy and encourages the development of functional language. A systematic, multisensory communication development program, SMILE engages children as they progress through basic attending, phonemic awareness and sound–letter knowledge to the use of language in a descriptive and conversational manner. SMILE is a method of teaching speech, reading and writing to children with severe language and communication delays. It begins with phonemes (the building blocks of speech) and progresses to the development of short stories. It also incorporates development of attention, specific and consistent teaching methodology, use of structure, routine and immediate reinforcement. Ongoing attention to generalization ensures that the pupil does not end up with a series of splinter skills that are not functional. SMILE is based on the Association Method, which uses a combination of visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic associations.

Who Should Attend this Workshop? ACT has brought Dr. Wolf-Schein back to BC because of the very positive response to her previous workshops. Teachers, SLPs, educational assistants and parents have reported that SMILE is an effective low-tech, multisensory methodology that can be individualized for students who are speaking or reading very little or not at all. It can be easily adapted for students who are using an ABA approach in their early intervention program. While it has been used extensively for pre-schoolers, it is also useful as an approach to teaching reading for students who need a more individualized approach.

For Which Students is this Method Appropriate? This method can be used successfully with any pupil who has a severe language-learning disability who is still struggling despite intensive efforts to encourage speech and language. Generally these children do not imitate easily or generalize readily. They often seem to have problems with auditory memory, and they may lack expressive speech in the presence or absence of language comprehension.

Children with an inability to express or to understand language symbols are a diverse group with respect to their disorder. They may be classified as aphasic, or have ASD, Down Syndrome, central auditory dysfunction, impaired hearing, or a mental handicap.

The Workshop The program is taught in five language modules. Module 1 begins with attention-getting exercises, goes on to the teaching of single sounds and letters, and then consonant–vowel combinations. As the program progresses, pupils develop increased phonemic awareness, sound–letter knowledge, auditory and visual discrimination, sound and letter sequencing skills, word recognition, picture–word association, short sentences, and finally, concept stories using speech, reading and writing. The workshop will cover the manuals and materials and include simulations. Extensive videos of students with both autism and other challenging conditions will be utilized.

The Presenter Enid Wolf-Schein, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, has her Doctorate in Special Education and is a certified Speech Language Pathologist. An ASHA Fellow, Dr. Wolf-Schein has published extensively in academic journals and provides training internationally. One of her current efforts is consulting to programs for special populations in Broward County, Florida, where she is in private practice.

Full Registration Brochures: see www.actcommunity.net or see contact information below.
Online Registration: Go to www.actcommunity.net
Bursaries: If you are low income and / or traveling to attend a workshop, ACT has some bursary funds available. Please apply for a bursary before registering. See website for more information.
Support & Information: ACT’s team of Information Officers can provide support and information on a wide range of autism-related topics and can advise on whether a workshop is appropriate for your needs. Contact ACT by email at info@actcommunity.net, or by phone at 604-205-5467 or 866-939-5188.

Survey: Complementary/Alternative Medicines for Menopause Symptoms

2008-07-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Time sensitive

My name is Carole Lunny and I am now conducting a study, Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines for Menopause Symptoms in Women With or Without HIV, that looks at how women use complementary and alternative medicine for menopause symptoms.

The study is located online and only takes ten minutes to complete. The study can be accessed by copying and pasting this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s..aspx?sm=1LMRRo6siAL_2bWhvc108oAQ_3d_3d

This study has been approved by the Athabasca University Ethics Board. I am looking for women between the ages of 40 to 60 to participate.

If you know of any women HIV-positive or HIV-negative who might qualify please forward this email to them. I would like to disseminate this study as widely as possible since there has been very little research conducted to date on this topic.

Please contact me at carolelunny@gmail.com with any comments or questions.

Thanks very much,

Carole Lunny

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Theory, Research and Treatment

2008-06-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

Time sensitve

Mood Disorders Association of BC (MDA) Education Evening
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Theory, Research and Treatment
with Dr. Alex Chapman, Assist Prof Psychology, SFU
Thursday, July 17, 2008
7:00 pm
Sunrise Hall
1950 Windermere Street (at East 4th Ave.)
Vancouver, BC

Contact MDA for more information:
604-873-0103
mdabc@telus.net

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most misunderstood psychiatric disorders, yet one of the most serious. 75% people with BPD attempt suicide; 8-10% die by suicide. Often people with BPD are not aware of what causes their ongoing instability of emotions that affect their relationships, their behaviour and their identity. They not only experience stigma from society, but also from health providers. Dr. Chapman’s goal is to present accurate, up-to-date information about the latest research, possible causes and treatments of BPD. He will challenge some common myths and explain why BPD is an understandable and treatable psychiatric disorder.

Studies on hearing loss looking for participants

2008-06-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

Studies on hearing loss looking for participants
UBC’s School of Audiology and Speech Sciences is recruiting for participants for two studies on hearing loss.

The Adult Hearing Loss Study is looking for people between 19 – 69 years who have bilateral hearing loss. The study requires participants to sleep or quietly relax for a few hours while their brain waves are recorded. This is to help develop a new technique of hearing test, where brainwaves register hearing sensitivity. Participants will receive a $20 honorarium.

The second study looks at the auditory system of infants. One baby in every 1,000 is born with permanent hearing impairment. As the baby generally looks healthy, the hearing loss will not be suspected. Hearing screening can be done as early as the first 48 hours of life using a painless, safe, fast and ear-specific test while the baby sleeps, making early intervention possible.

The study involves recording the brainwaves of babies from 0 – 4 months old while the baby sleeps, along with a hearing screening. A copy will be given to the parents of those who participate in the study, along with a $20 honorarium.

Both studies are conducted by Prof. David. Stapells and audiologist and Post-doctoral Fellow Ieda Ishida of the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. For more information, contact the Ishida at the HAPLAB at 604-822-7424 or haplab@audiospeech.ubc.ca.

From: UBC This Week Jun. 5, 2008

1st World Conference of Women's Shelters--September 8-11, 2008

2008-06-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

1st World Conference of Women's Shelters
Discovering the Common Core: Practical Frameworks for Change
Shaw Conference Centre,
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Sept 8-11, 2008

In 2008, the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS) will host the 1st World Conference of Women's Shelters. This event will present a new opportunity for family violence workers in Alberta and around the world to learn from international experts and each other.

Too often, women's shelter work is overlooked in discussions on family violence, when in reality they are at the forefront of dealing with this issue. This will increase the capacity of shelters in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world to affect change in their organizations and their communities to better meet the needs of ethnocultural, multicultural and racial communities when dealing with family violence.

This will be a unique opportunity for individuals at the forefront of dealing with violence against women, to network, share and support one and other.

Help us extend an invitation to shelters around the world!

For more information: http://www.womenshelter.ca/home_en.php

Options for Sexual Health summer 2008 newsletter

2008-06-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Options for Sexual Health's summer 2008 newsletter, Facts of Life, is now available and is filled with great articles. In this issue:
Dating and the Single Parent
Raising Gender-healthy Children
Supporting Queer Youth, and
Talking to Your Daughter about Pregnancy Options

To subscribe to Facts of Life and for a wealth of additional information, visit the website:
http://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org

Canadian Women's Health Network magazine Spring/Summer issue available

2008-06-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

The Spring/Summer 2008 issue of the Canadian Women's Health Network magazine Network is available online. Articles include:

Editor's Note

Feeling the heat: Women's health in a changing climate

Evidence for caution: Women and statin use

The HPV vaccine, one year later

Charter challenge on drugs ads: A challenge in the wrong direction

Labels, laws and access to health care: How history affects health-care access for First Nations and Métis women

Cherchez la femme in minority francophone communities

Barbara Seaman (1935-2008): Pioneer in the women's health movement

Status positive: Supporting women immigrants and refugees with HIV/AIDS

'Women CARE' in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

Highs & lows: Canadian perspectives on women and substance use

To read individual article or to download the complete issue in PDF format, visit:
http://www.cwhn.ca/network-reseau/index.html

Health & Literacy: Constructing Curriculum for Health Care Providers--A Learning Institute

2008-05-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Health & Literacy: Constructing Curriculum for Health Care Providers
A Learning Institute
October 16-18, 2008
Calgary, AB

"This Institute will invite health-care providers from every branch of health-care service, curriculum developers in health-care and adult basic education and literacy, ESL providers, administrators, policy makers and anyone with an interest or expertise. You will share promising practices, models, consider the challenges and propose new directions for grounded curriculum in health literacy for health-care providers."

See brochure for details.

New book: Dissonant Disabilities: Women with Chronic Illnesses Explore their Lives

2008-05-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Whether it is fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, bipolar disorder, arthritis or many other chronic illnesses, most women are aware of at least one female friend, family member or acquaintance who has faced these illnesses.

Anecdotally, women's stories have always circulated, but now, for the first time, Diane Driedger and Michelle Owen have compiled experiences of women with chronic illnesses from all over the world shedding light on the discrimination, stigma, power struggles, misunderstanding by medical professionals and relationship challenges that women face.

Driedger and Owen, themselves women with chronic illnesses, launched their book, Dissonant Disabilities: Women with Chronic Illnesses Explore their Lives at Ryerson University on May 30th, 2008.

"Chronic illnesses are definitely a women's issue. Many illnesses such as depression, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and multiple sclerosis affect women more than men. And it goes without saying that since it is mostly women who occupy the lowest rungs of the hierarchy, it is they who become sick trying to 'do it all' and it is women who are not believed and discounted when they get sick," says Diane Driedger, one of the book's editors.

Professors, students, professionals, psychologists, writers...women with chronic illnesses come together to understand their place in a society which more and more values work and productivity, and devalues sickness and fatigue.

Certain to ring a bell with those familiar with women facing these illnesses, the anthology uses personal experiences and academic research to put women's chronic illness in a social perspective.

"Because of shame, ignorance or fear of repercussions personally and professionally, women with these illnesses often do not disclose and struggle in silence instead. Unlike some physical disabilities which are visible, the needs of women with chronic illnesses are often discounted or overlooked completely," says Bonnie Brayton, National Executive Director of the DisAbled Women's Network of Canada, "This book is important as it creates an opportunity for open dialogue on an issue faced by thousands of women in Canada. This is the first step towards understanding and finally properly accommodating the needs of women with chronic illnesses in our society.

Diane Driedger is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and author of The Last civil Rights Movement: Disabled Peoples' International. A published poet, she is the co-editor of two anthologies by women with disabilities.

Michelle Owen is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Winnipeg. Her primary research interests and publications include gender, sexuality, family and disability. Most recently, Owen worked on two projects involving women with disabilities: a longitudinal study of intimate partner violence, and a participatory action research on violence in the lives of girls and young women.

Publisher: Canadian Scholar's Press Inc, Women's Press
ISBN: 978-0-88961-464-2
Price: $36.95
Format: 200pp PB 6x9
www.dawncanada.net

Healthcare providers who discuss intimate piercings earn patients' trust

2008-05-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Patients with genital and nipple piercings, also known as “intimate piercings,” are best served by healthcare providers who initiate positive discussions about them, according to a new article in the journal Nursing for Women’s Health.

Yet, too often, such discussions do not occur, even when treating infections and other conditions related to the piercings, due to healthcare providers’ uneasiness over this increasingly common form of body art. An estimated 30 to 50% of youth ages 18 to 23 have piercings in places other than in their ear lobes, so it is highly likely that healthcare will encounter such piercings in their patients.

An article by Cathy Young, DNSc, APRN, BC, Associate Professor at Texas Tech University’s School of Nursing and Myrna L. Armstrong, EdD, RN, FAAN, Professor at Texas Tech University’s School of Nursing offers a comprehensive, practical overview of the clinical issues healthcare providers are likely to encounter related to intimate piercings. Issues range from why individuals seek and obtain such piercings to which medical procedures require such piercings to have been removed.

This study is published in the April/May 2008 issue of Nursing for Women’s Health.
Article abstract available.

New Aboriginal youth and suicide prevention website

2008-05-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

Health Canada and the National Aboriginal Health Organization recently unveiled a new web site to help combat suicide among Aboriginal youth. Called the Honouring Life Network, the site is targeted at both Aboriginal youth and suicide prevention workers in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Health Canada provided funding for the Honouring Life Network Web site under the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, a five-year $65 million strategy that seeks to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with suicide through community-based programming.

Available in English, French and Inuktitut, the site contains resources for youth and youth workers, including a Youth Worker's Forum where youth workers from across the country can connect to discuss and share suicide prevention resources and strategies. Personal stories and fact sheets are also available for youth to read about specific issues that they, or their friends, might be facing. The site’s comprehensive directory of suicide prevention resources is updated regularly to help youth workers in Aboriginal communities find the most relevant and up-to-date information and material.

Visit the website at: http://www.honouringlife.ca/

Web resource features 100 examples of health care innovations and tools

2008-05-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

A new Web resource that allows users to learn, share, and adopt innovations in the delivery of health services was launched today by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The resource—called the Health Care Innovations Exchange—is available at www.innovations.ahrq.gov.

AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange is the US federal government's repository for successful health care innovations. It also includes useful descriptions of attempts at innovation that failed. The web site is a tool for health care leaders, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals who seek to reduce health care disparities and improve health care overall.

Wipe Out: New documentary on traumatic brain injury and extreme sports

2008-05-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

A new documentary asks if risk-taking is worth risking your life. Wipe Out premieres Wednesday, June 11 at 8 pm on Knowledge Network

Wipe Out tells the story of three young BC men who suffered traumatic brain injuries while pursuing extreme sports. The documentary is narrated by Olympic Gold Medalist Ross Rebagliati.

Chris Dufficy, a professional snowboarder from North Vancouver, is only now coming to terms with his ongoing memory problems – the result of multiple concussions and a traumatic brain injury he suffered when he crashed after landing a monstrous jump for a film shoot. Jon Gocer is a talented snowboarder who was looking to turn thrill seeking into a career, until a wipe out on a skateboard almost ended his life.

On Vancouver Island, Chris Tutin is defying doctors who said he would never walk again after his cerebellum was crushed in a dirt bike accident five years ago. Like Chris Dufficy and Jon Gocer, he shares his story with the hope that it will encourage kids to wear helmets, and avoid reckless risk-taking.

Wipe Out offers viewers unprecedented insight into the lives of people who are part of what doctors call the “invisible epidemic” – brain injury, the leading cause of death and disability among men under the age of 35.

Information and preview available

Tools For Decreasing Health Care Barriers

2008-05-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

Tools For Decreasing Health Care Barriers: Accessible Health Care Briefs

The Center for Disabilities and the Health Professions Accessible Health Care series is designed to educate health care professionals, community organizations, advocates, and people with disabilities.

This series includes discussions, examples, illustrations, and resource information for improving access to health care services, programs, and products. Subjects include:

Introduction: Tools For Decreasing Health Care Barriers
Importance of Accessible Examination Tables
Importance of Accessible Weight Scales
Health Care Facilities Access
Choosing and Negotiating an Accessible Business Location
Barrier Removal: Improving Accessibility with Limited Resources
Providing Information in Alternative Formats
Accessible Web Site Design (provided by the University of Washington's Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology Center)
ADA Resources
Tax Incentives for Improving Accessibility

Available at: http://www.cdihp.org/products.html#access_briefs

Making Preventive Health Care Work for You

2008-05-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Making Preventive Health Care Work for You—A Resource Guide for People with Physical Disabilities (110 pages)

Covers:
Ways to make preventive screening work for you
Can you have a disability and still be healthy?
How can you increase your odds for a healthy life?
What are your risk factors?
What is routine health screening?
Will your doctor tell you what you need?
Why is routine screening especially important for people with disabilities
Why are checkups important?
What about vaccines?
What is healthy lifestyle counselling?
How can you create your own routine screening and immunization plan?
Why is it important to have good relationships with your providers?
Should you speak up?
Why is it important to plan ahead?
How can you improve your communication with your health care providers?
The DES script: A tool for improving communication
How can you understand and remember information from visits with health care providers?
How can you be sure to get your test results?
What else should you know about routine screenings and vaccines?
Organizations and web sites
Routine preventive screening for people with disabilities: Tips for health care providers
Various tools and checklists

Available from the Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions (CDIHP) in the following versions:
Braille Ready File
Large Print version Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word Document Version
Portable Document Format (PDF) Version
http://www.cdihp.org/products.html#prevent

Emergency Health Information

2008-05-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Emergency Health Information [for people with disabilities]
the first in the Savvy Health Care Consumer Series
by June Isaacson Kailes

Covers:
Emergency Health Information
Why You Should Carry Emergency Health Information
Tips on Completing Emergency Health Information
Sample Emergency Health Information
Emergency Health Information [Blank form]

Available from the Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions (CDIHP)
http://www.cdihp.org/products.html#savvy

May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia

2008-04-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

"There is still time to order posters and pamphlets for the 2008 Annual Campaign to Fight Homophobia. You can order this material free of charge via the website for the International Day Against Homophobia. Simply download the form (Word or PDF), fill it out, and then send it to Fondation Émergence (mail@homophobiaday.org, fax: 514-866-8157)."

"Entitled 'Homosexuality is NOT a sickness!', the campaign is geared toward the public at large and specifically to various people who still perceive homosexuality as an illness. We request that all groups aware of LGBT issues participate to gain their support for distributing material to the general public with the aim to contribute to the fight against homophobia."--from Fondation Émergence announcement

"Recipe Analyzer" -- Dietitians of Canada

2008-03-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

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

Women and hair removal research project seeking participants

2008-02-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

SMOOTH TALKING
HAIR, HAIR, HAIR

ARE YOU A WOMAN AGED 15-50?
WE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR OPINION ON HAIR REMOVAL

Lenore Riddell (Nurse Practitioner, BC Women's Hospital & Member, WHRI) and Hannah Varto (Clinical Practice Leader & Family Practice Nurse Practitioner for Child & Youth Programs for VCH) are conducting research that is aimed towards enhancing our understanding of this relatively new phenomenon of widespread pubic hair removal from the women's perspectives.

They are conducting a widespread survey of women ages 15 to 50 in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The ultimate goal of this research will be to develop best practice guidelines for health care professionals about healthy hair removal (or not) for women.

For more information and to fill in the survey:
http://www.whri.org/smoothtalking.htm

On February 27th Wear Pink - End Bullying

2008-02-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

From Christy Clark:

"Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. Over the next few weeks on The Christy Clark Show, I will be helping raise awareness on these issues and my guests will hopefully give us all the tools needed to stand up against bullies and step in when we see it happening.

Then on February 27th I encourage all of you to wear a pink T-shirt to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere. I wish I could take credit for this idea but it comes from two incredible Nova Scotia high school students. ..."
[continued...]

Gabor Maté discusses his new book, "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts"

2008-02-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

Gabor Maté discusses his new book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

Wednesday March 12 2008
7:30 PM Saint Andrew's Wesley
1012 Nelson at Burrard Street in Vancouver
Minimum Donation: $5

Hear the wonderful Dr. Gabor Maté discuss his latest and highly anticipated book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, with host: Dr. Bruce Alexander, Professor Emeritus (Psychology), Simon Fraser University, Author, The Globalization of Addiction.

This is a fundraising event for the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and the Aboriginal Mother Centre.

Help raise more funds by pre-ordering Dr. Maté's new book through NVS to pick up at the event and before, by arrangement. Simply email necessaryvoices@gmail.com

Information: http://www.necessaryvoices.org and necessaryvoices@gmail.com

About this Book
In this timely and profoundly original new book, bestselling writer and physician Gabor Maté looks at the epidemic of addictions in our society, tells us why we are so prone to them and what is needed to liberate ourselves from their hold on our emotions and behaviours.

For over seven years Gabor Maté has been the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and harm reduction facility in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. His patients are challenged by life-threatening drug addictions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV and, in many cases, all four. But if Dr. Maté's patients are at the far end of the spectrum, there are many others among us who are also struggling with addictions. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, work, food, sex, gambling and excessive inappropriate spending: what is amiss with our lives that we seek such self-destructive ways to comfort ourselves? And why is it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our lives?

Beginning with a dramatically close view of his drug addicted patients, Dr. Maté looks at his own history of compulsive behaviour. He weaves the stories of real people who have struggled with addiction with the latest research on addiction and the brain. Providing a bold synthesis of clinical experience, insight and cutting edge scientific findings, Dr. Maté sheds light on this most puzzling of human frailties. He proposes a compassionate approach to helping drug addicts and, for the many behaviour addicts among us, to addressing the void addiction is meant to fill.

Creative Methodologies in Tobacco and Health Behaviour: Photography & Theatre

2008-02-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive
Event: March 12, 2008
RSVP: Marhc 8, 2008

Do you like the theatre? How about photography? Want to know how these creative pursuits are being used in tobacco and health research? To find out, join us for a free public lecture and exhibit.

Creative Methodologies in Tobacco and Health Behaviour Research: Using Photography & Theatre to Foster Deeper Understandings

Health behaviour research aims to understand individual health behaviour and develop practices and policies to better support people in making positive health choices. Capturing the voices of research participants is thus a crucial aspect of health research. In addition, to communicate research in a meaningful way it is essential to engage with individuals involved in making those
choices about their health. Individual motivation and the other social and structural influences can be revealed in many different ways.

Creative methodologies - such as participant photography (photovoice) and participatory theatre (forum theatre) - allow researchers to be more inclusive of participant "voices" to explore and translate knowledge about certain health behaviours.

Hear what researchers and participants have to say about these methodologies
View the images created by participants about their smoking experience
Participate in a mini-forum theatre production

Tobacco use is a particularly sensitive and personal topic which requires creative approaches to foster deeper understandings. This panel discussion, photo exhibit & screening will explore the challenges and benefits of using photovoice and forum theatre in three research projects: "Smoke, In My Eyes," "Families Controlling & Eliminating Tobacco" (FACET 2), and "Cultivating Awareness of the Context of Tobacco Use (CACTUS).

Date: Wednesday, March 12th
Time: 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Location: UBC Robson Square 800 Robson Street Vancouver, B.C.
For directions: http://www.robsonsquare.ubc.ca/
RSVP by March 8th: nexus@ubc.ca

For more information contact Ariadna
E-mail: nexus@nursing.ubc.ca
Phone: 604-822-7933
W: http://nexus.ubc.ca/

Participants needed: Farm Family Health Research Project

2008-02-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

The British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health is recruiting farmers and ranchers in British Columbia who would be interested in participating in a Farm Family Health Research Project

This large cross-Canada study wants to look at the health impact of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) on individuals, families, and communities. We are looking for men and women over the age of 18 who live or work on a farm.

Who can participate?
We would like to hear from dairy and beef farmers and ranchers, feedlot owners, and small and big operations from across the province.

What do you have to do?
You will be asked to fill in a questionnaire that will be mailed to you. We are hoping to be in touch again one or two more times in the next six years. We would like to track how BSE, or "mad cow disease", and related prion diseases have affected you and what you have done to respond and to promote your well-being.

Who is conducting the study and why?
A team of researchers across Canada funded by PRIONET Canada (www.prionetcanada.ca). Little research has been directed at the health impact of BSE on individuals, families, and communities. We need to understand these effects to form and evaluate programs and policies to promote the health of Canadian farm families.

For more information visit:
http://www.bccewh.bc.ca/news-events/default.htm (poster available)
http://fchnet.ucalgary.ca/

If you would like to help with recruitment please contact:
Marie Dussault
mdussault@cw.bc.ca
604.875.2424 /1.888.300.3088 ext.6487

To participate please contact:
Madhu Sindhwani
ruralfamilyhealth@ucalgary.ca
Toll free 1-877-422-4358
Fax: 403-270-7307

Presentation: Going home alone: Managing chronic illness following short term hospitalization

2008-02-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive
EVENT: February 27, 2008
RSVP: RSVP by February 22nd, with an indication of how you plan to participate (location or WebEx).

The NEXUS Research Unit and the BC Rural and Remote Health Research Network are pleased to present - "Going home alone: Managing chronic illness following short term hospitalization" by Sandra Lauck (NEXUS Trainee).

This presentation will be video-conferenced to UBC-Okanagan. If there is sufficient interest it will also be video-conferenced to the BC Cancer Agency and BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (BCCEWH).

You can also participate from your own office via WebEx which allows you use your own computer and phone. Full details about how to participate are below.

Date: February 27, 2008 (Wednesday)

Time: 4:00 to 5:00 PM

UBC Vancouver (Live!): UBC Telestudios (Room# 0110) 2329 West Mall

BCCA: 4th floor Boardroom (Room 4218) at the Vancouver Centre, 600 W. 10th.

BCCEWH: 4500 Oak Street (Room K0-156)

UBC-Okanagan: Fine arts and health building - 3rd floor (Room 351B)

WebEx connection instructions:
1. Go to https://msfhr.webex.com/msfhr/j.php?ED=98625977&UID=0
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: ruralhealth
4. Click "Join".
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Teleconference Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 866-469-3239
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 650-429-3300

RSVP: nexus@nursing.ubc.ca by February 22nd

Description:
In spite of progress in prevention and treatment, heart disease remains a significant cause of debilitating illness and death of Canadian men and women. This chronic and terminal illness requires patients and their families to self-manage much of their care, including the modification of health behaviours to reduce their risk for further cardiac events, to work in partnership with their primary care provider, and to access acute medical services as needed in the trajectory of their disease. In BC, all patients who require an invasive cardiac intervention, such as balloon, angioplasty or cardiac surgery, must travel to a cardiac referral centre in the Vancouver or Victoria regions. Following discharge, patients return home to be cared for by their local care provider, with few resources available to transition from acute to community services. This study aimed at describing self-care behaviours of patients who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention for the management of coronary artery disease, following admission and discharge the day of the procedure. In addition, we studied factors associated with cardiac self-efficacy and self-care agency in the two to five days following hospital discharge to identify patients at higher risk for a difficult recovery upon return to their community.

If you plan to attend the seminar, please RSVP by February 22nd, with an indication of how you plan to participate (location or WebEx).

Ariadna Fernandez, MA
Research Manager, NEXUS
University of British Columbia
School of Nursing
302 - 6190 Agronomy Road
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3

E-mail: ariadna.fernandez@nursing.ubc.ca
Phone: 604-822-7933 Fax: 604-822-7869
W: http://nexus.ubc.ca/

Reader friendly diabetes information

2008-02-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

"Learning About Diabetes, Inc., is a non-profit, charitable, educational corporation dedicated to providing patients, caregivers, and health care professionals with:

Easy-to-read, low literacy, and very low literacy health education programs
Culturally sensitive foreign-language programs for those in need of health care information in their native language
Research on the role of art and design in creating effective health care communications."

Materials available include: booklets, handouts and visual aids, picture stories, colouring books, & comic books

Visit the website at: http://www.learningaboutdiabetes.org

"Wall Street Journal" article on informed consent

2008-02-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

"The Informed Patient" by Laura Landro
The Wall Street Journal Feb 6, 2008 page D1

"Informed consent may be the biggest misnomer in medicine: Studies show that most patients don't read the forms they sign before undergoing surgery or medical treatment. More than half of those who do read the forms don't understand them, and only a quarter of forms include all of the data patients need to make an informed decision."
Continued at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120224055435844931.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_pj

Patient to Patient Kidney Care in BC DVD

2008-02-12T14:28:00.000-08:00

Patient to Patient Kidney Care in BC is a new DVD from the BC Renal Agency which plays in 5 different languages - English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, and Tagalog. The DVD aims to support those who have just been diagnosed with kidney disease and those who have the disease and would like to know more about different aspects of its care and treatment.

It is available free to anyone who requests a copy on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a copy of the DVD, email bcpra@bcpra.ca noting Patient to Patient in the subject line, or call 604.875.7340.

COURSE FULL Feb. 11/08: Online course: evaluating health info on the Internet

2008-02-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive
This course is full as of Feb 5/08--watch for announcements of future sessions.

Begins Monday February 11th

From the US National Network of Libraries of Medicine--Pacific Northwest Region website

"From Snake Oil to Penicillin: Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet

Where do you turn for trusted health information? This course will provide you with tools to determine whether health information web sites are trustworthy and reliable or whether to look elsewhere. Criteria for evaluating health information web sites will be provided and interactive assignments will reinforce concepts.

Objectives:

Become familiar with unique issues surrounding health information on the internet.
Understand the nature of web-based resources and why people post information to the internet.
Evaluate health information web sites using a set of criteria provided so that you can determine whether or not the sites are trustworthy sources of health information."

http://nnlm.gov/pnr/training/snakeoil.html

Note: announcement from a February 2008 email -- disregard 2007 date on website.

Cooking For Your Life! Classes -- Canadian Diabetes Assoc.

2008-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

From: Diabetes Current (Pacific Edition)
February 2008

Cooking For Your Life!
Date: Friday, February 01, 2008
Details: Learn to select healthy foods, menu plan, take an interactive shopping tour, prepare nutritious meals and achieve better health in this hands-on cooking and nutrition program. Cost: $75.

Location: Surrey
Dates: Tuesdays , February 5, 12, 19 & 26, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Guildford Park Secondary School
Registration: Call (604) 589-2221 or online at www.ce.sd36.bc.ca

Saanich
Dates: Tuesdays, February 5, 12, 19 & 26, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Colquitz Middle School
Registration: Call (250) 475-5400 or contact any Saanich Recreation Centre or online at www.Saanich.ca

Saanich Peninsula
Dates: Wednesdays, February 6, 13, 20 & 27, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Bayside Middle School
1101 Newton Place, Saanich Peninsula
Registration: Call (250) 382-5454, ext.222, or visit Victoria & District Branch office
#276-2950 Douglas Street, Victoria

Richmond (program offered in Cantonese)
Dates: Saturdays, February 16, 23, March 1 & 8, 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Location: Garrett Wellness Centre
Registration: Call the Chinese Diabetes Information & Support Centre at (604) 732-8187

Vancouver
Dates: Tuesdays, February 19, 26, March 4 & 11, 6:30 p,m. - 9:30 p.m.
Lacation: Gladstone School
Registration: Call (604) 713-4550 or online at www.continuinged.ca

Get the latest event listings from your regional office [http://www.diabetes.ca/section_regional/bc_yk.asp] .

Upcoming disability workshops--Lower Mainland

2008-01-31T11:12:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

Below are some upcoming workshops announced in Keeping In Touch newsletter (February 2008) from the North Shore Association for the Mentally Handicapped in North Vancouver.
You can also read back issues of this great newsletter.

1. Safeguards & Quality Service Training Project
2. Visual Strategies – The Keys to Improving Communication, Behaviour & Social Skills
3. Mental Illnesses & Developmental Disabilities Training Program
4. Co-occurring Disorders

======================

1. Safeguards & Quality Service Training Project: what families need to know and do to help create good lives for their children.
Saturday March 1st, 2008
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Family Support Institute
North Shore Disability Resource Centre
3158 Mountain Hwy, North Vancouver
Contact Nusrat Peerbhoy – 604-540-8374 ext. 521 or email training@fsibc.com

======================

2. Visual Strategies – The Keys to Improving Communication, Behaviour & Social Skills with Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Monday March 10, 2008

Council for Exceptional Children
St. Patrick’s Elementary School
2850 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Contact Bev McRae by email at info@bccec.org

=====================

3. Mental Illnesses & Developmental Disabilities Training Program
Fridays – March 28 to June 13, 2008

Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services
The Galbraith
131 Eight Street, New Westminster, BC
Contact Anne Halas by email at anne.halas@fraserhealth.ca

====================

4. Co-occurring Disorders
March 27, 2008

A mental illness or an addiction by themselves may be difficult to treat and support. When combined, the service system continues to struggle to meet the needs of clients. This workshop will discuss symptoms and treatment with an emphasis on current BC developed best practices.

Presenters: John Fox and Bob Shebib, Instructors
Douglas College
All sessions: Douglas College Boardroom
(Room 4920) New Westminster Campus,
700 Royal Avenue (one block from New
Westminster SkyTrain station)

Please pre-register if you plan to attend.
To pre-register or to be added to our mailing list call: Barbara Hill 604-527-5484 or e-mail: hillb@douglas.bc.ca

Universal Design principles in the post-secondary setting

2008-01-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

An Inside Look: Creating Inclusive Environments with Universal Design
Teleclass held January 23, 2008
Transcripts and workshop handouts are available at:
http://www.pepnet.org/training/train080123/

"This one and a half hour TeleTraining was designed to provide an overview of Universal Design principles in the post-secondary setting. Panelist addressed universal design with deaf and hard of hearing students in the postsecondary setting. Panel members have a plethora of experience and expertise with presenting and implementing universal design and their varied background and experience provided a unique discussion on accommodation and service provision."

"Some of the issues that were discussed in this TeleTraining included:

Universal Design and its underlying core principles
Dispelling common misconceptions about Universal Design
How can online classes be made accessible
How are the changes in student population effecting the accommodations being requested"

Guests:

Carol Funckes
Associate Director,
Disability Resource Center, University of Arizona
President of AHEAD

Susan Foster, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Research and Teacher Education
Rochester Institute of Technology
National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Melanie Thornton, M.A., CRC, LPC
Director, Project PACE
University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Burnaby's New Canadian Clinic now open

2008-01-31T10:42:00.000-08:00

Burnaby's New Canadian Clinic was established as part of Fraser Health’s new primary health-care network with start-up funds provided by the Province’s Health Innovation Fund.

The Burnaby clinic is one of two New Canadian Clinics established by Fraser Health. The second clinic, located in Surrey, has been accepting referrals since late November and offers the same range of integrated medical and social support for new immigrants.

“Each clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary and multilingual team that includes a nurse practitioner, nurse, mental health counsellor and community support worker who each specialize in addressing the needs of recently-arrived immigrants,” said Connie Lapadat, the nurse practitioner who leads the Burnaby clinic’s team. “Interpreters are scheduled to assist clients as needed, and our team works in collaboration with Dr. Baldev Sanghera, the primary care physician I consult for more complex medical issues.”

The new clinic’s focus is on providing health management, education and self-management support for new immigrants with chronic diseases and two or more co-existing illnesses, such as diabetes, heart, lung and renal disease.

Burnaby's New Canadian Clinic is currently operating Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will adjust and extend its hours of operation based on evolving client needs. Visits are by Appointment only.

New Canadian Clinic in Surrey

2008-01-31T10:37:00.001-08:00

The New Canadian Clinic in Surrey is overcoming language and cultural barriers to provide better health-care access to immigrants who have recently arrived in the Lower Mainland.

A large new immigrant population in Surrey, combined with a current shortage of general practitioners in the community, has meant some immigrants are relying on emergency services for medical care. The new clinic is addressing this problem by augmenting and integrating existing Fraser Health services with the social supports of the immigrant network in Surrey to provide a co-ordinated continuum of care.

The benefits of this new health-care model include shorter lengths of stay in hospital, fewer visits to emergency departments and an improvement in the overall health of new immigrants. The first patient referrals to the Surrey clinic were accepted in late November 2007. By this January, the Surrey clinic had attended to over 85 clients with multiple needs and very complex medical problems. For some, it was their first time receiving any health services.

“Our clinic uses a multidisciplinary and multilingual team approach to assist new immigrants to integrate more quickly into the mainstream health system,” said nurse practitioner Bal Dhesi. The team is led by a nurse practitioner and includes a nurse, mental health counsellor, medical office assistant, and community health liaison worker who each have the skills necessary to address the complex needs of recently arrived immigrants. “Interpreters have been scheduled for most cases,” said Dhesi, “and we collaborate closely with Dr. Kamaljit Sekhon, our primary care physician, on more medically complex cases.”

The clinical team focuses mainly on providing health management, education and self-management support for new immigrants with multiple chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart, lung and renal disease. According to Sekhon, “Many immigrants are at an increased risk over the general population of developing diabetes and heart disease.”

The New Canadian Clinic operates Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with plans to adjust and extend hours of operation to reflect the evolving needs of clients.
Visits to the clinic are by appointment only.

Conference: Health Literacy in Primary Care: Best Practices and Skill Building

2008-01-31T10:25:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

May 1-2, 2008
Irvine, CA
The Institute for Healthcare Advancement's Seventh Annual Health Literacy Conference, Health Literacy in Primary Care: Best Practices and Skill Building, will be held May 1-2, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, CA.

Keynote speaker is Richard H. Carmona, M.D.., M.P.H., FACS, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006).
To register: http://www.iha4health.org/index.cfm/MenuItemID/248.htm

A Call for Posters has been issued. Those doing research in health literacy or working on innovative programs are encouraged to apply. Join the mailing list to receive information about the conference as it becomes available.

New to health literacy and want to get up to speed on the issues?
Wednesday night, April 30, 2008: free, one-hour preconference session, Health Literacy 101

Vancouver workshops by Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute

2008-01-31T10:10:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

Two workshops offered in Vancouver by the Winnipeg-based Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute Inc.

Responding to Trauma – March 10, 2008
The impact of trauma is complex and confusing and it affects all people differently. This introductory workshop will explore some of the more relevant understandings about how trauma develops and then influences and impacts an individual. A brief synopsis of the more common approaches about how to work with those impacted by trauma will be reviewed. Participants will gain a better understanding of the nature of trauma and be better equipped to continue their work in responding to trauma.

Self-Harm Behaviour in Youth – Issues and Strategies – March 11, 2008
Self-harm can be difficult for loved ones and people in the helping field to understand. This introductory workshop will assist participants in understanding the experience and motivations of adolescents who intentionally injure themselves. In addition, the course will provide practical strategies for working with youth struggling with this complex issue. Participants will leave this
workshop with increased insight regarding self-harm behaviour in youth and direction for effective interventions.

Costs for each 1 day workshop:
$125.00 (Early Registration – 3 weeks prior to workshop date)
$150.00 (Regular Registration)

For more information or for information about manuals and free resources (for personal use), visit: http://www.ctrinstitute.com
Email: info@ctrinstitute.com
Phone: 204-452-9199
Toll Free: 877-353-3205

BC Parents Information Network

2008-01-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

Parents of BC students in kindergarten through Grade 12 can now access educational resources online through LearnNow BC, a partnership between the Province and the Virtual School Society.

The Parent Information Network (PIN) is a one-stop online resource for parents looking for up-to-date information relevant to their child’s learning and experiences at school. The information component of the site contains several topics, including:

A Learning Support section that includes information on tutoring, literacy and supports for ESL and students with special needs in BC.
A Parent Involvement section that outlines the various ways parents can participate in their child’s school community.
A Health and Safety section that includes information about daily physical activity and healthy eating guidelines in BC schools, codes of conduct, and information on seismic upgrades to schools in BC.
A section on graduation that outlines the requirements for graduation from the BC school system and includes information about post-secondary education and career planning.
A Learning Options section that highlights the types of schools and learning methods available in BC.

The site, which was built in consultation with BC parents and the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, also includes information on early learning and adult education programs available for BC’s lifelong learners.

The interactive component of the site features video clips and provides a forum to facilitate communication between parents around the province. The network allows parents to create and attend virtual meetings, so more parents can get involved in the education system while reducing the amount of travel necessary and, in turn, helping to create a greener BC.

Parents and guardians can access the Parent Information Network through the LearnNow BC website at www.learnnowbc.ca.

The Homeless Hub: Canadian Homelessness Research Library

2008-01-31T09:44:00.000-08:00

The Homeless Hub
Canadian Homelessness Research Library
http://www.homelesshub.ca

"The Homeless Hub is an innovative research library and information center focusing on homelessness issues in Canada. Building on the success of the Canadian Conference on Homelessness, held at York University (2005), the Homeless Hub represents a new approach to sharing information and research on homelessness. We strongly believe that evidence-based research can and should have an impact on decision-making and solutions to homelessness, through helping to educate the public, and to inform policy and practice at all levels of government and in the social, health care and housing sectors."

Family Violence and Homelessness: A Review of the Literature [PDF] is available at the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV)

For a free, print version, please visit the NCFV website, Family Violence publications section and use the shopping cart feature to place an order.

For links to additional articles on family violence and homelessness, visit the Homeless Hub – Canadian Homelessness Research Library at: http://www.homelesshub.ca/hh/default.cfm?incfile=hub

Handheld Computers as Cognitive Aids [webcast]

2008-01-31T09:29:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

Handheld Computers as Cognitive Aids
Tony Gentry

Date: February 19, 2008
2:00 - 2:45 PM ET
11:00-11:45 PT

In this webcast, Dr. Tony Gentry will discuss his community-based research into the use of PDAs, GPS units, cell phones and reminder watches to assist people with cognitive impairment related to autism, brain injury or multiple sclerosis in the independent management of their everyday activities. The presentation will include discussion of research findings, products, software features, intervention protocols, video testimony from a user with Asperger's syndrome, and recommendations for best practice.

Registration options: individual registration for one webcast is $50 (US) or:

Individual Subscription to Webcast Series: $150 [see link below for series details]
Includes access to all webcasts in the series for one individual.
Agency Subscription to Webcast Series: $550
Includes access to all webcasts in the series for five individuals from your agency.
Multiple Location Subscription to Webcast Series: $1000
Includes access for 10 computers in multiple locations to all webcasts in the series.

Sponsored by:
Virginia Commonwealth University
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention
To register: http://www.worksupport.com/training/webcastDetails.cfm/120
To view complete series: http://www.worksupport.com/training/webcastSeries.cfm/7

Nurses’ Advice Boosts Smokers’ Chances of Quitting

2008-01-25T14:10:00.000-08:00

January 22, 2008
By Joan Hennessy, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service
Center for the Advancement of Health

Despite countless public service ads, educational programs and the scary warnings on cigarette packs, roughly one in every five American adults still smokes. However, a new systematic review finds that nurses can get the “quit now” message across effectively.

The analysis of 31 clinical studies—comprising some 12,000 adult smokers—finds that smokers offered advice by nurses have an increased likelihood of quitting compared to smokers without such intervention.

The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.

Studies analyzed involved at least two groups of patients: one that received advice from nurses and another that did not. Some studies were low intensity, involving a single 10-minute consultation with no more than a single follow-up session, while high-intensity intervention provided longer consultations in which patients were given materials and strategies and received additional follow-up care.

Reference:
Rice VH, Stead LF. Nursing interventions for smoking cessation (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1.

Media release:
http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1636

Follow-up study to the International Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (IALLS)

2008-01-25T14:02:00.000-08:00

The Daily (Wednesday January 9, 2008)
Statistics Canada
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080109/d080109a.htm

International Survey of Reading Skills
2005

Canada has very few people who exhibit a really limited capacity in reading skills, according to a new follow-up study to an international literacy survey.

The study suggests that the approach to improving reading levels for people with the lowest proficiency will likely have to vary from individual to individual. That is because their specific reading skills differ widely and thus, the teaching methods will vary according to learners' needs.

The study was based on results from the International Study of Reading Skills (ISRS), conducted in 2005. It was a follow-up survey of the Canadian component of the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (IALLS) that measured literacy skills among individuals aged 16 to 65 in Canada and six other countries.

The ISRS reassessed about 2,000 Canadians from all literacy level but focused on those whose literacy scores in the IALSS fell into levels 1 or 2, the lowest of five. Level 3 is considered the desired threshold needed by adults to participate fully in the knowledge economy.

The purpose of the ISRS was to describe in greater detail the reading abilities of the least-skilled adult readers in society to better understand their instructional needs.

The 2003 international survey found that about 9 million Canadians aged 16 to 65, or 42% of the working-age population, scored below Level 3 on the prose literacy scale. This proportion had not changed since 1994.

Differences in literacy performance between individuals and regional economies are a concern for Canada because they constrain our ability to compete with nations in which the level of literacy skill is rising rapidly.

Continued at: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080109/d080109a.htm

Nutrition Place Mat for Diabetes Education

2008-01-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

The Nutrition Place Mat for Diabetes Education Kit for Diabetes & Health Educators
from Table Top Nutrition
http://www.tabletopnutrition.com/diabetes-educators.shtml

From the website:
"Here is an effective, easy-to-use tool for teaching diabetes patients how to apply a nutritional plan in their meal-by-meal or daily diet. The Diabetes Place Mat is a sturdy, heavily laminated, 11" by 17" place mat that can be used over and over. The Kit includes many, many copy-ready handouts including 4 sample meal plans--one each for 2250, 1800, 1500, and 1250 calories per day plus a blank plan for you to fill in custom plans as needed for some patients."

Other nutrition-related place mat kits are available.

Planning for the Future workshop series--Down Syndrome Research Foundation

2008-01-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

New from the Down Syndrome Research Foundation
Planning for the Future workshop series 2008

From the website:
"The Down Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF) is pleased to offer a series of workshops designed to provide relevant information to assist families who have a child with special needs prepare for the future.

Workshops will be presented in Burnaby the 2nd Thursday of each month and in Surrey on the 3rd Thursday of each month. In July and August, no workshops will be held.

The primary presenters are Robert Melrose and Joy Hayden"

For details, visit the DSRF website:
http://www.dsrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=programs.planningFutureWorkshops

Health literacy online tutorial

2008-01-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Health Literacy: New Field, New Opportunities
online tutorial covering:

Health literacy challenge
Who are health literacy practitioners
Successful strategies and practices
Applying what you have learned

Produced by World Education with support from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region
http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/docs/tutorial/SWF/flashcheck/main.htm

Funding opportunity: "On the Move" physical activity programs for Aboriginal girls & young women

2008-01-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

Aboriginal Girls on the Move
Request for Applications
Submission Deadline: Monday, February 18, 2008 4:00pm (Pacific Standard Time)

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport Circle, is seeking opportunities to collaborate with six communities to develop and implement On the Move physical activity programs for Aboriginal girls and young women. Communities across Canada are invited to submit an application.

Funding is available to support the development and implementation of an On the Move physical activity program for inactive Aboriginal girls and young women (aged 9-18). This program will be delivered twice during the funding period, prior to March 31, 2009 (e.g. Fall 2008 and Winter 2009). Each program must be a minimum of 8 weeks, and provide a variety of physical activity and educational sessions (e.g. healthy eating, tobacco prevention and cessation, self-esteem, media awareness, healthy living-themed arts projects) with the goal of promoting the importance of healthy, active living.

Communities will also benefit from:

An On the Move workshop to increase community capacity to deliver physical activity programs for Aboriginal girls and young women;
Participation in a national project meeting for professional development, evaluation and celebration prior to the end of the national project;
Project communication and evaluation strategies; and
Ongoing support and communication with CAAWS.

Download the Request for Applications for more information
http://www.caaws.ca/onthemove/e/news/aboriginal_girls_otm_011608.htm

Organizations considering submitting an application are encouraged to contact Sydney Millar, Project Manager, to discuss proposed activities and address any questions.
Tel: 604.738.2468 or snmillar@caaws.ca

Funding for the Aboriginal Girls On the Move project has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Health literacy resources at the Adult Literacy Education (ALE) Wiki

2008-01-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

Visit the Health Literacy page at the Adult Literacy Education Wiki
http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Health_Literacy

A great site providing links to health literacy resources (predominantly US) including:

What's NEW in this area?
Research
Resources
Discussions
Promising Practices
Stories from Learners and Patients
Announcements & Upcoming Events

Have a sibling with mental illness? Focus group for 16-30 year-olds--Vancouver

2008-01-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

Do you have a brother or sister with a mental illness?

We would like to learn from you about what services would be helpful in coping with a sibling living with a severe mental illness.

A focus group for 16 to 30 year olds who have a sibling living with a severe mental illness.

January 30, 2008
location: 800 East Broadway
Mount Pleasant Neighborhood house
7 PM – 9 PM

Refreshments will be provided. Please pre-register!

To register or for more information, please contact:
Jessica Smits at 604-247-1884/jessicasmits@bcss.org
Sherry Gable at 604-708-5289/sherry.gable@vch.ca

Adapted Recreation Programs - North Vancouver

2008-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

1. Adapted After School Club 7-13 yrs old
For children with a developmental disability. Participants will enjoy making new friends while participating in a variety of structured motor and social activities.
We now have 2 certified instructors (Laura and Carla) and a fantasitic volunteer who has worked with the group since the fall. Activities include swimming in the wave pool, sit-scooters, popcorn parachute & tactile ball games along with a variety of cooperative activities.
Karen Magnussen recCentre (North Vancouver), Eagle Rm.
#181531 Monday Feb 11-Mar 10 3:30-5pm
$75

2. Adapted Aquafit 15 yrs&up
Join us in the poool for this new modified fitness program for people 15 years old and up with a developmental disability. All participants extra support please attend class with a support worker or call Meh at 604-987-7529 to request a volunteer. (Please note that if you have a child wishing to participate in this class and they are not quite 15yrs, please give Jackie a call at 604-982-8331)
Karen Magnussen recCentre, Games Pool (North Vancouver)
#188250 Tuesday Jan 15-Feb 26 1:30-2:30pm
$55.13

3. Stroke By Stroke 19 yrs&up
(Adapted Painting program)
Karen Magnussen recCentre (North Vancouver), Eagle Rm.
Join Vern Montgomery, local artist and stroke survivor, to learn basic painting techniques. This program has been designed for people recovering from a CVA, all abilities are welcome.
#181529 Friday Jan 18-Feb 8 11:45-12:30m
$46.20

Contact:
Jackie Hamm
Recreation Programmer- Leisure Access, First Aid, Martial Arts, Sports & Racquets
John Braithwaite Community Centre
145 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC
604-982-8331
jhamm@jbcc.ca

UBC Health Promotion Workshops: Stop Smoking & Healthy Brain

2008-01-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

UBC Health Promotion Workshops are open to the public. For registration and additional information, visit the websites below.

Helpful Tools to Quit Smoking
January 22 and 24, 2008
To mark National Non Smoking Week, January 20 – 26, 2008

Speaker: Veda Peters, Tobacco Education Coordinator for the BC Lung Association
"Veda outlines the variety of reasons why people smoke, the meaning of addiction and the stages of change in a smoking cessation program."

More information: http://www.hse.ubc.ca/health_promotion/wellness_initiatives/initiatives_index.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Healthy Brain: Reducing the risk for Alzheimer's disease
January 30, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Room #234, General Services Administration Building

Speaker: Judy Bourne, Support and Education Coordinator Vancouver for the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
"Judy will present information about known risk factors and Alzheimer's disease. She will also review the health measures and tools that we can integrate into our daily lives immediately to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia in the future."

More information:
http://www.hse.ubc.ca/health_promotion/wellness_initiatives/initiatives_index.htm

Cross Cultural Health Broker Program

2008-01-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

[from the brochure (PDF)]
The Cross Cultural Health Broker (CCHB) provides cultural and linguistic interpretation to facilitate communication between clients and health care service providers, thereby contributing to improved overall health outcomes.

Who is this service for?

Immigrants, refugees and refugee claimants experiencing multiple barriers to accessing health services
Health care service providers requiring support in fully meeting the needs of immigrant and refugee clients

The CCHB Program is currently staffed to support the Afghan, Latin American, African, South Asian and Vietnamese communities in the follow languages:
Amharic
Punjabi
Arabic
Russian
Dari
Somali
Hindi
Spanish
Oromo
Urdu
Pashto
Vietnamese
Persian

Clients can access the services of a Cross Cultural Health Broker by calling 604-709-6475 and requesting the language they speak

Service providers can access a referral form online at:
www.bcmhss.org
By phone: 604-709-6475
By email: cransen@reachcentre.bc.ca

The Cross Cultural Health Brokers Program is a partnership program between:
BC Multicultural Health Services Society and REACH Community Health Centre (Vancouver Coastal Health)

“Suicide & Young Children (under 12)” Workshop

2008-01-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

Time sensitive

“Suicide & Young Children (under 12)” Workshop
Sponsored by the Living Through Loss Counselling Society of BC

The youngest recorded suicide in North America involved a 5-year old. Statistics Canada reports that some 300 children under the age of 19 years – and more than 50 under the age of 14 years – take their own lives each year. And that only includes those officially identified as “suicides”; it omits dozens of questionable deaths, and doesn’t even begin to deal with other incidences of self-harm among the young.

The Training Workshop will cover such topics as:

the reality of young child suicide – who, how often and what does it look like
the signs and the risk factors for young child suicide and self-harm
a brand new professional’s guide tool has been developed to assist with the identification of the dangers and endangered”
the professional guide provides insight into intervention strategies when working with at-risk children and their families

Workshop leader, John Dube, will draw on his 20 plus years of experience in dealing with the signs, causes, and the aftermath of a suicide.

The workshop is interactive – with dialogue, sharing of ideas and opportunities to discuss real and theoretical case studies –so we can build the kind of learning that we can take home to our own agencies and our own children to try to keep them safe.

We have room for a maximum of 35 people

WHEN: February 22, 2008

WHERE: Vancouver Public Library – Alma VanDusen Room

COST: $200.00

REGISTRATION PROCESS: Phone 604-873-5013

Note: Lunch will not be provided

ABOUT JOHN DUBE
John Dube is a registered clinical counsellor and a registered social worker. He completed his Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1986 and completed his Masters Degree in Education in 2005 with a thesis focused on Suicidal Children and the development of a professional guide to assist in determining the suicidality of children.
For more, visit: http://www.ltlc.bc.ca/about/counsellors.htm

"The Brain that Changes Itself"

2008-01-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Dr. Norman Doidge is available in bookstores.

"The brain can change itself. It is a plastic, living organ that can actually change its own structure and function, even into old age. Arguably the most important breakthrough in neuroscience since scientists first sketched out the brain’s basic anatomy, this revolutionary discovery, called neuroplasticity, promises to overthrow the centuries-old notion that the brain is fixed and unchanging. The brain is not, as was thought, like a machine, or “hardwired” like a computer. Neuroplasticity not only gives hope to those with mental limitations, or what was thought to be incurable brain damage, but expands our understanding of the healthy brain and the resilience of human nature."--from the website.

Talking Back to Grownups: Healthy Children, Healthy Communities

2008-01-11T12:31:00.000-08:00

Talking Back to Grownups: Healthy Children, Healthy Communities: A Report on the Social Determinants of Health And Middle Childhood in Canada 2007

"The United Nations Association in Canada’s Healthy Children, Healthy Communities (HC²) project is a community based engagement and research project which aims to identify and examine the perceptions and priorities of young people between the ages of 9 and 12 years of age from a “social determinants of health” perspective."--Executive Summary

The 80 page report covers self-reported health of Canadian young people and adults, emotional well-being and young people, defining health, impact of the social determinants of health, healthy lifestyle and risky behaviour, and health and sexuality.

"Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly" Fall '07 issue available

2008-01-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly is produced by the Children’s Health Policy Centre at Simon Fraser University.

"The Quarterly provides updates on the best currently available research evidence in children’s mental health. This issue’s theme is attention problems in children, with particular focus on the assessment and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Themes for The Quarterly are chosen in consultation with Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) staff at BC’s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). ... The theme for our Winter 2008 Quarterly will be building on children’s resilience with particular focus on programs addressing supportive relationships."--from the website

Understanding Stroke & Brain Injury: A Workshop for Family & Friends

2008-01-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

Presented by Dr. Jennifer Yao and facilitated by Jennifer Wonders. Held monthly at GF Strong Rehab Centre, 4255 Laurel St. in Vancouver. Please contact Jennifer at 604-737-6221

2008 schedule:
Thurs. – Jan. 17, 6 – 9pm
Thurs. – Feb. 21, 6 – 9pm
Sat. – March 15, 9am – 12
Thurs. – April 17, 6 – 9pm
Sat. – May 24, 9am – 12
Thurs. - June 19, 6 – 9pm
Thurs. - Oct. 16, 6 – 9pm
Sat. – Sept. 12, 9am – 12
Sat.–Nov. 22, 9am – 12

Grass Roots Press Reader-friendly Health Titles

2008-01-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

Edmonton-based Grass Roots Press offers reader-friendly books and videos on health as well a broad selection of titles to support literacy education. Topics in the new 2008 catalogue include easy readers, chapter books, aboriginal resources, health, workbooks, numeracy and science, software, tutor training, reading and writing instruction, assessment, ESL, communication skills, family literacy, women and literacy, employment and workplace literacy, community education and development, and volunteer appreciation. Visit the website for information.

Ferlazzo's 'Best Health Sites For English Language Learners'

2008-01-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

California high school English language teacher, Larry Ferlazzo, offers a list of Best Health Sites for English Language Learners at his blog. He describes this entry as "...a ranked list of what I think are the twelve best sites that combine health information/literacy with English Language development."