Enthusiastic response in PHI field work

We are excited to report that the field work for our research program Population Health Impact of Disease, Injury, and Health Determinants in Canada (PHI) was an unqualified success. Participants in 17 panels held in nine Canadian communities from Vancouver to Halifax came from many different backgrounds and life situations. They expressed appreciation and enthusiasm for being asked to provide their views. Our Coming soon article gives an overview of how these panels contributed to the PHI.

The tool we developed for use in these panels has been gaining recognition through presentations over the past year at several international conferences. This tool, which is used to describe functional health, has been officially named CLAMES (Classification and Measurement System of Functional Health).

Our Feature article reports on another aspect of the PHI: smoking patterns over the past century. This analysis examines the first of several health determinants that will be incorporated into the PHI microsimulation, an integrative tool that will examine “what-if” scenarios for Canadian health policy issues.

Jean-Marie Berthelot, Manager