2011 stakeholder dialogues address range of topics

May 11, 2011 - The McMaster Health Forum is in the midst of conducting a slate of stakeholder dialogues addressing diverse topics ranging from emerging global issues that can affect the health of Canadians to poverty’s impact on health.

On May 12, a dialogue examining the rise of globalization and how it can impact the health of Canadians involved high-profile international and national stakeholders with varied expertise in global affairs. Issues such as the transmission of disease among an increasingly mobile population, the possibility of contaminated food or other products coming into Canada, and expanding environmental damage were discussed within the context of what needs to happen to ensure Canadians are protected.

Sudeep Chand, a consultant research fellow with the Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House, in London, U.K., and Sigrun Mogedal, senior executive advisor, N.O.R.A.D. Inc. and Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, were among dialogue participants. They shared their views and experience on threats from global issues and how governments can proactively identify and address such threats.

Stakeholders from a range of governmental bodies such as the Canadian International Development Agency, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Food and Consumer Products of Canada, along with representatives from the Canadian-based offices of agencies such as Doctors Without Borders, and academic leaders in global affairs also took part in the dialogue.

The dialogue was funded by Health Canada through the International Health Grants Program, and also received financial support from the British High Commission to Canada, McMaster University (through both the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International Affairs, and the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic, Faculty of Health Sciences), and the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services.

The global health dialogue was the third to take place in the Forum’s new facilities designed to accommodate and enhance the deliberative dialogue approach to address pressing health challenges. Two others were held in April.

• On April 5, 24 participants discussed ways to improve the transition of cancer patients from care in medical centres to living well in the community, in the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand and Brant region. The dialogue brought together leading representatives from key stakeholder groups including the medical and research communities, policymakers and organizations that work directly in supporting care for cancer patients. An evidence brief developed to inform the dialogue described the lack of a sustained approach to supporting cancer patients as they transition from receiving treatment in a regional cancer centre to the community. The brief described many elements of the problem, suggested options for addressing the problem, and identified implementation considerations, and in each case it summarized the relevant research evidence. The evidence brief served as a catalyst for the dialogue, to ensure the gathering resulted in productive discussions that spark insights and lead participants to develop well-considered actions to address the challenge.

• On April 11, 17 participants engaged in a dialogue informed by an issue brief on the need to engage health system decision-makers in supporting comprehensive chronic pain management. The issue brief described the general lack of awareness of chronic pain, limitations in existing programs and services, and gaps in the existing delivery arrangements in health systems across Canada, and drew upon available research to frame possible options for addressing the issue. This event was a follow-up to a dialogue in December 2009, which looked at the inadequate support among health systems for chronic pain management.

The evidence and issue briefs, summaries of the dialogue discussions, and interviews with the participants in each dialogue will be made available on the Forum’s website to allow anyone interested in or affected by the subjects to learn more about the purpose and outcomes of the dialogue, and to encourage broader, informed discussions.

The forum has two other dialogues planned in the coming months.

• On July 6 and 7, an expanded dialogue format will address the integration of advanced practice nursing in Canada. With the growing burden of chronic disease, an aging population, and the difficulties inherent in delivering cost-effective services and programs to patients without a primary care provider, the fact that advanced practice nursing is not fully integrated into Canada’s healthcare system needs to be considered. The first day of the dialogue will focus primarily on the use of nurse practitioners in primary healthcare settings, and the second day will examine the situation with clinical nurse specialists, as well as nurse practitioners in acute and non-primary healthcare settings.
• In the fall, a dialogue co-facilitated by Jim Dunn, an adjunct faculty with the Forum, will focus on how poverty affects health in certain areas of Hamilton, and how neighbourhood-based approaches to improve the situation can be developed and implemented. Building on earlier research showing significant differences in health status among some of Hamilton’s poorest neighbourhoods, the issue brief to inform the dialogue will highlight various aspects underlying poverty and health disparities, and offer options for local action.

The Forum is also in the early planning stages for a second dialogue in the fall, which will examine issues related to aging in the home.