Systematic Reviews are often considered the gold standard in evidence-based medicine. Systematic Reviews are utilized to rigorously identify studies relevant to a particular research question and then synthesize the findings to inform decisions for a particular...
Health systems capture a wide array of data on an ongoing basis. However, data collected for administrative purposes can be very useful for patient-oriented research. These administrative databases are often referred to as “Real-World Evidence (RWE)” and can be used...
Did you have a little too much fun over the holidays? Maybe you suffered a New Years Day hangover!? What is a hangover? Alcohol, a diuretic, can lead to dehydration which accounts for many of the symptoms of a hangover1,2! Sleep disturbance and low blood sugar, both...
Population health surveys typically collect self-reported information from a randomized sample, and may be done provincially or nationally. For example, in Canada, Statistics Canada conducts the National Population Health Survey1 (NPHS) every two years, with the same...
The two words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through." -Sydney J. Harris A successful provider-patient relationship requires effective...
Primary care is the first point of contact in the healthcare system. Primary care providers offer day-to-day care for their patients, including routine check-ups, as well as follow-up and monitoring of patients with chronic conditions. Patient Reported Outcome...
We need good information to effectively manage our health system. Numerous sources of health data have been used to support decision-making in the past. Many of these traditional sources, such as hospital information systems and medical billing systems, are still...
Hospitalizations are the largest single category of healthcare expenditure in Canada. Patient outcomes such as rates of readmissions and length of hospital stay are often priorities for health system efficiency and reducing costs. Depending on your research goals, you...
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are standardized self-reported questionnaires used to assess a patient’s physical, mental and social well-being. Patients complete a questionnaire that a) measures their perspectives on their general health or b) measures...
Environmental Scans explore current and emerging trends and issues, by utilizing a structured online search of relevant websites and sources. Environmental scanning is particularly useful in the health field, as it provides a quick way of understanding a topic, or for...