Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #176:Assessment of the Impact of Addressing the Social Determinants of Health on Projected Healthcare Costs in the Yukon Territory  (Assessment of the Impact of Addressing the Social Determinants of Health on Projected Healthcare Costs in the Yukon Territory)

Outline
This research project proposes calculating the cost effectiveness of upstream investment in the social determinants of health in reducing the cost of healthcare in the Yukon Territory. Recent epidemiological research by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) shows that socioeconomic, educational and environmental factors make a more significant contribution to ill-health than can be mitigated by the ability and availability of healthcare. Healthcare costs are escalating, especially in the North, but our capacity as a society to produce ill-health is outstripping our ability to care for the sick. The futility of only investing in the treatment of ill-health when our society is producing a constant replenishment of sick people has prompted Health Canada to advocate a Population Health approach which includes the long-term strategy of addressing these social determinants of health which lie outside the healthcare sector. Although the relationship between addressing the social determinants of health and reducing healthcare costs has been shown theoretically the statistical data to support the relationship has not been collected in the Yukon. This project therefore proposes research to ascertain the status of the social determinants of health, calculate the cost of addressing shortfalls in that status, and compare that cost with the projected cost of healthcare up to 30 years downstream if the social determinants of health are not addressed.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project would fill large gaps in basic data on the status of socio-economic, educational and environmental factors contributing to ill-health in the Yukon. The concept builds on existing research by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research giving it Northern applicability. Focusing on one community inside the Arctic Circle for which some data has already been collected would utilise existing databases. The process of data collection and method of calculation of cost effectiveness is applicable to other circumpolar communities. The 30-year timeframe of the project fits the longevity of the IPY vision. The data collected would leave a legacy useful for other purposes, such as YTG’s development of policy and planning and the production of a Genuine Progress Index for the Yukon. Internationally, some of the data would be relevant to the production of the UN’s Human Development Index. Addressing the relationship between upstream investment in the social determinants of health and healthcare costs is particularly feasible in the North where geographic and demographic characteristics coincide to make the relationship extreme. The cost of programming for a small population is likely to be less than the extraordinarily high cost of healthcare in the North.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Ideally the data collected would cover the entire Yukon. Restricting data collection to supplementing data already existing for Old Crow, a community within the Arctic Circle, might be more realistic

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/07 – 12/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Quantitative and qualitative data collection by qualified researchers. Data management by Yukon statisticians. YTG may be interested in sharing their researchers and statisticians.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Legacy would include the system of data collection and analysis developed for the project and the baseline data. The system of data collection and analysis would be useful for other circumpolar countries. The baseline data would be useful for the Canadian contribution to the UN’s Human Development Index and to the proposed Genuine Progress Index for the Yukon.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Another national polar operator
National agency

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The Yukon Bureau of Statistics is interested in the baseline data aspect of the project in order of fill existing gaps in their database. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Healthy and Sustainable Communities: Healthy Communities

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New
Project complements existing research but is innovative in the North.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Yukon Public Health Association would engage researchers and statisticians and provide a Steering Committee.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Process report would be available to circumpolar countries. Data would be shared with YTG database. Report would be made to YTG

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Storage at Yukon Bureau of Statistics. Data not to be ethnically linked.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Uncertain.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ms Jody Butler Walker
Box 32054, Whitehorse, Yukon


Y1A 5P9
Canada

Tel: 867-393-3036
Mobile:
Fax: 867-668-5544
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information