Browsing by Author "Somayaji, Chandy"
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Item Academic, health and healthcare utilization outcomes in New Brunswick grade school students prescribed long-acting stimulants for the management of ADHD: An administrative data study(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2024-04-01) Folkins, Chris; McDonald, Ted; Gill, Simerpal K.; Somayaji, ChandyAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with individual functioning or development and is often characterized by an ongoing pattern of three particular symptoms: inactivity, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder among children and youth. Research shows that school-aged children and youth are being diagnosed with ADHD with increasing frequency, and with this rise in diagnoses comes an increase in prescription medications used to treat the symptoms of this disorder. To help alleviate symptoms, many families turn to long-acting stimulants as a prescribed treatment method. Unlike short-acting stimulants, which typically start working within 30-45 minutes and wear off in 3-6 hours, long-acting stimulants are designed to work in phases, through an extended release into the bloodstream throughout the day. Long-acting stimulants have been the topic of extensive research, and studies show they improve core symptoms of ADHD – such as inattention and hyperactivity – making them the gold standard for medical treatment of ADHD. However, their ability to improve functional outcomes associated with ADHD – such as reduced academic achievement or increased risk of injury – is less well understood. Children and youth with ADHD face challenges that could inhibit their ability to excel academically or make them more likely to be hospitalized. To help measure the impacts of ADHD and of treatment with long-acting stimulants, this study uses linked administrative data records to examine academic, health and healthcare utilization outcomes in New Brunswick grade school students (Kindergarten through Grade 12) with ADHD. It compares outcomes between students with ADHD who are being treated with long-acting stimulants, students with ADHD who are not being treated and students without ADHD.Item Choosing wisely: Imaging for lower back pain(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2022-01) Emery, Jillian; DeVries, Gwenyth; McDonald, Ted; Somayaji, ChandyAs part of a global movement that began in the United States in 2012, Choosing Wisely Canada was launched in 2014 to help reduce unnecessary tests and treatments in healthcare. One of its recommendations is to not do imaging for lower back pain unless ‘red flags’ – or conditions that warrant diagnostic imaging – are present. In 2015, the Canadian Medical Imaging Inventory indicated that New Brunswick (NB) had the third-highest number of average CTs (computed tomography scans) per 1,000 population. In 2020, a revised report suggested NB had the highest number in the entire country. To date, there has been no detailed breakdown of the diagnostic imaging performed in NB to inform of past trends or advise on future directions; the Choosing Wisely New Brunswick steering committee therefore prioritized the investigation of accessible health data. This study aims to address this issue by linking lumbar spine imaging data with population demographics data at the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training to look for variations in lumbar spine imaging patterns in NB between 2012 and 2019. We investigate regional volumes and types of imaging and identify the volume of lower back pain imaging that aligns with indicators of red flag conditions.Item Comparison of socio-economic determinants of COVID-19 testing and positivity in Canada: A multi-provincial analysis(PLOS, 2023-08-23) Antonova, Lilia; Somayaji, Chandy; Cameron, Jillian; Sirski, Monica; Sundaram, Maria E.; McDonald, James Ted; Mishra, Sharmistha; Kwong, Jeffrey C.; Katz, Alan; Baral, Stefan; Caulley, Lisa; Calzavara, Andrew; Corsten, Martin; Johnson-Obaseki, StephanieThe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been more pronounced for socially disadvantaged populations. We sought to determine how access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and the likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19 were associated with demographic factors, socioeconomic status (SES) and social determinants of health (SDH) in three Canadian provinces.Item Evaluation of the Pharmacist Care Clinic Pilot in New Brunswick I: Descriptive summary of clinic operations, clinic services, and client perceptions(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-03) Folkins, Chris; Lambert-Côté, Laurence; Bhakat, Priya; Murphy, Mallory; Somayaji, Chandy; Shen, Linyun; Allison, Timipere; Simmons, Halie; Peters, Debbie; McDonald, TedBackground New Brunswick's healthcare system faces many issues and challenges, such as limited access, workforce shortages and an aging population, which strain resources and increase demand for services. To address these issues, innovative programs have been implemented to enhance service delivery and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare system. In 2023, the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists, in collaboration with New Brunswick’s Department of Health and the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, introduced the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program. About the program Under the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program, pharmacists' expanded authority includes point-of-care screening and prescribing for Group A Strep, as well as medication management for chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The program aimed to improve healthcare access by utilizing the expertise of community pharmacists who are readily available and provide convenient primary care. The pilot ran from August 2023 to September 2024 in six pharmacies located in different parts of the province. Purpose of the report The purpose of this report is to evaluate the impact of the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program. The evaluation was divided into three parts: 1) Description of clinic operational details; 2) Description of clinic services provided; 3) Evaluation of client experiences and perceptions. Methodology A mixed methods study was conducted using clinic operational data, clinic service records and client surveys. A self-administered cross-sectional survey was used to collect participants' experiences and perceptions about the clinic. Clinic operational details such as operating hours, appointment bookings and staffing, and a summary of clinical services rendered were reported using descriptive statistics, while participants’ comments were analyzed qualitatively.Item Health Service Use of Newcomers to New Brunswick(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2024-04) McDonald, Ted; Somayaji, Chandy; Charters, Jennifer; Thomson, Emily E.The province of New Brunswick (NB) has been experiencing a rate of population growth not seen in more than 40 years. Though some of this is attributable to positive inter-provincial migration, the main driver of this increase is immigration from outside Canada. While immigrants overall tend to be healthier upon their arrival in Canada as compared to the non-immigrant population, studies show an overall decline in immigrant health status over time, often dropping to levels below that of the general population [1]. This trend may be due in part to lower utilization of health care services by immigrant populations because of numerous barriers to access that they may experience. This pattern is of concern for both individual patient health and the potential cost to the health care system in the long term. This study aims to understand the utilization patterns of health services among newcomers to New Brunswick – that is, recent immigrants who have been resident in NB for less than 5 years. We compare newcomers’ health service use to that of long-term immigrants (who have been resident in NB for more than 5 years) as well as non-immigrants (individuals originally from NB as well as migrants from other provinces/territories within Canada). We identify trends, between and within various groups, in health service use over time. Specifically, we consider: Hospitalizations (2017-2020) Emergency room visits (2017-2021) Visits to walk-in clinics (2017-2021) Visits to general practitioners (2017-2021) This information is useful for policymakers in assessing whether specific interventions might be needed to address newcomers’ health needs and mitigate the risk of deteriorating health over time.Item Health services use of newcomers to New Brunswick(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2024-04) McDonald, Ted; Somayaji, Chandy; Charters, Jennifer; Thomson, Emily E.The province of New Brunswick (NB) has been experiencing a rate of population growth not seen in more than 40 years. Though some of this is attributable to positive inter-provincial migration, the main driver of this increase is immigration from outside Canada. While immigrants overall tend to be healthier upon their arrival in Canada as compared to the non-immigrant population, studies show an overall decline in immigrant health status over time, often dropping to levels below that of the general population [1]. This trend may be due in part to lower utilization of health care services by immigrant populations because of numerous barriers to access that they may experience. This pattern is of concern for both individual patient health and the potential cost to the health care system in the long term. This study aims to understand the utilization patterns of health services among newcomers to New Brunswick – that is, recent immigrants who have been resident in NB for less than 5 years. We compare newcomers’ health service use to that of long-term immigrants (who have been resident in NB for more than 5 years) as well as non-immigrants (individuals originally from NB as well as migrants from other provinces/territories within Canada). We identify trends, between and within various groups, in health service use over time. Specifically, we consider: - Hospitalizations (2017-2020) - Visits to walk-in clinics (2017-2021) - Emergency room visits (2017-2021) - Visits to general practitioners (2017-2021) This information is useful for policymakers in assessing whether specific interventions might be needed to address newcomers’ health needs and mitigate the risk of deteriorating health over time.Item Lifting restrictions for COVID-19: Implications for New Brunswick(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-04-26) McDonald, Ted; Boco, Eton; Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; Somayaji, Chandy; Bhuiyan, Erfan; McRae, SarahThe purpose of this rapid review (Part 2 in a 2-part series) is to examine the literature on the various steps being taken around the world to lift restrictions implemented to suppress the spread of COVID-19 – including social restrictions, such as those related to physical distancing, and economic restrictions, such as those affecting the closure of non-essential stores and other businesses. We find that some restrictions, such the closure of schools and non-essential stores and services, are more commonly among the first to be lifted – though this is done so gradually and with accompanying physical distancing and hygiene requirements. Countries around the world have also begun to ease and/or recommend measures impacting travel, recreation, and sectors of the workforce. While it is too soon to observe the outcomes for many of these measures, modelling studies and observations of case trajectories in Asia suggest a COVID-19 resurgence is likely to occur as restrictions are eased – but if appropriate measures are in place to monitor further infection and reinstate intermittent restrictions, future resurgence could be managed. The information presented herein on the experiences of other locations ahead of New Brunswick in their COVID trajectories and in the process of reopening their economies can provide valuable insights into the steps this province could take when lifting its own restrictions in future. For Part 2 of this report, we propose to supplement the current work with a qualitative review of the outcomes of easing restrictions, as well as quantitative metrics on the indicators leading up to lifting restrictions – both of which will be used to guide a discussion of implications for scaling back COVID-19 restrictions in New BrunswickItem Planning for community resiliency in recovery from COVID-19: October 2, 2020(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-10-02) Magalhaes, Sandra; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine; Singh, Paramdeep; Somayaji, ChandyPopulation-based risk indicators can support decision-making in planning for future waves of, and recovery from, COVID-19. They can inform efforts to limit spread and exacerbation of infection in those most at risk and help identify at-risk groups likely impacted by measures to limit spread. As part of our research, we are deriving risk indicators using population-level data that can help identify vulnerable populations who may be at higher risk of consequences related to COVID-19 infection or public health restrictions, including - poor health outcomes associated with infection, - greater risk of infection in collective dwellings, - mental health impacts associated with distancing measures, - poor educational outcomes due to school closures, and - financial vulnerability associated with employment interruptions. - While stay-at-home measures aim to reduce community spread of infection and protect those vulnerable to poor health outcomes, they increase proximity among those living in collective dwellings. In the absence of complete lockdown, the opportunity for infection to enter the home exists. Those living in residential facilities (e.g. special care homes) and apartments have greater risk of infection. As measures relax, schools re-open, which further increases opportunity for transmission across households. Public health measures to control spread of COVID-19 may also have unintended consequences for individuals residing alone, low-income families, individuals with uncertain employment, children with special needs, individuals susceptible to mental health challenges, and those with chronic conditions unable to manage them effectively. The goal of our research is to develop an analytical framework to generate community level indicators that are relevant to COVID-19 pandemic planning and recovery efforts in New Brunswick.Item Rapid response report on COVID-19 in New Brunswick: April 14, 2020(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-04-14) Bhuiyan, Erfan Mahmood; Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; Magalhaes, Sandra; McDonald, Ted; Miah, Pablo; Somayaji, ChandyThis series of reports provides successive updates of projections that the trajectory of COVID-19 cases could follow in New Brunswick based on the experiences of other countries and regions who experienced initial COVID-19 infections earlier than NB. Specifically, these projections estimate what NB’s incident cases, hospitalizations and mortality might be if our province experienced disease trajectories similar to a range of comparison countries and regions, for both 10-day forward and peak infection scenarios. By updating our estimates in subsequent reports as more data become available, we are able to examine how NB is actually doing relative to those scenarios and use the updated data to revise our forecasts accordingly.Item Rapid response report on COVID-19 in New Brunswick: April 27, 2020(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-04-27) Bhuiyan, Erfan Mahmood; Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; Magalhaes, Sandra; McDonald, Ted; Miah, Pablo; Somayaji, ChandyThis series of reports provides successive updates of projections that the trajectory of COVID-19 cases could follow in New Brunswick based on the experiences of other countries and regions who experienced initial COVID-19 infections earlier than NB. Specifically, these projections estimate what NB’s incident cases, hospitalizations and mortality might be if our province experienced disease trajectories similar to a range of comparison countries and regions, for both 10-day forward and peak infection scenarios. By updating our estimates in subsequent reports as more data become available, we are able to examine how NB is actually doing relative to those scenarios and use the updated data to revise our forecasts accordingly.Item Rapid response report on COVID-19 in New Brunswick: March 31, 2020(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-03-31) Bhuiyan, Erfan Mahmood; Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; Magalhaes, Sandra; McDonald, Ted; Miah, Pablo; Somayaji, ChandyThis series of reports provides successive updates of projections that the trajectory of COVID-19 cases could follow in New Brunswick based on the experiences of other countries and regions who experienced initial COVID-19 infections earlier than NB. Specifically, these projections estimate what NB’s incident cases, hospitalizations and mortality might be if our province experienced disease trajectories similar to a range of comparison countries and regions, for both 10-day forward and peak infection scenarios. By updating our estimates in subsequent reports as more data become available, we are able to examine how NB is actually doing relative to those scenarios and use the updated data to revise our forecasts accordingly.Item Rapid response report on dedicated resources for COVID-19: April 8, 2020(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-04-08) Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; McDonald, Ted; Somayaji, ChandyAs the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, policy makers and health care workers are progressively trying to determine best practices for handling the disease – particularly when caring for infected patients. One key question that emerges is whether having dedicated resources (spaces and services) for COVID-19 effectively controls the spread, decreases the severity, and mitigates the cost of the disease – in terms of costs to health care, societal disruption, individual health outcomes (such as scarring of the lungs), and, ultimately, lives lost. This report presents a summary of how health systems in various countries have been separating healthcare resources during pandemic medical management. This includes measures aimed at separation of COVID-19 and non-COVID patient resources, both in terms of separate physical structures for dedicated COVID care and of separation within existing structures, as well as policies aimed at preventing overlap and exposure between point sources of care for medical personnel.Item Rapid response report on lifting restrictions for COVID-19(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2020-04-16) McDonald, Ted; Boco, Eton; Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; Somayaji, Chandy; Bhuiyan, Erfan; MacRae, SarahThe purpose of this rapid review (Part 1 in a 2-part series) is to examine the literature on the various steps being taken around the world to lift restrictions implemented to suppress the spread of COVID-19 – including social restrictions, such as those related to physical distancing, and economic restrictions, such as those affecting the closure of non-essential stores and other businesses. We find that some restrictions, such the closure of schools and non-essential stores and services, are more commonly among the first to be lifted – though this is done so gradually and with accompanying physical distancing and hygiene requirements. Countries around the world have also begun to ease and/or recommend measures impacting travel, recreation, and sectors of the workforce. While it is too soon to observe the outcomes for many of these measures, modelling studies and observations of case trajectories in Asia suggest a COVID-19 resurgence is likely to occur as restrictions are eased – but if appropriate measures are in place to monitor further infection and reinstate intermittent restrictions, future resurgence could be managed. The information presented herein on the experiences of other locations ahead of New Brunswick in their COVID trajectories and in the process of reopening their economies can provide valuable insights into the steps this province could take when lifting its own restrictions in future. For Part 2 of this report, we propose to supplement the current work with a qualitative review of the outcomes of easing restrictions, as well as quantitative metrics on the indicators leading up to lifting restrictions – both of which will be used to guide a discussion of implications for scaling back COVID-19 restrictions in New BrunswickItem Rapport d’intervention rapide concernant la COVID-19 au Nouveau-Brunswick : Le 31 mars 2020(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2020-03-31) Bhuiyan, Erfan Mahmood; Christensen, Eva; Daigle, Bethany; Magalhaes, Sandra; McDonald, Ted; Miah, Pablo; Somayaji, ChandyItem Répercussions à court et à long terme du volet de visites postnatales à domicile du programme Familles en santé, bébés en santé (FSBS) sur les résultats sur la santé et le développement des enfants au Nouveau-Brunswick(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2023-04) Magalhaes, Sandra; Cameron, Jillian; Cookson, Samuel; Folkins, Chris; Gorman-Asal, Sadie; Somayaji, ChandyLe développement de la petite enfance est un déterminant social de la santé de premier plan. Les visites à domicile constituent une stratégie de santé publique visant à atténuer les répercussions néfastes de la pauvreté et de l’adversité dans la petite enfance, habituellement offertes aux familles présentant un risque élevé de résultats moins favorables. Les familles sont inscrites avant ou après la naissance de bébé, et suivies tout au long de la grossesse et lors des premières années de vie de l’enfant. Les programmes de visites à domicile se sont montrés bénéfiques pour les participants et les fournisseurs de services, mais leurs répercussions à long terme n’ont pas fait l’objet d’une évaluation adéquate au sein des populations canadiennes. Chaque province et territoire du Canada offre un programme de visites à domicile qui, chez plusieurs, fait actuellement l’objet d’un examen continu. De plus amples recherches sont nécessaires pour éclairer ces efforts. L’objectif global de la présente étude consiste à évaluer les répercussions à court et à long terme d’une participation aux services ciblés de visites postnatales à domicile sur l’attitude face à l’allaitement maternel et le développement de l’enfant. Les résultats qui en découleront serviront à un examen du volet de visites postnatales à domicile ciblées du programme FSBS, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Une étude de cohorte rétrospective appariée comprenant toutes les naissances vivantes ayant eu lieu au Nouveau-Brunswick (Canada) entre le 1er avril 2012 et le 31 mars 2014 dans des familles qui accueillaient leur premier enfant a été élaborée au moyen de données administratives axées sur la population fournies par l’Institut de la recherche, des données et de la formation du Nouveau-Brunswick (IRDF-NB). Plusieurs ensembles de données administratives couplables ont servi à déterminer la cohorte de l’étude, la participation postnatale au programme FSBS, la durée de l’allaitement maternel et les résultats sur le développement infantile des trottineurs et des enfants d’âge préscolaire, de même que le nombre de variables de confusion. Une méthode d’appariement par scores de propension a permis de sélectionner un groupe de familles n’ayant pas participé semblables aux familles participantes. L’application d’un modèle de régression multivariable a permis de dégager des estimations statistiques des écarts de résultats entre les groupes, tout en tenant compte des variables de confusion pertinentes. Une cohorte de naissances de 6 096 familles accueillant leur premier enfant, ainsi établie, a fait l’objet d’un suivi longitudinal, de la naissance à l’âge scolaire; 1 211 familles ont participé au programme de visites postnatales à domicile et 1 366 autres ont été appariées aux familles participantes.Item Résultats du sondage sur les effets de la COVID-19 sur la santé mentale au Nouveau-Brunswick(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2021-03-01) Magalhaes, Sandra; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine; Somayaji, ChandyLa présente recherche décrit les effets de certains facteurs physiques, sociaux et économiques sur la santé mentale de l’ensemble des Néo-Brunswickois et de certains sous-groupes de nos collectivités. En août 2020, Pollara Strategic Insights et Recherche en santé mentale Canada ont mené un sondage en ligne pour connaître les effets de différents facteurs sur la santé mentale des Néo-Brunswickois. Dans le cadre de notre recherche, nous avons analysé les réponses à différentes questions portant sur les facteurs sociaux et économiques et sur les activités récréatives. Nous avons aussi examiné les questions portant sur le changement de la fréquence des comportements négatifs des répondants, comme la consommation de cannabis, la consommation d’alcool et les conflits à la maison, ainsi que celles portant sur la confiance des répondants en leur capacité de se relever des défis posés par la pandémie.Item Short- and longer-term impacts of the Healthy Families Healthy Babies (HFHB) postnatal home visiting program on child health and developmental outcomes in New Brunswick(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2023-04) Magalhaes, Sandra; Cameron, Jillian; Cookson, Samuel; Folkins, Chris; Gorman-Asal, Sadie; Somayaji, ChandyEarly childhood development is a fundamental social determinant of health. Home visiting is a public health strategy to mitigate negative impacts from poverty and early childhood adversity, typically offered to families at high risk of poorer outcomes. Families are enrolled prenatally or postnatally and followed through pregnancy and the first years of the child’s life. Home visiting programs are shown to have benefits for both program participants and service providers; however, their longer-term impacts have not been properly evaluated among Canadian populations. Each Canadian province and territory offers a home visiting program, with several currently undergoing program review. More research is needed to inform these efforts. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the short- and longer-term impacts of participation in targeted postnatal home visiting services on breastfeeding behaviour and child development, and results will inform a review of the Healthy Families, Healthy Babies (HFHB) targeted postnatal home visiting program in New Brunswick. A matched retrospective cohort study of all live births in New Brunswick, Canada, between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2014, among families parenting for the first-time was developed using population-based administrative data accessible at the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT). Several linkable administrative data sets were used to define the study cohort, HFHB postnatal program participation, breastfeeding duration, and child developmental outcomes in toddlers and preschoolers, as well as a number of confounding variables. A propensity score matching methodology was used to select a group of families that did not participate who were similar to those who participated. Multivariable regression models were used to provide statistical estimates of the differences in outcomes between groups while accounting for relevant confounding variables. A birth cohort of 6096 families parenting for the first time was established and followed longitudinally from birth to school age; 1211 participated in the postnatal home visiting program, and 1366 non-participating families were matched to participants.Item Summary Report: Academic, health and healthcare utilization outcomes in New Brunswick grade school students prescribed long-acting stimulants for the management of ADHD: An administrative data study(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2024-04) Folkins, Chris; McDonald, Ted; Somayaji, Chandy; Gill, Somerpal K.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with individual functioning or development and is often characterized by an ongoing pattern of three particular symptoms: inactivity, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder among children and youth. Research shows that school-aged children and youth are being diagnosed with ADHD with increasing frequency, and with this rise in diagnoses comes an increase in prescription medications used to treat the symptoms of this disorder. To help alleviate symptoms, many families turn to long-acting stimulants as a prescribed treatment method. Unlike short-acting stimulants, which typically start working within 30-45 minutes and wear off in 3-6 hours, long-acting stimulants are designed to work in phases, through an extended release into the bloodstream throughout the day. Long-acting stimulants have been the topic of extensive research, and studies show they improve core symptoms of ADHD – such as inattention and hyperactivity – making them the gold standard for medical treatment of ADHD. However, their ability to improve functional outcomes associated with ADHD – such as reduced academic achievement or increased risk of injury – is less well understood. Children and youth with ADHD face challenges that could inhibit their ability to excel academically or make them more likely to be hospitalized. To help measure the impacts of ADHD and of treatment with long-acting stimulants, this study uses linked administrative data records to examine academic, health and healthcare utilization outcomes in New Brunswick grade school students (Kindergarten through Grade 12) with ADHD. It compares outcomes between students with ADHD who are being treated with long-acting stimulants, students with ADHD who are not being treated and students without ADHD.Item Summary Report: Evaluation of the Pharmacist Care Clinic Pilot in New Brunswick I: Descriptive summary of clinic operations, clinic services, and client perceptions(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-03) Folkins, Chris; Lambert-Côté, Laurence; Bhakat, Priya; Murphy, Mallory; Somayaji, Chandy; Shen, Linyun; Allison, Timipere; Simmons, Haylie; Peters, Debbie; McDonald, TedBackground New Brunswick's healthcare system faces many issues and challenges, such as limited access, workforce shortages and an aging population, which strain resources and increase demand for services. To address these issues, innovative programs have been implemented to enhance service delivery and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare system. In 2023, the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists, in collaboration with New Brunswick’s Department of Health and the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, introduced the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program. About the program Under the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program, pharmacists' expanded authority includes point-of-care screening and prescribing for Group A Strep, as well as medication management for chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The program aimed to improve healthcare access by utilizing the expertise of community pharmacists who are readily available and provide convenient primary care. The pilot ran from August 2023 to September 2024 in six pharmacies located in different parts of the province. Purpose of the report The purpose of this report is to evaluate the impact of the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program. The evaluation was divided into three parts: 1) Description of clinic operational details; 2) Description of clinic services provided; 3) Evaluation of client experiences and perceptions. Methodology A mixed methods study was conducted using clinic operational data, clinic service records and client surveys. A self-administered cross-sectional survey was used to collect participants' experiences and perceptions about the clinic. Clinic operational details such as operating hours, appointment bookings and staffing, and a summary of clinical services rendered were reported using descriptive statistics, while participants’ comments were analyzed qualitatively.Item Summary Report: Health Services Use of Newcomers to New Brunswick(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2024-04) McDonald, Ted; Somayaji, Chandy; Charters, Jennifer; Thomson, Emily E.The province of New Brunswick (NB) has been experiencing a rate of population growth not seen in more than 40 years. Though some of this is attributable to positive inter-provincial migration, the main driver of this increase is immigration from outside Canada. While immigrants overall tend to be healthier upon their arrival in Canada as compared to the non-immigrant population, studies show an overall decline in immigrant health status over time, often dropping to levels below that of the general population [1]. This trend may be due in part to lower utilization of health care services by immigrant populations because of numerous barriers to access that they may experience. This pattern is of concern for both individual patient health and the potential cost to the health care system in the long term. This study aims to understand the utilization patterns of health services among newcomers to New Brunswick – that is, recent immigrants who have been resident in NB for less than 5 years. We compare newcomers’ health service use to that of long-term immigrants (who have been resident in NB for more than 5 years) as well as non-immigrants (individuals originally from NB as well as migrants from other provinces/territories within Canada). We identify trends, between and within various groups, in health service use over time. Specifically, we consider: Hospitalizations (2017-2020) Emergency room visits (2017-2021) Visits to walk-in clinics (2017-2021) Visits to general practitioners (2017-2021) This information is useful for policymakers in assessing whether specific interventions might be needed to address newcomers’ health needs and mitigate the risk of deteriorating health over time.