New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training Publications

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https://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/37731

The collection of research from the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT) spans diverse topics crucial to public policy, health, education, and social wellbeing in New Brunswick. Research topics include healthcare utilization outcomes, immigrant retention, teacher recruitment, socioeconomic determinants of health, environmental impacts on public health, among many others, providing a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the prosperity and health of New Brunswick communities.

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Summary Report: Distribution of disease burden and healthcare resource utilization associated with diabetes and cardiovascular conditions in New Brunswick
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-06-16) Folkins, Chris; Al Alam, Jacques; Prosser, Jacob; McDonald, Ted
The purpose of this study was to quantify real-world geographic and sociodemographic variability in cardiovascular and diabetes disease burden and associated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in New Brunswick (NB). It is anticipated that the results will inform the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving care and health outcomes in the communities and populations with the greatest needs. Study overview and methods Linked, population-level administrative data were used to examine the following indicators of disease burden and HCRU among NB’s adult population (age 18+) annually for fiscal years 2014-2018, as well as during more recent fiscal years where data permitted: • Disease prevalence (acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and multimorbidity) • Mortality (all-cause and cardiovascular/diabetes-related; among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) • Emergency department visit and hospital admission rates (all-cause and cardiovascular/diabetes-related; among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) • Physician visit rates (any physician, general practitioner, cardiologist, endocrinologist; all-cause among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) • Rate of physician service utilization for chronic disease management of diabetes (among overall and diabetic population) • Frequency and results of hemoglobin A1c testing (among overall and diabetic population) • Rate of participation in the NB Insulin Pump Program • Usage rate of the Tele-Care 811 provincial health line (among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) Indicators were reported annually at the provincial level, stratified geographically by dividing the province into 33 smaller regions based on NB Health Council Community (NBHCC) boundaries, and stratified by the following personal characteristics: Age, social assistance use, immigration status (including recent immigration, and country of origin and language fluency among recent immigrants), rurality, attachment to primary care provider, household composition, travel distance to nearest healthcare center, long-term care client status, household income, material deprivation, and English/French language preference. Distribution of personal characteristics at the provincial level and by NBHCC was also reported. All stratifications were cross-tabulated by sex.
Distribution of disease burden and healthcare resource utilization associated with diabetes and cardiovascular conditions in New Brunswick
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-06-16) Folkins, Chris; Al Alam, Jacques; Prosser, Jacob; McDonald, Ted
The purpose of this study was to quantify real-world geographic and sociodemographic variability in cardiovascular and diabetes disease burden and associated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in New Brunswick (NB). It is anticipated that the results will inform the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving care and health outcomes in the communities and populations with the greatest needs. Study overview and methods Linked, population-level administrative data were used to examine the following indicators of disease burden and HCRU among NB’s adult population (age 18+) annually for fiscal years 2014-2018, as well as during more recent fiscal years where data permitted: • Disease prevalence (acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and multimorbidity) • Mortality (all-cause and cardiovascular/diabetes-related; among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) • Emergency department visit and hospital admission rates (all-cause and cardiovascular/diabetes-related; among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) • Physician visit rates (any physician, general practitioner, cardiologist, endocrinologist; all-cause among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) • Rate of physician service utilization for chronic disease management of diabetes (among overall and diabetic population) • Frequency and results of hemoglobin A1c testing (among overall and diabetic population) • Rate of participation in the NB Insulin Pump Program • Usage rate of the Tele-Care 811 provincial health line (among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients) Indicators were reported annually at the provincial level, stratified geographically by dividing the province into 33 smaller regions based on NB Health Council Community (NBHCC) boundaries, and stratified by the following personal characteristics: Age, social assistance use, immigration status (including recent immigration, and country of origin and language fluency among recent immigrants), rurality, attachment to primary care provider, household composition, travel distance to nearest healthcare center, long-term care client status, household income, material deprivation, and English/French language preference. Distribution of personal characteristics at the provincial level and by NBHCC was also reported. All stratifications were cross-tabulated by sex.
Répercussions du volet prénatal du programme Familles en santé, bébés en santé sur les résultats en matière de nutrition et de développement pendant la grossesse, à la naissance et au cours de la petite enfance au Nouveau-Brunswick
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-06-11) Cooksen, Samuel R.; Jones, Bethany; Magalhaes, Sandra
La période périnatale est une étape de vie cruciale. On constate que les expériences et les expositions pendant la grossesse et les premières années de vie ont de profondes répercussions sur le développement des tout-petits et sur la santé la vie durant. Pour favoriser des grossesses en santé et le développement pendant la petite enfance, des programmes ciblés de santé publique sont offerts à des familles qui bénéficient d’un suivi prénatal ou postnatal ainsi que d’un suivi tout au long de la grossesse et dans les premières années de vie de l’enfant. Habituellement proposés aux familles qui attendent un premier enfant et qui présentent un risque élevé de résultats non favorables, ces programmes cherchent à atténuer les effets néfastes de la pauvreté et de l’adversité pendant la petite enfance. Chaque province et territoire du Canada offre un programme périnatal de santé publique, et plusieurs de ces programmes sont en cours d’examen. Les données de recherche étoffant ces mesures sont toutefois limitées. Les programmes périnataux de santé publique se sont montrés bénéfiques pour les participants et les fournisseurs de services, mais leurs répercussions à long terme n’ont pas été bien évaluées auprès des populations canadiennes. Au Nouveau-Brunswick, le programme de santé publique Familles en santé, bébés en santé (FSBS) offre des services ciblés aux familles qui attendent un premier enfant et qui risquent fort d’obtenir des résultats médiocres, soit des visites prénatales à domicile jusqu’à la naissance et des services postnataux de la naissance jusqu’à l’âge de deux ans. Des diététistes en santé publique réalisent la plupart des visites prénatales, et la majeure partie des visites et des services postnataux sont confiés à des infirmières en santé publique. L’Institut de la recherche, des données et de la formation du Nouveau-Brunswick (IRDF-NB) soutient l’examen du programme FSBS, dont le volet postnatal a fait l’objet d’une étude antérieure sur les répercussions en début de vie. Cette étude vise principalement à évaluer les répercussions sur la petite enfance du volet prénatal du programme FSBS, en s’intéressant particulièrement aux résultats en matière de nutrition et de développement pendant la grossesse, à la naissance et au cours de la petite enfance. Globalement, les résultats de la recherche étofferont l’examen continu du programme FSBS au Nouveau-Brunswick. Une étude de cohorte rétrospective appariée sur toutes les naissances vivantes survenues au Nouveau-Brunswick (Canada) entre le 1er avril 2012 et le 31 mars 2020 – dans des familles qui accueillaient un premier enfant – a été élaborée au moyen des données administratives axées sur la population de l’IRDF-NB. Plusieurs ensembles de données administratives couplables ont servi à définir la cohorte de l’étude, la participation au volet prénatal du programme FSBS, les résultats en matière de nutrition et de développement pendant la grossesse, à la naissance et au cours de la petite enfance, et des variables de confusion. Une méthodologie d’appariement par scores de propension (ASP) a permis de sélectionner un groupe de familles appariées qui n’ont pas participé au programme FSBS, mais qui sont similaires aux familles participantes. Au moyen de modèles de régression multivariable, les estimations des écarts de résultats entre les groupes ont été statistiquement ajustées en tenant compte des variables de confusion correspondantes. Une cohorte de naissances formée de 20 832 personnes accueillant un premier enfant a fait l’objet d’un suivi longitudinal de la naissance à 18 mois; 2 000 ont participé aux visites prénatales à domicile du programme FSBS, et 2 000 familles non participantes ont été appariées aux participants au volet prénatal du programme.
Impacts of the Healthy Families, Healthy Babies (HFHB) Targeted Prenatal Program on Pregnancy, Birth and Early Life Nutritional and Developmental Outcomes in New Brunswick
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-06-11) Cookson, Samuel R.; Jones, Bethany; Magalhaes, Sandra; Bethany, Jones
The perinatal period is a critical time in life. Experiences and exposures during pregnancy and in the first years after birth are found to have far-reaching implications for early childhood development and health over the life course. To support healthy pregnancies and childhood development, targeted public health programs are available, with families enrolled prenatally or postnatally and followed throughout pregnancy and the first years of the child’s life. Typically, these programs are offered to families having a baby for the first time who are at high risk of poorer outcomes as a strategy to mitigate negative impacts from poverty and early childhood adversity. Each Canadian province and territory offer a targeted public health perinatal program, with several programs currently undergoing program review. Yet, limited research evidence is available to inform these efforts. Targeted public health perinatal programs are shown to have benefits for program participants and service providers; however, their longer-term impacts have not been properly evaluated among Canadian populations. In the province of New Brunswick (NB), the Healthy Families, Healthy Babies (HFHB) public health program provides targeted services to first-time families at higher risk of poor outcomes, with prenatal home visits provided until birth and postnatal program services from birth to the age of two. Most prenatal visits are provided by Public Health dietitians, and most postnatal visits and services are provided by Public Health nurses. The New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT) has been supporting a review of the HFHB program, with a previous study on the early life impacts of the targeted HFHB postnatal program component. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the early life impacts of the targeted HFHB prenatal program component, with a specific focus on pregnancy, birth and early childhood nutritional and developmental outcomes. Overall, the results of this research will contribute to the ongoing program review of the HFHB program in NB. A matched retrospective cohort study of all live births in NB, Canada, between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2020, among individuals parenting for the first-time was developed using population-based administrative data accessible at NB-IRDT. Several linkable administrative data sets were used to define the study cohort, HFHB prenatal program participation, pregnancy, birth and early childhood nutritional and developmental outcomes, as well as a number of confounding variables. A propensity score matching (PSM) methodology was used to select a matched group of families that did not participate in the targeted HFHB program who were similar to those who participated. Multivariable regression models were used to provide statistically adjusted estimates of the differences in outcomes between groups while accounting for relevant confounding variables. A birth cohort of 20 832 individuals parenting for the first time was established and followed longitudinally from birth to 18 months; 2000 participated in the HFHB prenatal home visiting program, and 2000 non-participating families were matched to HFHB prenatal program participants.
Rapport récapitulatif: Caractérisation de la population francophone âgée du Grand Saint John (2015-2023)
(2025-04-01) Beykzadeh, Ali; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine; McDonald, Ted; Morehouse, Jacob Andrew
Caractérisation de la population francophone âgée du Grand Saint John (2015-2023)
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-04-01) Beykzadeh, Ali; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine; McDonald, Ted; Morehouse, Jacob Andrew
Bilingualism makes the province of New Brunswick (NB) unique within Canada, bringing with it a high level of linguistic diversity and cultural enrichment. However, as Canada’s only officially bilingual province, NB also faces issues of language barriers affecting segments of its population. There is limited information about the size of the Francophone community in NB that would prefer services in French while living in majority Anglophone areas. Without this information, it is challenging to accurately show the potential demand for French-language health and social services. In a previous report (Balzer et al., 2023), NB-IRDT constructed a profile of the Francophone population in the Greater Saint John (GSJ) region of NB. That report provided an evidence base for identifying potential language barriers facing Francophones as they attempt to access appropriate and timely healthcare in majority Anglophone areas. In this report, we extend that earlier work (Balzer et al., 2023) to construct a profile specifically of the older Francophone population (age 65+) living in GSJ. Using current data sets held at NB-IRDT, this study compares various health and sociodemographic measures between older Francophone and Anglophone New Brunswickers living in GSJ (an urban English-majority community) as well as older Francophone and Anglophone residents living in Moncton (an urban French-majority city) and the Rest of NB.[1] It looks at these populations’ health status, health service use, social services receipt, household composition, neighbourhood socioeconomic profile and in-home care and nursing home status. Older adults are more likely to experience complex health conditions and have greater healthcare needs, making language barriers particularly impactful as they try to navigate the healthcare system. Effective communication in healthcare is essential for getting an accurate diagnosis, following treatment and staying healthy, making it important for patients to receive care in a language they understand well. This is especially important for older adults since fluency and comfort speaking a second language can decline with age. Understanding the specific challenges faced by older Francophone residents in GSJ can help inform policies and services that support equitable healthcare access for this population. [1] “Rest of NB” includes all Forward Sortation Areas (FSAs) fully outside the Saint John and Moncton Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) as classified by the first three digits of the areas' postal codes.
Summary Report: Characterizing the Older Francophone Population in Greater Saint John (2015-2023)
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-04-01) Beykzadeh, Ali; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine; McDonald, Ted; Morehouse, Jacob Andrew
Bilingualism makes the province of New Brunswick (NB) unique within Canada, bringing with it a high level of linguistic diversity and cultural enrichment. However, as Canada’s only officially bilingual province, NB also faces issues of language barriers affecting segments of its population. There is limited information about the size of the Francophone community in NB that would prefer services in French while living in majority Anglophone areas. Without this information, it is challenging to accurately show the potential demand for French-language health and social services. In a previous report (Balzer et al., 2023), NB-IRDT constructed a profile of the Francophone population in the Greater Saint John (GSJ) region of NB. That report provided an evidence base for identifying potential language barriers facing Francophones as they attempt to access appropriate and timely healthcare in majority Anglophone areas. In this report, we extend that earlier work (Balzer et al., 2023) to construct a profile specifically of the older Francophone population (age 65+) living in GSJ. Using current data sets held at NB-IRDT, this study compares various health and sociodemographic measures between older Francophone and Anglophone New Brunswickers living in GSJ (an urban English-majority community) as well as older Francophone and Anglophone residents living in Moncton (an urban French-majority city) and the Rest of NB.[1] It looks at these populations’ health status, health service use, social services receipt, household composition, neighbourhood socioeconomic profile and in-home care and nursing home status. Older adults are more likely to experience complex health conditions and have greater healthcare needs, making language barriers particularly impactful as they try to navigate the healthcare system. Effective communication in healthcare is essential for getting an accurate diagnosis, following treatment and staying healthy, making it important for patients to receive care in a language they understand well. This is especially important for older adults since fluency and comfort speaking a second language can decline with age. Understanding the specific challenges faced by older Francophone residents in GSJ can help inform policies and services that support equitable healthcare access for this population. [1] “Rest of NB” includes all Forward Sortation Areas (FSAs) fully outside the Saint John and Moncton Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) as classified by the first three digits of the areas' postal codes.
Characterizing the Older Francophone Population in Greater Saint John (2015-2023)
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2025-04-01) Beykzadeh, Ali; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine; McDonald, Ted; Morehouse, Jacob Andrew
Executive Summary Bilingualism makes the province of New Brunswick (NB) unique within Canada, bringing with it a high level of linguistic diversity and cultural enrichment. However, as Canada’s only officially bilingual province, NB also faces issues of language barriers affecting segments of its population. There is limited information about the size of the Francophone community in NB that would prefer services in French while living in majority Anglophone areas. Without this information, it is challenging to accurately show the potential demand for French-language health and social services. In a previous report (Balzer et al., 2023), NB-IRDT constructed a profile of the Francophone population in the Greater Saint John (GSJ) region of NB. That report provided an evidence base for identifying potential language barriers facing Francophones as they attempt to access appropriate and timely healthcare in majority Anglophone areas. In this report, we extend that earlier work (Balzer et al., 2023) to construct a profile specifically of the older Francophone population (age 65+) living in GSJ. Using current data sets held at NB-IRDT, this study compares various health and sociodemographic measures between older Francophone and Anglophone New Brunswickers living in GSJ (an urban English-majority community) as well as older Francophone and Anglophone residents living in Moncton (an urban French-majority city) and the Rest of NB.[1] It looks at these populations’ health status, health service use, social services receipt, household composition, neighbourhood socioeconomic profile and in-home care and nursing home status. Older adults are more likely to experience complex health conditions and have greater healthcare needs, making language barriers particularly impactful as they try to navigate the healthcare system. Effective communication in healthcare is essential for getting an accurate diagnosis, following treatment and staying healthy, making it important for patients to receive care in a language they understand well. This is especially important for older adults since fluency and comfort speaking a second language can decline with age. Understanding the specific challenges faced by older Francophone residents in GSJ can help inform policies and services that support equitable healthcare access for this population. [1] “Rest of NB” includes all Forward Sortation Areas (FSAs) fully outside the Saint John and Moncton Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) as classified by the first three digits of the areas' postal codes.
Summary Report: Academic, health and healthcare utilization outcomes in New Brunswick grade school students prescribed longacting 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.
Graduate retention in New Brunswick: 2021 graduate cohort update
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2024-06) McDonald, Ted; Miah, Pablo; Beykzadeh, Ali; Gorman-Asal, Madeleine
This report is the third in a series of annual updates on post-secondary graduates’ retention in New Brunswick (NB) by the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT). These reports provide an overview of the retention patterns of graduates from post-secondary institutions in NB since the previous reporting period, and their updates on graduates’ retention trends can help guide public policy discussions around education and training strategies to attract younger individuals to study, work and live in NB. The current study, which includes data on the 2021 graduate cohort, provides an update to the graduate retention results released by NB-IRDT in 2023 (Balzer et al., 2023), which included data on individuals who graduated in 2019 and 2020. The methodology followed by Balzer et al. (2023) was replicated for this cohort update.
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, Chandy
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.
Profils de sensibilité aux changements climatiques pour les collectivités couverts par le Conseil de la santé du Nouveau-Brunswick : Neguac, 28 février 2022
(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Climate change sensitivity profiles for New Brunswick Health Council Communities: Neguac: February 28, 2022
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Profils de sensibilité aux changements climatiques pour les collectivités couverts par le Conseil de la santé du Nouveau-Brunswick : Miramichi, 28 février 2022
(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Climate change sensitivity profiles for New Brunswick Health Council Communities: Miramichi: February 28, 2022
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Profils de sensibilité aux changements climatiques pour les collectivités couverts par le Conseil de la santé du Nouveau-Brunswick : Tracadie-Sheila, 28 février 2022
(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Climate change sensitivity profiles for New Brunswick Health Council Communities: Tracadie-Sheila: February 28, 2022
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Profils de sensibilité aux changements climatiques pour les collectivités couverts par le Conseil de la santé du Nouveau-Brunswick : Shippagan, 28 février 2022
(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Climate change sensitivity profiles for New Brunswick Health Council Communities: Shippagan: February 28, 2022
(New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey
Profils de sensibilité aux changements climatiques pour les collectivités couverts par le Conseil de la santé du Nouveau-Brunswick : Caraquet, 28 février 2022
(l’Institut de recherche, de données et de formation du Nouveau-Brunswick, 2022-02-28) Magalhaes, Sandra; Rogers, Kyle; Wade, Tracey

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