The number of Canadians aged 65 or older is
expected to double within the next two decades,
and the proportion of those over the age of 80 is
expected to grow from 27.5% in 2012 to 32% in
2036.(1; 2) This trend holds true in British
Columbia (which is where the request came from
for this synthesis) where...
As noted by the Health Council of Canada in 2013, there
are many definitions of quality in healthcare, but a
common conception of it is “the degree to which health
services for individuals and populations increase the
likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent
with current professional kn...
A number of current pressures on the health system,
including an aging population, increased prevalence
of chronic and co-morbid conditions, and increasing
focus on patient self-management and patientcentred care, are driving interest in delivering care in new ways. With technology playing an increasingl...
Total expenditure on health and long-term care is rising
across Canada and is predicted to continue rising over the
next decade.(1) The increased need for public resources to
be allocated to this sector is straining government budgets
and represents a major area of public concern.(1) This strain
is felt ...
Alcohol consumption is currently the world's third largest risk
factor for disease, attributable for 5.1% of the global burden of
disease, with clear links to conditions such as neuropsychiatric
disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, intentional injuries,
unintentional injuries, cardiovascular dis...
Health systems are moving away from traditional
primary care (e.g., by increasingly shifting to group
practice and interprofessional teams rather than solo
practice primary-care providers), which is often siloed
and results in barriers to timely access to care.(1) The
Ministry of Health of British Columb...
Momentum for patient and caregiver engagement in
health and social care is growing across Ontario.(1) This
is evidenced by a number of recently released strategies
and frameworks highlighting the importance of
involving Ontarians in their own care as informed
consumers of health and social services. One ...
The environment in which children are growing up
today is very different than that of previous generations.
There has been tremendous innovation in how society
operates, with the rapid expansion of technology,
globalization of businesses, new careers and
opportunities, and increasingly diverse communitie...
Education is key to equipping individuals with the
necessary skills to meaningfully contribute to society.(1)
Rapid developments in technology, workforce changes
and the effects of globalization mean that societies are
evolving at a faster than ever pace. Responsive
education systems are needed to proper...
Providing care that is person-centred is a key goal for
provincial and territorial health systems in Canada.(1)
This is demonstrated by a number of provinces having
recently put forward legislation or key strategies working
towards this aim. For example, in 2014, the Ministry of
Health of British Columbi...
