Prevention

Provinces have charted their own paths, but should all adults in Canada have access to second boosters of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Canadian provinces and territories have gone their own ways on the advisability and availability of fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses. But should the general population be eligible for a fourth dose at this time? Or are we better off waiting? We asked a group of experts to weigh in.

Clinical trial disruptions in Ukraine a little-known consequence of war

The Russian invasion has upended hundreds of clinical trials and interrupted the delivery of life-saving treatments, with devastating consequences for both Ukrainians and Russians.

Overdiagnosis: Good intentions gone bad

Overdiagnosis is a problem that's been recognized for decades, but in the last 10 years research has proven that early detection does not always mean better outcomes. Overdiagnosis can sometimes cause physical, psychological or financial harm. But there are things that both physicians and patients can do to help prevent it.

Improved paid sick leave, minimum wage necessary for our patients’ health

The public health order to “stay home when sick” without 10 paid sick days was impossible for countless workers. Precarious workers who perform essential, yet low-paying jobs shared the greatest burden of the pandemic. Now is the time for the government to act.

A plea from a family medicine resident: We must recognize the changing nature of primary care to prevent an exodus of doctors

The pandemic and climate crisis have put extra strain on the already evolving primary care system and worsened the B.C. family-doctor shortage. But the current structure of family medicine has not adapted.

To tackle food insecurity, school adds hunting and fishing to reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic

Faced with rampant food insecurity in the Eel Ground First Nation, New Brunswick, one elementary school principal started the Kelulk Mijipjewe food program to provide nutritious meals and teach students about Indigenous food culture.

‘As a matter of policy, kids were hungry in residential schools’: The dark history of Canada’s food guide

Canada's Food Guide has its roots in controversial experiments conducted on Indigenous children and adults in the 1940's and 50's.

Episode 35 – Preventative Health: Smoking Cessation and Olive Oil

As we head into a provincial election, it’s time to rethink sick-pay leave

The pandemic has amplified social inequalities in our society as lived experiences have differed vastly based on income. Hourly workers have been disproportionately affected relative to salary workers. For many, a consistent paycheque is crucial to providing necessities such as food and housing.

Nunavut struggling with crisis that ‘won’t go away’

Food insecurity in Nunavut has been called “among the longest-lasting public health crises faced by a Canadian population.”

For Olympic hopefuls, long COVID poses career threat

World-class athletes are facing the fact that age and fitness doesn’t spare them from prolonged COVID symptoms that could be career ending.

‘Lives are at stake’: Burnout, staff shortages raise spectre of harmful events in hospital

The combined pandemic toll of a nursing shortage, an exhausted and increasingly inexperienced hospital workforce and a lack of hospital presence for family and friend patient advocates may be a precursor to increased risk of harm while in hospital.

Risky dancers: Putting health on the line for that ‘human touch’

Knowing they are putting their bodies on the line to have human connections, many dancers are trying to manage their COVID risk by various means – and it could give us a glimpse of what mass gatherings might look like in a post-pandemic world.

Students the driving force behind innovative food-share program

Food insecurity has increased during COVID-19, even as lots of food is wasted in Canada. MealCare is addressing both problems by diverting surplus food from grocery stores, cafeterias and caterers to homeless shelters, food banks and soup kitchens.

Scrap the Pap

We need to switch from traditional Pap testing to oncogenic HPV screening to save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of cases of cervical cancer. The longer we put off switching, the more we needlessly put people at risk.

Promoting your heart health promotes your brain health

Every five minutes, heart disease, stroke and related conditions take a life in Canada. However, 80 per cent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable. Here's how to avoid these debilitating conditions.

When it comes to breastfeeding, we should practice what we preach

As medical professionals, we encourage breastfeeding in our patients, so why do hospitals make it so hard to breastfeed at work?

Has the pandemic taught us the value of prevention?

Has the pandemic, which showed us the importance of preventive measures like social distancing, taught us a larger lesson about the importance of preventing injuries that cut lives too short and cost us too much?

We all need somewhere ‘to go’: Paucity of public washrooms is clogging up efforts to get outside and stay safe

During the pandemic, being physically active outside is crucial to staying healthy and safe. But how can we enjoy the outdoors without public washrooms?

Pandemic, winter taking toll on Canadians’ mental health

Despite winter’s darkest days shortening, the vaccine rollout underway and restrictions lowering daily COVID-19 case counts, the pandemic is taking an ever-increasing toll on Canadians’ mental health.