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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Local and regional therapy for women with breast cancer in British Columbia.

British Columbian provincial practice guidelines (PPGs) have recommended breast-conserving surgery (BCS), axillary node dissection, and radiation therapy following BCS for specific subgroups of breast cancer patients. Patient-, disease-, and physician-specific factors associated with these therapies were investigated in nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer patients. Temporal trends in BCS and physicians' experiences with PPGs were also examined. Sources of data for patient, disease, treatment, and treating physician factors included medical records, source documents, and the British Columbia Medical Directory for 967 nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer patients diagnosed in British Columbia in 1995. BCS utilization among 496 patients with pathologically node-negative breast cancer (NNBC) was compared to earlier British Columbian data. Family physicians and surgeons were surveyed in 1997 regarding their experience with PPGs. 57% of "ideal" candidates received BCS; 87% of patients received axillary node dissection; and 95% of women treated with BCS also received radiation therapy. Tumor size, tumor location, and extent of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were associated with BCS use; age, tumor size, and tumor location were associated with axillary node dissection; and age alone was associated with radiation therapy following BCS. Fifty-four percent of NNBC patients received BCS in 1995, compared to 44% in 1991, with increases seen in most patient-, disease-, and physician-specific comparisons. The increase in BCS, and high proportion completing radiation therapy, are encouraging and may be due in part to greater exposure to PPGs.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Drug treatment court opens in British Columbia.

British Columbia has launched its first drug treatment court. Designed as a mandated addiction treatment alternative to incarceration, the court will attempt to steer drug users charged with drug-related offences away from jail and into rigorous supervised addiction treatment. While some have applauded this recent development, local experts have criticized the move, citing the lack of evidence supporting the efficacy of drug courts and the need for more voluntary treatment programs.

British Columbia↗
PubMed1977

Cancer and chronic disease surveillance in British Columbia.

The British Columbia Health Surveillance Registry recorded morbidity information on a number of chronic and disabling diseases. The Cancer Register, the largest within the agency, achieved good ascertainment of neoplasms within the Province. In 1973, a total of 8.397 new cancer cases, excluding cases of carcinoma in situ, were diagnosed and reported. The general register ascertained congenital anomalies and other physical and mental disabilities within British Columbia. At the end of 1971, approximately 20,111 anomalies had been recorded. The Record Linkage Program currently underway in British Columbia will eventually link records of cancer, congenital anomalies, live births, marriages, and other vital events on a continuing basis for research purposes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hypospadias in British Columbia.

The British Columbia Health Surveillance Registry (BCHSR) records the frequency, incidence, and distribution of congenital malformations and other disabilities among individuals within the province using multiple sources of ascertainment. The most important sources of ascertainment for this study were Physician's Notice of Birth forms and discharge diagnosis from all hospitals in the province on children 7 years old or younger. These data were used to determine the minimal incidence of hypospadias with and without other congenital anomalies in order to provide information useful in management and to establish baseline prevalence data on a common genital malformation. In addition, incidence over time was evaluated. The study found the minimal incidence of hypospadias in British Columbia to be 4.44 per 1,000 male live births (1,314 cases out of 295,656 male live births) during 1966-1981. This is in the previously reported range of the incidence of hypospadias (2-8.2 per 1,000 male live births). Hypospadias was the only malformation in almost 80% of all individuals identified. The most frequent additional anomalies involved the genital and inguinal regions (7.2% of all cases or 36% of cases with additional anomalies). Cardiac lesions were the next most common anomalies, representing 14% of those cases with additional anomalies. Limb malformations and gastrointestinal anomalies were also quite common, representing 12.1% and 9.1% of cases of hypospadias with additional anomalies, respectively. Thus, 1 in 225 males born in British Columbia has some degree of hypospadias, and 20% of these infants also have at least one other anomaly.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1988

Racially determined abnormal essential fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism and food allergies linked to autoimmune, inflammatory, and psychiatric disorders among Coastal British Columbia Indians.

British Columbia Coastal Indians possess abnormal patterns of essential fatty acid (EFA) and prostaglandin (PGE) metabolism as racially determined genetic traits, probably a consequence of evolving for tens of thousands of years on a diet extremely rich in EFA's. EFA metabolism abnormalities and unusual epidemiological patterns suggest fundamental pathologies so subtle as to be obscured in other groups, yet readily observable among these Indians. It is hypothesized that eicosapentaenoic acid and prostaglandin El deficiencies predispose Coastal Indians to food allergies which in turn predispose them to autoimmune, inflammatory, and psychiatric disorders.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Uptake and behavioural and attitudinal determinants of immunization in an expanded routine infant hepatitis B vaccination program in British Columbia.

INTRODUCTION: British Columbia (BC) implemented a universal infant hepatitis B (HB) immunization program in 2001. The study objective was to evaluate HB immunization coverage among the first six-month cohort of eligible infants in the province outside of the Vancouver-Richmond health region and to assess parent/guardian behavioural and attitudinal determinants of HB immunization. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of HB immunization was conducted using a random sample of eligible infants born between 1 January-30 June 2001. HB immunization coverage data were obtained from the provincial Public Health Information System, and through a telephone survey of 487 of eligible infants' parents/guardians that was conducted between October 2002-January 2003. At this time, parents/guardians were also asked about behaviours and attitudes towards immunization, based on the Immunization Health Belief Model Scale. RESULTS: HB immunization coverage with at least one dose of HB vaccine was 89% and uptake of 3 doses of HB vaccine was 78%. HB immunization was significantly associated (p<0.001) with a recommendation for HB immunization from a health care professional. The main reason for non-HB immunization was parental concern about side effects. DISCUSSION: Seventy-eight percent of infants completed the 3-dose HB vaccination schedule. Parental behaviour regarding HB immunization of their children was strongly influenced by a supportive recommendation from either a nurse or doctor.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1992

Barriers to cervical cytology screening in native women in British Columbia.

The British Columbia (BC) Cervical Cytology Screening Programme (CCSP), implemented since 1955, has resulted in a 75% decrease in both the mortality from and incidence of invasive squamous cervical carcinoma. However, despite this effect, the Native Indian population still present an overall mortality rate four times higher than that of the non-Native population. A demonstration project was initiated in four Native Indian Band communities of BC to determine the reasons underlying these findings. The participation patterns to the CCSP were investigated and revealed that the overall percentage of participation to the CCSP among Native Indian women was 30% lower than that of the non-Native population. Reasons for the under-participation to the CCSP were explored. A total of 36 women, 9 in each of the 4 communities, including current users, ex-users and never users, were interviewed. Reasons for not participating in the CCSP were due mainly to (1) the lack of knowledge about the Pap test and about its importance; (2) feelings of embarrassment and shamefulness; (3) lack of continuity of care due to the high turnover of physicians in the Native communities. Based on the study findings, a pilot CCSP clinic will be implemented in each community. In addition to taking cervical smears, this pilot project will include education sessions, notification about the results of the test, and recall for annual check up.

British Columbia↗
PubMed2002

Community-based stream conservation initiatives in British Columbia, Canada.

British Columbia is a diverse province, with ecosystems ranging from semi-arid deserts to valley glaciers and vast ice fields. By world standards, BC has an abundance of fresh water in its lakes and rivers. However, rivers have been exploited for social and industrial purposes, often to the detriment of the natural values. Community groups and non-government organizations have been active in rehabilitating and restoring waterways. The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is a provincial non-government organization that has been instrumental in river conservation issues in BC. Three key initiatives have been established by the Council since its formation in 1975. BC Rivers Day has grown into the largest river celebration of its kind in North America, and there is a move to establish a national Rivers Day in Canada based on the model established in BC. Second is the annual Endangered Rivers List compiled by the Council and released each spring. The third initiative is the River Recovery Project in which dams and impoundment structures were evaluated against a set of criteria. A short list of candidates was generated by the project that will be further studied to determine what actions should be taken to alter the management of the structures to restore ecological values of the rivers and streams on which they are built. The three initiatives described rely on local community support. The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC provides coordination, promotion, and publicity as well as some resource materials while local groups and communities take on stewardship roles for their local streams. This model may be useful for other jurisdictions.

British Columbia↗