What is health?
The definition of health is continually changing in todays society. Below are resources that provide further understanding and insight on the definition of health.
Concepts & Definitions of Health
This peer-reviewed resource looks into the definitions of health both historically and in todays society.
Video: What makes us healthy?
This video provides a quick overview of health and why the definition of health is not simple but has many determinants.
What is good health?
This news article examines past and current definitions of health. As well it looks into the different factors that make up health.
Spheres of Influence on Health
This peer-reviewed resource defines spheres of influence and the capabilities physicians and allied health care practitioners have to work within their given spheres of influence to address health disparities at the patient level.
The article linked below focuses in on the power and responsibility of healthcare providers to ensure their patients have social support during their treatments. Cancer Care is a complex domain in which social and psychological support is essential to disease management. This qualitative study looks at colorectal patients in particular and allows insight into how communication, support, and treatment environment can play into someones care.
Social-ecological model – spheres of influence. Adapted from " Primary Health Care and Public Health: Foundations of Universal Health Systems " by Franklin White, 2015, Medical Principles and Practice, 24:103–116. Copyright 2015 by S. Karger AG, Basel. Adapted with permission
Vulnerable Populations in Healthcare
This article discusses homelessness and the impacts on their health with a focus on cancer care. In Canada the homeless have 4x higher cancer rates than the general population, lower rates of screening, and poorer outcomes. This article identifies some of the possible barriers of care for the homeless noting the main barrier is low health literacy and understanding the necessity of care. Increasing education on cancer screening, risk factors, and treatments may help increase care for this vulnerable population.
This video below discusses both the barriers and impacts of decreased cancer screening rates among the lower socioeconomic populations. It outlines that fear may be the largest barrier for these patients. Take a watch!!
This article looks into cervical screening knowledge and rates among homeless women. This study was conducted in New York as there is limited published research on this topic in Canada. It is known that homeless women have higher rates of cervical cancer and diminished access to screening. Keeping up to date on screening procedures as well as following up are concerns for this vulnerable population.
Indigenous Health Disparities in Canada
The Canadian Partnership against Cancer (CPAC) has created an infographic outlining areas to focus on to improve engagement and communication with indigenous populations.
Letendre et al., (2020), looked into the benefits of creating an indigenous led research network against cancer. This network appears to be an excellent group to address disparities, and promote indigenous based research and formalize efforts to ensure better cancer care for indigenous peoples. Read more about their efforts and findings below:
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has been working to improve the indigenous cancer care experience and has put together a video series in which different journeys and treatment experiences are presented through storytelling. This video series is a step in the right direction to minimize cancer care disparities by presenting expectations, and supports in a culturally appropriate way.
This video below is part of the Video Series. This one is of particular interest about Care and supports in the community.
Resources:
Alberta Health Services, Cancer Care Alberta. (2020). Indigenous Cancer Care Experiences: Video Series. Retrieved from: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/indigenous-cancer-care-experiences-video-series.aspx
​
Asgary, R., Alcabes, A., Feldman, R., Garland, V., Naderi, R., Ogedegbe, G., & Sckell, B. (2016). Cervical Cancer Screening Among Homeless Women of New York City Shelters. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 20(6), 1143–1150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1900-1
​
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. (2021). The Partnerships Commitment to Reconciliation. Infographic. Retrieved from: https://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/about-us/who-we-are/first-nations-inuit-metis/reconciliation/
Felman, A. (2020). What is good health. Medical News today. Retrieved online from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150999#preserving-health
​
Karches, K., DeCamp, M., George, M., Prochaska, M., Saunders, M., Thorsteinsdottir, B., & Dzeng, E. (2021). Spheres of Influence and Strategic Advocacy for Equity in Medicine. Journal of general internal medicine, 1–4. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06893-4
​
Kiran, T., & Lofters, A. (2019). Working with patients to improve cancer screening for people living with low income. St. Michaels Unity Health Toronto. Retrieved from: https://maphealth.ca/cancer-screening/
​
Law, E., Levesque, J. V., Lambert, S., & Girgis, A. (2018). The "sphere of care": A qualitative study of colorectal cancer patient and caregiver experiences of support within the cancer treatment setting. PloS one, 13(12), e0209436. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209436
​
Lawrie, K., Charow, R., Giuliani, M., & Papadakos, J. (2020). Homelessness, Cancer and Health Literacy: A Scoping Review. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 31(1), 81-104. doi:10.1353/hpu.2020.0010.
​
Letendre, A., Garvey, G., King, A., King, M., Crowshoe, R., Bill, L., Caron, N.R., Elias, B. (2020). Creating a Canadian Indigneous Research Network Against Cancer to Address Indigenous Cancer Disparities. JCO Global Oncology 92-98. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.19.00049
​
Svalastog, A. L., Donev, D., Jahren Kristoffersen, N., & Gajović, S. (2017). Concepts and definitions of health and health-related values in the knowledge landscapes of the digital society. Croatian medical journal, 58(6), 431–435. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2017.58.431
​
The Health Foundation. (2021). What makes us healthy. Retrieved from: https://www.health.org.uk/what-we-do/a-healthier-uk-population/what-makes-us-healthy
​