Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Janet K. Smylie, MD MPH, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan/Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre, Room 2762.1 Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada, 306-966-1925, jk.smylie@usask.ca

Rationale: Multiple indicators of Indigenous health exist in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Currently, these measures do not effectively contribute to improved health outcomes. This ineffectiveness is not clearly understood by health researchers.

Goal: To conceptualize and pilot a health performance measurement process that will contribute to effective health information, surveillance, and monitoring systems to improve the health of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Methods: Inventory, classification and synthesis of strengths and weaknesses among existing health performance measurement systems in the three countries, through literature review and key informant interview. Review of previous methodologies for collaborative indicator development and use. Design and piloting of a participatory methodology for health performance measurement system development in partnership with a First Nations community in Canada. External evaluation of the pilot health measurement system and the participatory developmental process.

Results: Indigenous conceptualizations of health are marginalized within health performance measurement systems in all three countries. The focus on macro systems results in greater attention to disease based measures and less focus on regional cultural diversity and Indigenous specific values and priorities. Our participatory action research approach successfully engaged our community partner in the development of a pilot health measurement system that was perceived as useful and relevant.

Conclusion: Current Indigenous health performance measurement systems in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are underdeveloped at a local level and hence deficient in their ability to support local service development. Community-based health measurement development processes have the potential to improve community level health systems.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants in the session will be able to

• Articulate 4 key concerns regarding exisiting Indigenous health measurement systems
• Discuss the links between Indigenous rights and Indigenous health measurement
• Cite two best practice examples of Indigenous health measurement
• Describe a community-based Indigenous health measurement performance system development process

Keywords: Native and Indigenous Populations, Performance Measurement

Related Web page: www.iphrc.ca

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered