Influenza and seasonal patterns of hospital use by older adults in long-term care and community settings in Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: We compared seasonal influenza hospital use among older adults in long-term care (LTC) and community settings.

Methods: We used provincial administrative data from Ontario to identify all emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions for pneumonia and influenza among adults older than 65 years between 2002 and 2008. We used sentinel laboratory reports to define influenza and summer seasons and estimated mean annual event rates and influenza-associated rates.

Trends in influenza vaccination in Canada, 1996/1997 to 2005.

Objectives: This article reports recent trends in influenza vaccination rates in Canada, provides data on predictors of vaccination in Canada for 2005, and examines longer-term effects of Ontario's universal influenza immunization program on vaccine uptake.

Data Sources: Data are from the 1996/1997 National Population Health Survey (NPHS) and the 2000/2001, 2003, and 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).

Analytical Techniques: NPHS and CCHS data were used to estimate influenza vaccination rates of the population aged 12 or older.

The effect of universal influenza immunization on vaccination rates in Ontario.

Objectives: This article examines the association between introduction of Ontario's Universal Influenza Immunization Program and changes in vaccination rates over time in Ontario, compared with the other provinces combined.

Data Sources: The data are from the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey and the 2000/01 and 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey, both conducted by Statistics Canada.

Analytical Techniques: Cross-tabulations were used to estimate vaccination rates for the total population aged 12 or older, for groups especially vulnerable to the effects of influenza, and by selected socio-demographic variables.

Oral vitamin B12 therapy in the primary care setting: a qualitative and quantitative study of patient perspectives.

Background: Although oral replacement with high doses of vitamin B12 is both effective and safe for the treatment of B12 deficiency, little is known about patients' views concerning the acceptability and effectiveness of oral B12. We investigated patient perspectives on switching from injection to oral B12 therapy.

Methods: This study involved a quantitative arm using questionnaires and a qualitative arm using semi-structured interviews, both to assess patient views on injection and oral therapy.

A comparison of Canadian medical students from rural and non-rural backgrounds.

Context: Very little is known about medical students from rural areas currently enrolled in Canadian medical schools.

Purpose: We aimed to compare rural and non-rural students in terms of demographics, socioeconomic status, financial status and career choices.

Methods: As part of a larger Internet survey of all students at Canadian medical schools outside Quebec, conducted in January and February 2001, we conducted post-hoc analyses to compare students from rural and non-rural areas.

Sex differences in first-year students at Canadian medical schools.

Objectives: To compare male and female medical students by age, level of education before admission to medical school, race/ethnicity, parental education level, socioeconomic status, and attitudes toward public health care.

Methods: In 2001, we conducted an Internet-based survey of all students enrolled in the 16 medical schools across Canada. Based on the high response rate, first-year medical students at Canadian medical schools outside of Quebec were included in this analysis.

Characteristics of first-year students in Canadian medical schools.

Background: The demographic and socioeconomic profile of medical school classes has implications for where people choose to practise and whether they choose to treat certain disadvantaged groups. We aimed to describe the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of first-year Canadian medical students and compare them with those of the Canadian population to determine whether there are groups that are over- or underrepresented. Furthermore, we wished to test the hypothesis that medical students often come from privileged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Effects of rising tuition fees on medical school class composition and financial outlook.

Background: Since 1997, tuition has more than doubled at Ontario medical schools but has remained relatively stable in other Canadian provinces. We sought to determine whether the increasing tuition fees in Ontario affected the demographic characteristics and financial outlook of medical students in that province as compared with those of medical students in the rest of Canada.

Methods: As part of a larger Internet survey of all students at Canadian medical schools outside Quebec, conducted in January and February 2001, we compared the respondents from Ontario schools with those from the other schools (control group).