Retrospective Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Parameters in Participants of a Preventive Health and Wellness Program.

Lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional choices are important influencing parameters of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the number one cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Our aims were to i) characterize CVD risk parameters using data from 7939 participants enrolled in a preventive health and wellness program between March 2010 and January 2017; and ii) evaluate intervention effects in 3,020 participants who returned for follow-up. Blood measurements (nutrient markers), CVD risk parameters (abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin resistance, and inflammation), glycemic status (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed.

Evaluating the primary-to-specialist referral system for elective hip and knee arthroplasty.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Persistently long waiting times for hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) specialist consultations have been identified as a problem. This study described referral processes and practices, and their impact on the waiting time from referral to consultation for TJA.

Methods: A mixed-methods retrospective study incorporating semi-structured interviews, patient chart reviews and observational studies was conducted at three clinic sites in Alberta, Canada.

The association between amalgam dental surfaces and urinary mercury levels in a sample of Albertans, a prevalence study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between number of dental amalgam surfaces and urinary mercury levels.

Methods: This study uses participant data from a large philanthropic chronic disease prevention program in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Urine samples were analysed for mercury levels (measured in μg/g-creatinine).

Voluntary versus involuntary waiting for joint replacements: new Alberta wait times rules for hip and knee arthroplasties, with provincial consensus.

Despite various health system improvements across Alberta, the wait times benchmark was not being met for all patients requiring hip or knee arthroplasty. Alberta Health Services Bone and Joint Clinical Network working groups, in collaboration with other provincial organizations, gained consensus on the development and implementation of a set of provincial Wait Times Rules. These rules standardize the definition and measurement of data elements specific to joint replacement and distinguish between voluntary (patient-related) versus involuntary (healthcare system-related) wait times.

Conjoint Analysis Applications in Health - How are Studies being Designed and Reported?: An Update on Current Practice in the Published Literature between 2005 and 2008.

Despite the increased popularity of conjoint analysis in health outcomes research, little is known about what specific methods are being used for the design and reporting of these studies. This variation in method type and reporting quality sometimes makes it difficult to assess substantive findings. This review identifies and describes recent applications of conjoint analysis based on a systematic review of conjoint analysis in the health literature.

The cost-effectiveness of a law banning the use of cellular phones by drivers.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a law banning the use of cellular phones by drivers in the Canadian province of Alberta.

Method: Cost-effectiveness analysis using a probabilistic decision-analytic model and publicly available data. We adopted a societal perspective.