Design Thinking-Informed Simulation: An Innovative Framework to Test, Evaluate, and Modify New Clinical Infrastructure.

Introduction: Designing new healthcare facilities is complex and transitions to new clinical environments carry high risks, as unanticipated problems may arise resulting in inefficient care and patient harm. Design thinking, a human-centered design method, represents a unique framework to support the planning, testing, and evaluation of new clinical spaces throughout all phases of construction. Healthcare simulation has been used to test new clinical spaces, yet most report using simulation only in the late design stages.

I-RREACH: an engagement and assessment tool for improving implementation readiness of researchers, organizations and communities in complex interventions.

Background: Non-communicable chronic diseases are the leading causes of mortality globally, and nearly 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In high-income countries (HICs), inequitable distribution of resources affects poorer and otherwise disadvantaged groups including Aboriginal peoples. Cardiovascular mortality in high-income countries has recently begun to fall; however, these improvements are not realized among citizens in LMICs or those subgroups in high-income countries who are disadvantaged in the social determinants of health including Aboriginal people.

Improving health equity for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people: Ontario's Aboriginal Cancer Strategy II.

Cancer incidence is increasing more rapidly and cancer survival is worse among Ontario's First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM) populations than among other Ontarians. Cancer Care Ontario's Aboriginal Cancer Strategy II aims to reduce this health inequity and to improve the cancer journey and experience for FNIM people in Ontario. This comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy was developed and is being implemented with and for Aboriginal Peoples in Ontario in a way that honours the Aboriginal Path of Well-being.

Hypertension management initiative: qualitative results from implementing clinical practice guidelines in primary care through a facilitated practice program.

The goal of the Hypertension Management Initiative (HMI) is to improve the management and control of hypertension by both primary care providers and patients. The HMI was in effect in 11 primary care sites across the province of Ontario, Canada. This was a qualitative study.

Economic analysis of Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario's Hypertension Management Initiative.

Objectives: Hypertension is suboptimally treated in primary care settings. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario's Hypertension Management Initiative (HMI), an interdisciplinary, evidence-informed chronic disease management model for primary care that focuses on improving blood pressure management and control by primary care providers and patients according to clinical best practice guidelines.

Methods: The perspective of our analysis was that of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care with a lifetime horizon and 5% annual discount rate.

Therapeutic benefit of internet-based lifestyle counselling for hypertension.

Background: Preventive electronic (e)-counselling has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. However, heterogeneity in outcomes is commonly reported due to differences in e-protocols. We incorporated key features of an established behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, to help standardize e-counselling in order to reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

A framework for discussion on how to improve prevention, management, and control of hypertension in Canada.

Increased blood pressure is a leading risk for premature death and disability. The causes of increased blood pressure are intuitive and well known. However, the fundamental basis and means for improving blood pressure control are highly integrated into our complex societal structure both inside and outside our health system and hence require a comprehensive discussion of the pathway forward.

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO) high blood pressure strategy's hypertension management initiative study protocol.

Background: Achieving control of hypertension prevents target organ damage at both the micro and macrovascular level and is a highly cost effective means of lowering the risk for heart attack and stroke particularly in people with diabetes. Clinical trials demonstrate that blood pressure control can be achieved in a large proportion of people. Translating this knowledge into widespread practice is the focus of the Hypertension Management Initiative, which began in 2004 with the goal of improving the management of this chronic health condition by primary care providers and patients in the community.

Antihypertensive medication use and blood pressure control: a community-based cross-sectional survey (ON-BP).

Background: The Ontario Blood Pressure (ON-BP) survey reported high treatment and control rates for hypertension in the province of Ontario, Canada, in a survey performed in 2006. This study examined patterns of utilization of antihypertensive drug classes and their impact on blood pressure (BP) control.

Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based survey of adults, 20-79 years of age (population 7,996,653).

Results of the Ontario survey on the prevalence and control of hypertension.

Background: Available information on the prevalence and management of hypertension in the Canadian population dates back to 1986-1992 and probably does not reflect the current status of this major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We sought to evaluate the current prevalence and management of hypertension among adults in the province of Ontario.

Methods: Potential respondents from randomly selected dwellings within target neighbourhoods in 16 municipalities were contacted at their homes to request participation in the study.