Population Health Data Analysis

Ten years ago, the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health began recruiting Canadian citizens to participate in what is now one of Canada’s largest population health studies. Today more than 330,000 citizens between the ages of 30 and 74 are voluntarily sharing their detailed health and lifestyle information over several decades.

Health Canada’s COVID-19 epidemiology updates provide vital information on how Canada is managing the epidemic on both a federal and provincial level.

Geography and epidemiology team up to characterize the modern scourge. We all know what geography is. It’s all that business about the names of countries, flags and making maps, right? A recent article in Wired surveyed the discipline among present circumstances with a refreshing resonance, whilst not overlooking its pragmatism. The point is that geography as a discipline has never really seemed so important.

The ability to use GIS and epidemiology to address emerging population health issues in our society are key components of the Population Health Data Analysis (PHDA) program.

Our society generates exponential amounts of information every day. Big data now fuels the engines of change and influence, but how can we harness this power to make meaningful social change?

According to The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA),“for the first time in our history the number of Canadians over 65 has exceeded the number of those aged 14 and under.

Data now fuels decision-making in almost every sector of our society. As a result, interest in data-intensive science is growing rapidly as opportunities to explore this expanding resource source abound.

"Are Canadians gambling with their health?" This was a question asked in a recent health report card update published by the Conference Board of Canada.

Expanding your tools and techniques to improve your practice Interested in adding more tools to your improvement toolbox?  There are many ways to support the ongoing management and improvement of health services and programs.

Seeing the big picture in the maze of complex and often messy data requires a unique set of skills. To be successful, researchers need to hone their role as ‘data detectives’ to effectively use and analyze administrative data.

Geospatial information (GI) identifies the geographic location of natural and built objects; but when combined with other forms of data, it can provide extremely valuable information for a myriad of business, government, academic educational or consumer applications.

Adele Balram is a Database Analyst with the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data, and Training.

According to a recent 2016 Health Status Report, 90 percent of Canadians indicated they have good to excellent health. That’s very promising news, especially when you consider that Canada’s average life expectancy of 82 years makes us one of the healthiest nations in the world. But before we get too comfortable, maybe we should check out the whole story. 

The Professional Specialization Certificate in Population Health Data Analysis will give you the skills and knowledge you need to get ahead in your career. Complete four courses to earn a certificate conferred by the University of Victoria or take up to two courses for professional development.

We live in a world where, thanks to the Internet, geographic location is no longer a restriction to accessing quality higher education. The trend towards online learning has been growing steadily in recent years and is opening up opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning to many people who might otherwise not have access to it.

You’ve achieved success in your academic degree and launched your career. Short term, professional specialized training offers the theory and the practice that you need to move your career goals forward.

By Anders Erickson, Instructor Access to timely and quality health care is an important determinant of health and well-being.

Planning a research project has many key components, from formulating a research question and reviewing available data sources to preparing and analyzing the data. Making your way successfully through this process requires the knowledge and skill to ask the right questions and apply the appropriate statistical or analytic techniques. Many individuals working in the area of population and public health, know they cannot rely on a static set of skills to support the challenges of this work.  

Have you ever wanted to evaluate a program or project but didn’t know where to start? In an era of accountability it can be overwhelming to know how best to evaluate and demonstrate the value of your work.  Do you know if your service is delivering quality care? Are you reaching the intended clients and meeting their needs?  Have you been making the best use of your investments?  Like you, there are many individuals working in the area of population and public health who need up-to-date skills in sound monitoring and evaluation practices to answer these and other important questions. 

Have you ever wanted to design your own credential? Have you ever struggled to find a program that meets your specific interests and needs? Then you might be interested in our newest program: the Certificate in General Studies.

I learned about the PHDA program while pursuing work at the BC Cancer Agency. It was good timing, as I wasn’t sure about my professional development plans for that year.