Resources

JANUS SNAPSHOTS

Who is providing palliative care?

In the National Family Physician Workforce Survey, respondents indicated palliative care is provided:

• by 74.6% of Canadian family physicians, ranging from 61.4% in Quebec to 89.8% in New Brunswick;
• by 76.4% of male physicians and 71.2% of female physicians;
• by a greater proportion of family physicians working in group practice with other family physicians than by family physicians working solo (81.4% vs 75.9%); and
• more frequently by rural family physicians; the more rural or remote a physician’s practice, the more likely he or she is to provide palliative care (92.2% of rural family physicians compared with 60.2% of inner-city family physicians).

Source: College of Family Physicians of Canada. 2001 CFPC National Family Physician Workforce Survey [Part of the Janus Project: Family physicians meeting the needs of tomorrow’s society]. Mississauga, Ont: College of Family Physicians of Canada; 2001. Response rate for this mailed census survey was 51.2% (N = 13 088). Data were weighted to represent all practising Canadian family physicians and general practitioners.

For further information, contact Sarah Scott, Janus Project Coordinator, College of Family Physicians of Canada, telephone (905) 629-0900, extension 289; e-mail sks@cfpc.ca

Available

Smoke-free in 2003

The 45 000 deaths each year from tobacco-related illness and disease in Canada can be prevented. Yet an estimated 23% of Canadians continue to smoke (about six million persons). The Canadian Cancer Society is taking action to encourage smokers to “Be smoke-free in 2003.” The Ontario Division of the Society launched a Smokers’ Helpline (1-877-513-5333) to support smokers trying to quit or to learn more about their tobacco use. The Helpline is a toll-free, confidential service offering personalized support, up-to-date information, and easy access to counselors. Recommend it to your patients who smoke.

Family participation in healthy behaviour

As childhood obesity skyrockets, health care providers are recognizing a “communication shortfall” with families. A communication gap makes helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight difficult. Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids, a new guide sponsored by the American Dietetic Association, stresses family participation and offers tips on engaging the entire family in healthy eating and physical activity. Available free at www.wellpoint.com the guide provides concrete recommendations based on the clinical evaluation of registered dietitians.

New hypertension guidelines

The Canadian Hypertension Society (CHS) recently released its 2003 evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. The information is presented in three different formats on the CHS website, including a summary and a slide presentation, at www.CHS.md. You can also find the guidelines with other clinical information on the Canadian Library of Family Medicine website at http://www.uwo.ca/fammed/clfm/clinica.html#25. A summary of the recommendations by Dr Robert Petrella, a family physician and the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s representative on the Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control, will appear in an upcoming issue of Canadian Family Physician.