Studies in Health
SPR has extensive experience in studies of health and health services, with a number of projects conducted for governmental and voluntary agencies. Typical projects include:

  • Year-Three Evaluation of the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS. This evaluation examined partnerships and information-sharing in this A-base $42 million per year effort against HIV/AIDS in Canada. Key components included an examination of research programs and linkages between researchers and other stakeholders (including community agencies); impacts on research infrastructure; and cost-effectiveness and utilization. In 2001, the research was followed up by a Delphi study focused on the future of the program (for Health Canada, 2000-2002);

  • Evaluation of The Cancer Patient Transportation Program. Based on surveys of over 800 cancer patients and related surveys of the general public and donors, this study assessed the benefits of this program, and provided suggested improvement (for The Canadian Cancer Society, 1999);

  • Survey on the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative. This survey obtained cross-Canada input from stakeholders in research and clinical practice, as well as breast cancer survivors, for the Canadian Breast Cancer initiative. The study examined the views of over 500 persons who were participants in the 1995 National Forum on Breast Cancer (for Health Canada, 1997);

  • Women’s Health and Housing in Canada. This study provided a broad policy overview of issues in health and housing for Canadian women and involved analysis of Statistics Canada data, consultations with Provinces, Territories and advocacy groups, as well as a Delphi study (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 1997);

  • Review of Reproductive Technology in Canadian Biotechnology Companies. This study examined industry practices in use of human reproductive tissues, including research and development programs, and commercial aspects of reproductive technology (investment, product development and export potential) (for the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies, 1994);

  • Survey of Use of Human Reproductive Tissues in Canadian Hospitals. This survey examined research and disposal procedures for these tissues in over 700 Canadian Hospitals (for the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies, 1992-94);

  • Patient Evaluation of Canadian Fertility Clinics. This study, of 1,400 patients of Canadian fertility clinics, examined issues of information, service satisfaction, and an evaluation of decision-making and related issues, as part of a broader research program on fertility clinics (for the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies, 1993-94);

  • Great Lakes Basin Environmental Health Study (Anglers Survey). This study involved a screening survey of 4,000 Ontario households in the Cornwall area and Peel Region, to examine consumption of sports-caught fish and health risk factors. The study was part of a larger program of research relating to the "clean-up" of the Great Lakes (for Health and Welfare Canada, 1991-92);

  • Study of Extraordinary Expenditures of the Disabled. This study examined data from Statistics Canada's Health Activities and Limitations Survey and a supplementary survey of non-disabled Canadian's social-leisure and self-development activities. The analysis "inverted" traditional "poverty line" thinking by examining an "actualization line" -- the income disabled individuals need to engage in social-leisure-self-development activities on a par with the non-disabled (for the Ontario Office for Disability Issues, 1991);

  • Study of Injuries in Amateur Gymnastics. This study involved a survey of 1,800 amateur gymnasts to measure the incidence of critical injuries and gymnastics-related medical conditions. A response rate of over 70% was obtained. The study was part of a larger Ontario sports injuries research program (for the Ontario Gymnastic Federation and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, 1988-90);

  • Study of Injuries in Amateur Hockey. This study involved the development of a methodology for monitoring the incidence and causes of injuries in amateur hockey throughout Ontario. Initial research for this project involved a mail survey of coaches of some 1,000 teams, which achieved a 76% response rate, along with an experimental survey of players of a smaller sample of teams (for the Hockey Development Centre Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, 1987-88); and

  • Community Survey/Assessment for the Elliot Lake Centre Health Protection Program. This study involved the development of a comprehensive survey design for assessing health behaviour and the need for community health promotion programs in Elliot Lake, Ontario (for the Elliot Lake Centre, 1980).

SPR is able to draw on a wide range of consultants in the area of health such as: Dr. Raisa Deber (Community Health, University of Toronto), who provided consultative input to SPR's 1992 study of patients of fertility clinics; and Ms. Janet Hatcher Roberts, who has provided assistance on a number of projects, such as SPR’s Survey on the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative.