The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between continuity of family physician (FP) care and inpatient hospitalizations in elderly people with diabetes who have universally-insured health care. We constructed a population-based retrospective cohort study using a sample of 1143 people aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed diabetes who were selected from a longitudinal surveillance database in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada. Continuity of FP care was estimated by 3 chronological indices (Continuity of Care [COC], Usual Provider Continuity [UPC], and Sequential Continuity [SECON]) using administrative physician claims data. Age, sex, number of chronic conditions, and income were used as control variables. People with high continuity had lower crude rates of hospitalization than those with lower continuity. Log-linear regression analysis showed that higher continuity was associated with decreased rates of hospitalization in an unadjusted model [rate ratio (95% confidence interval)]; COC: 0.73 (0.61-0.86); UPC: 0.71 (0.59-0.86); SECON: 0.64 (0.52-0.78), and after adjusting for control variables; COC: 0.82 (0.69-0.97); UPC: 0.82 (0.68-0.98); SECON: 0.75 (0.61-0.91). Other significant predictors of reduced hospitalizations were female sex, fewer chronic conditions, and higher income. The findings suggest that high levels of continuity of FP care are associated with reduced hospitalizations in elderly people with diabetes within a universally-insured health care system.

A dverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major public health problem given such events are the most common type of injuries experienced by hospitalized patients. 1 ADRs may lead to hospitalization or occur during hospitalization and contribute to an increased length of stay. The recent focus on patient safety and the concern about the number of negative outcomes resulting from drug use, rather than the underlying diseases, has prompted health care professionals to take a critical look at these drug responses. A series of studies examined ADRs among hospitalized patients in the US and Australia 2-6 ; however, less research is available about these events in hospitalized patients in Canada. A US-based metaanalysis revealed that the incidence of serious ADRs in hospitalized patients was 2.1%, with the incidence in those newly admitted to a hospital 4.7%. The same study reported ADRs to be between the fourth and sixth leading cause of death. 6 Other studies have found that ADRs occurred in 2-20% of hospitalized patients. 4-6 Baker et al. provided a national estimate of the incidence of adverse events among adult patients in Canada (7.5 per 100 hospital admissions); after extrapolation, the number of hospital admissions attributed

BackgroundTo study and update the provincial incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), a province of Canada with a very high incidence previously reported in 2006, and one of the highest incidences reported worldwide. This is a retrospective time trend study of the incidence of T1DM, in children aged 0–14 years from 1987–2010 inclusive.FindingsOver the study period 931 children aged 0–14 years were diagnosed with T1DM. The incidence of T1DM in this population over the period 1987 – 2010 inclusive was 37.7 per 100,000 per year (95% CI 35. 3, 40.2)The incidence from 2007–2010 was 49.9 per 100,000 per year (95% CI 42.2, 57.6). The incidence over this 24 year period increased by a factor of 1.03 per 100,000 per year.ConclusionNL has one of the highest incidences of T1DM reported worldwide. Potential reasons for the very high incidence could be related to the unique genetic background of the population, northern latitude and vitamin D insufficiency, low breastfeeding rates, and high rates of cesarean section.

BackgroundThe presence of Lynch syndrome (LS) can bring a lifetime of uncertainty to an entire family as members adjust to living with a high lifetime cancer risk. The research base on how individuals and families adjust to genetic-linked diseases following predictive genetic testing has increased our understanding of short-term impacts but gaps continue to exist in knowledge of important factors that facilitate or impede long-term adjustment. The failure of existing scales to detect psychosocial adjustment challenges in this population has led researchers to question the adequate sensitivity of these instruments. Furthermore, we have limited insight into the role of the family in promoting adjustment.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to develop and initially validate the Psychosocial Adjustment to Hereditary Diseases (PAHD) scale. This scale consists of two subscales, the Burden of Knowing (BK) and Family Connectedness (FC). Items for the two subscales were generated from a qualitative data base and tested in a sample of 243 participants from families with LS.ResultsThe Multitrait/Multi-Item Analysis Program-Revised (MAP-R) was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PAHD. The findings support the convergent and discriminant validity of the subscales. Construct validity was confirmed by factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha supported a strong internal consistency for BK (0.83) and FC (0.84).ConclusionPreliminary testing suggests that the PAHD is a psychometrically sound scale capable of assessing psychosocial adjustment. We conclude that the PAHD may be a valuable monitoring tool to identify individuals and families who may require therapeutic interventions.