2006-2007

This cluster usually works closely with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) on one project each year, often building upon their work in prvious years. The interests of the cluster members determine the projects.

During the first and second year, the cluster focused on conducting a literature review related to Organizational and Systems Change Management related to engaging physicians in primary health care reform, and developing a change management model.

During the third year, the cluster applied this model to chronic disease self-management with the goal of producing a comprehensive paper that focuses on a Chronic Disease Self-Management Framework. The paper incorporates a literature review on the different approaches to Chronic Disease self-management, a discription of current VCH approaches to self-management, their respective issues/challenges and a recommended framework to guide self-management at VCH. To view this paper, please click here.

In their fourth year, the current cluster is investigating the complexities around health management of chronic diseases. One strategy is the response provided by community groups, including those agencies providing subsistence services and supports, i.e., those relating to food and shelter provisions. Little is known about the kinds of health supports and services provided by subsistence service providers. The cluster proposed to develop methods to answer the following question: To what extent and in what ways do subsistence service providers respond to the chronic health care needs of their clients?

The cluster proposed a mixed methods approach: mail-out survey and key informant interviews with service agencies, advocacy groups and other key stakeholder representatives.

To view the 2007-08 contact list for the Community Health Research Cluster, please see the Vulnerable Populations Research Cluster.