Health Research In Canada Research Articles

Community engagement in Canadian health and social science research: Field reports on four studies

Community engagement is a hallmark of Canadian health and social science research, yet we lack detailed descriptions of pragmatic peer engagement possibilities. People personally affected by a study’s topic can actively contribute to design, data collection, intervention delivery, analysis, and dissemination yet the nature and scope of involvement can vary based on context. The shift from academic to community-based research teams, where peers who share participant identities assume a leadership role, may be attributed to the HIV/AIDS response where community co-production of knowledge has been a fundamental component since the epidemic’s onset. This article discusses four health and social science studies from a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework and synthesizes the strengths and limitations of community engagement across these endeavours to offer lessons learned that may inform the design of future CBPR projects.

Transforming race-based health research in Canada.

KEY POINTS The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has laid bare some of the ways in which social structures lead to inequalities in health. It has also revealed Canada’s poor infrastructure for tracking and addressing race-based inequalities across health outcomes. Canada has been slow to

Planting the Seeds: Insights for Researchers Interested in Working With Indigenous Peoples


 
 
 Health research in Canada carries a history of exploitation and cultural insensitivity in its approaches, resulting in a deeply rooted mistrust among Indigenous Peoples. Communities are signalling the urgent need for health research to be conducted in a more conscientious way. To address these gaps, our team of three Elders and three researchers co-developed a series of workshops in the province of British Columbia, Canada, in 2019 to increase participants’ knowledge and skills for conducting culturally responsive health research. Workshops examined power and privilege; self-awareness/self-reflection; Indigenous and Western worldviews; cultural safety; allyship; and research principles and practices. Activities were experiential and privileged Indigenous knowledges. An Indigenous-informed evaluation captured participants’ experiences via online surveys. Participants described workshop learnings as deeply impacting ways they approach research practice. Thematic analysis of participant reflections revealed three overarching themes: bringing together the mind and the heart; self-reflection and initiating change; and understanding cultural safety as a lifelong journey. Lessons learned by facilitators included the importance of applying Indigenous ways of knowing to create safe spaces for healing and learning; empowering participants to critically self-reflect; and rooting the work in ceremony. The ethical responsibility to allow time and space for meaningful dialogue was crucial for aligning with Indigenous protocols of coming together. This project demonstrates that experiential workshops, co- facilitated by Elders and researchers, are an innovative, effective, and Indigenous-centred approach for providing education on how to engage in culturally safe and culturally resonant research.
 
 

A Framework for Enhancing Access to Equitable Home Care for 2SLGBTQ+ Communities.

Canadian, US, and UK public health and clinical research has identified barriers to health service access for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, and intersex (2SLGBTQ+) communities. While offering important insight into the health service experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, this body of research only recently, and still only minimally, reports on home care access experiences. Drawing on key findings from the 2SLGBTQ+ Home Care Access Project, a mixed-methods, Ontario-wide study, this paper animates an Access and Equity Framework, using participant stories and perspectives to underscore the relevance and effectiveness of the Framework as a tool to support systematic organizational assessment, evaluation, and implementation of access and equity strategies. Home care organizations can use this tool to assess their programs and services along a continuum of intentionally inviting, unintentionally inviting, unintentionally disinviting, and intentionally disinviting care for 2SLGBTQ+ people. To support this process, the framework includes six indicators of access to care: community engagement, leadership, environment, policies and processes, education and training, and programs and services.

Problematic substance use or problematic substance use policies?

This special issue on substance use issues comes at a critical time for Canadian health policy makers and researchers. Most attention is currently focussed on the opioid crisis and the potential impacts of cannabis legalization. However, our most widely used and harmful substances continue to be alcohol and nicotine. Our policies to reduce harms from these substances are failing. While alcohol control policies are being gradually abandoned, opportunities to maximize the harm reduction potential of new, alternative and safer nicotine delivery devices are not being grasped. More generally, a greater focus is needed on harm reduction strategies that are informed by the experience of marginalized people with severe substance use-related problems so as to not exacerbate health inequities. In order to better inform policy responses, we recommend innovative approaches to monitoring and surveillance that maximize the use of multiple data sources, such as those used in the Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (CSUCH) project. Greater attention to precision in defining patterns of risky use and harms is also needed to support policies that more accurately reflect and respond to actual levels of substance use-related harm in Canadian society.

How does integrated knowledge translation (IKT) compare to other collaborative research approaches to generating and translating knowledge? Learning from experts in the field

BackgroundResearch funders in Canada and abroad have made substantial investments in supporting collaborative research approaches to generating and translating knowledge as it is believed to increase knowledge use. Canadian health research funders have advocated for the use of integrated knowledge translation (IKT) in health research, however, there is limited research around how IKT compares to other collaborative research approaches. Our objective was to better understand how IKT compares with engaged scholarship, Mode 2 research, co-production and participatory research by identifying the differences and similarities among them in order to provide conceptual clarity and reduce researcher and knowledge user confusion about these common approaches.MethodsWe employed a qualitative descriptive method using interview data to better understand experts’ perspectives and experiences on collaborative research approaches. Participants’ responses were analysed through thematic analysis to elicit core themes. The analysis was centred around the concept of IKT, as it is the most recent approach; IKT was then compared and contrasted with engaged scholarship, Mode 2 research, co-production and participatory research. As this was an iterative process, data triangulation and member-checking were conducted with participants to ensure accuracy of the emergent themes and analysis process.ResultsDifferences were noted in the orientation (i.e. original purpose), historical roots (i.e. disciplinary origin) and partnership/engagement (i.e. role of partners etc.). Similarities among the approaches included (1) true partnerships rather than simple engagement, (2) focus on essential components and processes rather than labels, (3) collaborative research orientations rather than research methods, (4) core values and principles, and (5) extensive time and financial investment. Core values and principles among the approaches included co-creation, reciprocity, trust, fostering relationships, respect, co-learning, active participation, and shared decision-making in the generation and application of knowledge. All approaches require extensive time and financial investment to develop and maintain true partnerships.ConclusionsThis qualitative study is the first to systematically synthesise experts’ perspectives and experiences in a comparison of collaborative research approaches. This work contributes to developing a shared understanding of collaborative research approaches to facilitate conceptual clarity in use, reporting, indexing and communication among researchers, trainees, knowledge users and stakeholders to advance IKT and implementation science.

Bedrails and Falls in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.

Bedrail use for fall prevention in elderly clients (>65 years) is controversial. Some healthcare providers believe bedrails prevent falls, while others think they are ineffective and dangerous. A systematic review was conducted to address: "For older adults living in nursing homes, does more or less bedrail use reduce the incidence of falls?" We searched HealthStar, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search complete ProQuest and Canadian Health Research Collection using "elder*," "bedrail*," "fall*," and "assisted-living*." After filtering for primary data, English records, older adult population, relationship between bedrails and falls, fourteen studies remained. Results suggest using alternative fall prevention measures, and bedrails are either beneficial, harmful, or do not influence falls. Bedrail reduction with fall prevention interventions led to no changes in fall frequency. Ambiguity persists regarding fall frequencies and bedrail use without using other fall prevention strategies. Educating health care providers on fall prevention is key to patient safety.

Program Report: KidneyPRO, a Web-based Training Module for Patient Engagement in Kidney Research.

Purpose of report:Over the recent years, there has been increasing support and traction for patient-oriented research (POR). Such an approach ensures that health research is focused on what matters most: improving outcomes for patients. Yet the realm of health research remains enigmatic for many patients in Canada who are not familiar with research terms and practices, highlighting the need for focused capacity-building efforts, including the development of novel educational tools to support patients to meaningfully engage in the research enterprise. The need for disease-specific training in POR was identified by the network dedicated to advancing patient-oriented kidney research in Canada, Canadians Seeking Solutions and Innovations to Overcome Chronic Kidney Disease (Can-SOLVE CKD), during the early years of the network’s inception. In this report, we describe the development of KidneyPRO, an online learning module that orients patients and families to kidney research in Canada, and outlines ways to get involved. In line with the Patient Engagement framework of the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research, KidneyPRO was co-developed with the network’s patient partners.Sources of information:The need for KidneyPRO was identified through a review of feedback from network participants of Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research Module 2—Health Research in Canada and a network-wide survey of Can-SOLVE CKD that was conducted in June 2017 and assessed training needs of key stakeholders. This 2017 survey ranked the need for tools providing introductory knowledge on Canadian kidney research as third in the network’s top 5 capacity-building priorities.Methods:At Can-SOLVE CKD, a dedicated multi-stakeholder team was formed from the Training & Mentorship Committee (the network’s core infrastructure for POR capacity building) to determine the learning objectives, content, and user interface. The team consisted of 3 patient partners, Director of Research for the Kidney Foundation of Canada, a kidney clinician-scientist, the network’s Patient Partnerships & Training Lead, Can-SOLVE CKD’s Indigenous People’s Engagement and Research Council Coordinator, and a project coordinator. With permission, content from CIHR’s Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research, along with resources from the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s research arm and network project teams, was used to form the basis of the tool. The working group adapted a DoTTI (Design and develOpment, Testing early iterations, Testing for Effectiveness, Integration, and implementation) framework and iteratively identified, created, and refined the content and user interface in consultation with the Training and Mentorship Committee and the Can-SOLVE CKD Patient Governance Circle.Key findings:In this article, we describe the development, deployment, and evaluation of KidneyPRO, a web-based training module that helps patients understand general, patient-oriented, and kidney-specific research within Canada. KidneyPRO aims to support patient engagement in studies as partners and/or participants and empower them to take part in the research process in an active and meaningful way. It was co-designed and vetted by patients, which helps to ensure clear, useful content and a user-friendly interface. In addition, the module includes links to kidney research opportunities within the Can-SOLVE CKD Network and beyond. A literature review established that KidneyPRO fills an important gap in kidney-specific POR. Ongoing collection of website metrics and postcompletion surveys from users will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the tool.Limitations:As an online tool, people who do not have adequate Internet access will not be able to use KidneyPRO. Currently, the tool is not compliant with all Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Given how the landscape of patient partnership in research is constantly evolving, the content in KidneyPRO needs to be updated on a regular basis.Implications:Canadians with or at high risk of CKD now have access to an educational tool when seeking to engage as partners and/or participants in innovative kidney research.

The Choice and Partnership Approach to community mental health and addictions services: a realist-informed scoping review protocol

IntroductionEarly identification and appropriate treatment of child and adolescent mental health disorders can often be hampered by patchwork services with poorly planned or unclear pathways. The Choice and Partnership Approach...

SUN-341 RESPECTFUL ENGAGEMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN A PAN-CANADIAN KIDNEY RESEARCH NETWORK

Kidney disease has a strong and disproportionate impact on the health of Indigenous communities in Canada. Therefore, a national strategy to improve kidney health must include meaningful, culturally appropriate engagement with Indigenous peoples. The Can-SOLVE CKD Network is a pan-Canadian patient-oriented kidney research initiative that is working to improve the health of all Canadians and bring Indigenous ways of knowing into health research. As part of the Can-SOLVE CKD Network, Indigenous patients, caregivers, researchers, and community leaders created an Indigenous Peoples’ Engagement and Research Council (IPERC). This council sits at the centre of the network and supports collaboration grounded in traditional values and partnerships with Indigenous peoples and communities. Using an ethical framework that encompasses the principles of ownership, control, access and possession and the elements of participatory research, IPERC is mandated to guide Can-SOLVE CKD research projects in respectful engagement of Indigenous communities. A key component of this work is the creation of a new training pathway, Wabishki Bizhiko Skaanj (“White Horse” in Anishinaabe), that will help researchers and patient partners build respectful partnerships with Indigenous peoples in health research. Wabishki Bizhiko Skaanj aims to enhance researchers’ knowledge of racial biases, Indigenous voices and stories, the impact of colonization, and culturally safe health research practices. Its objectives are closely aligned with those of the Can-SOLVE CKD Network. Participants are encouraged to look, listen, learn, and lead their way along the pathway by examining racial identities, privileges, and biases, as well as participating in interactive learning exercises, facilitated online modules and webinars. The Wabishki Bizhiko Skaanj learning pathway includes a focus on Indigenous Elders in research, including the role of Elders and how to foster meaningful and reciprocal relationships between researchers and Indigenous Elders/Knowledge Keepers. This training aims to create a culturally safe space for researchers, patients, and Elders to come together to gain understanding of a holistic context for scientific observations. Can-SOLVE CKD has created a culturally safe space for Indigenous individuals to participate in all aspects of patient-oriented kidney research. Through IPERC, the network has instituted guidelines on ceremony and Elder participation that ensure recognition of traditional knowledge and territories. Wabishki Bizhiko Skaanj represents a novel learning platform for Indigenous cultural safety in Canadian health research. By enhancing knowledge, self-awareness and strengthening cultural competency, this learning pathway is enabling all partners in health research to ultimately close the gaps in kidney health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Feedback from a pilot of the components has been very positive. The Can-SOLVE CKD Network offers a model for respectful engagement of Indigenous communities in health research. By adopting Indigenous ways of knowing and fostering cultural competency, the network is working to enhance kidney health outcomes and overall wellness for and with Indigenous peoples and communities across Canada.

The Revolution in Health Research.

After PhD studies at the University of Toronto, and postdoctoral work in London, Alan worked at the Ontario Cancer Institute and then the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute (eventually as Director of Research). As inaugural president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; 2000-2007), he led the transformation of health research in Canada and an almost tripling of the budget for health research. He then was named executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise (2008-2012). Since 2012, Alan has been president of CIFAR, Canada's global research institute, where he has led major initiatives to increase CIFAR's programs of research and global impact, and launched new programs to nurture the world's next generation of researchers. Author of 250 scientific and 50 op-ed and lay publications, Alan has received numerous awards and honors, including induction into the Orders of Canada and Ontario, honorary degrees, the Gairdner Wightman Award, induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and the Henry Friesen International Prize.

“I am a part of all that I have met”

Dr. Friesen received his MD from the University of Manitoba in 1958. He began his career in research in endocrinology with a fellowship at the New England Medical Center, Boston. His initial academic appointment was at McGill University (1965-1973), followed by appointment as Professor and Head of the Department of Phys-iology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Manitoba (1973-1992). His re-search resulted in the discovery of the human pituitary hormone prolactin, defining its role in health and disease.He served as the President of the Medical Research Council (1991-2000) where he was both architect and champion for a bold new vision for Health Research in Canada that led to the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in 2000. He was the founding Chair of Genome Canada (2000-2005), an agency established to position Canada to be a world leader in selected areas of genomics, and Chair of the Board of the Gairdner Foundation (2006-2009).

The Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada 2018: IBD Research Landscape in Canada.

BackgroundHealth research in Canada is funded by government, health charities, foundations and industry. We investigated levels of IBD research funding and the scientific impact of this research in Canada between 2013 and 2017.MethodsAn analysis of global and Canadian funding in IBD research was conducted using the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Funded Research Database and UberResearch’s Dimensions platform. Examples of priority-driven and investigator-initiated IBD research in Canada are provided. Bibliometric analysis was used to assess the quality of IBD research output in Canada.ResultsTotal funding for IBD research Canada between 2013 and 2017 was over $119 million Canadian dollars (CAD), with CIHR, the largest funder, contributing almost $66 million CAD, and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, investing more than $32 million CAD. This ranks Canada fourth internationally. A comparative analysis indicates that publications by Canadian IBD researchers have a greater impact than other Canadian and international comparators. When productivity and impact in IBD research are combined, Canada is among the top three in the world.ConclusionsInvestment in IBD research in Canada has resulted in the development of a strong collaborative group of researchers producing impactful, world-class research. On all measures of academic productivity and influence, Canada ranks in the top two or three internationally. The challenges ahead are to continue to fund innovative IBD research and grow the next generation of IBD researchers while moving research findings into changes in health policy and practice in order to benefit affected patients and their families—and ultimately, to find the cause(s) and identify the cure(s).

Equity at all cost-and any price-for research funding in Canada?

This commentary is in response to the May 2018 announcement by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) of a new procedure to ensure fairer access to health research funding for participants. As such, all applicants to CIHR's funding programs will now be required to complete a five-question questionnaire covering the dimensions of gender, age, Indigenous origin, visible minorities, and disability. On this basis, CIHR intends to gain a better understanding of the performance of its funding programs in terms of equity. In this commentary, we wish to question the theoretical and conceptual assumptions of a vision of equity framed principally in terms of diversity upstream from the research process as a founding principle of more equitable health research in Canada. We draw attention to the fact that diversity policies do not necessarily challenge inequity in research funding or in research projects. Having established the urgent need for action on equity to improve the health of populations, we recall the ethical responsibility of research and researchers to better take the various facets of equity in research into account. We recommend expanding efforts to understand and reflexively address both equity and diversity when considering the performance of population health research programs.

‘Adding another spinning plate to an already busy life’. Benefits and risks in patient partner–researcher relationships: a qualitative study of patient partners’ experiences in a Canadian health research setting

ObjectiveTo better understand, based on patient partners’ experiences, benefits and risks in patient partner–researcher relationships in a health research setting.DesignQualitative interviews with thematic analysis informed by a relational ethics lens.SettingA...

Treatment of herpes zoster ophthalmicus: a systematic review and Canadian cost-comparison

ObjectiveA systematic review and cost comparison were conducted to determine the optimal treatment of active herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) in immunocompetent adults. DesignA literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, BIOSIS Previews and Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and Canadian Health Research Collection was performed. The search period was from January 1990 to March 2017. ParticipantsCollectively, 516 immunocompetent patients with active HZO treated with oral antivirals were included. MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating treatment of active HZO in immunocompetent adults, with one oral acyclovir monotherapy arm, were included. Studies fulfilling inclusion criteria were subjected to quality assessment and data extraction. Provincial drug formularies were consulted to extrapolate cost comparison for investigated treatment regimens. ResultsA total of 1515 titles and abstracts and 9 full-text articles were assessed. Three RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Treatment with oral acyclovir (800 mg 5 times daily for 10 days) was superior to placebo in the prevention of ocular manifestations. Oral famciclovir (500 mg 3 times daily for 7 days) and valacyclovir (1000 mg 3 times daily for 7 days) resulted in comparable rates of ocular manifestations relative to oral acyclovir (800 mg 5 times daily for 7 days). According to provincial drug formulary data, famciclovir and valacyclovir are more affordable across Canada with the recommended dosing schedules. ConclusionsOral famciclovir and valacyclovir are reasonable alternatives to oral acyclovir for treatment of active HZO in immunocompetent individuals. Their simpler dosing schedules are associated with a cost benefit that is consistent across Canada.

What's in a Word? Unpacking the Communicative Implications of Knowledge Translation as a Term

Knowledge translation is one of many terms used to describe the process of moving academic research into practical application to achieve positive impacts. Attention to knowledge translation has grown significantly in the contemporary Canadian research landscape, supported by major federal research funders. This article explores the term in depth, highlighting the interdisciplinary links between the burgeoning area of knowledge translation and more established areas of communication studies and translation studies. Focusing on a Canadian health research setting, the concepts of "perfect communication" and "loss in translation" are examined in relation to knowledge translation. This analysis explores contradictions and tensions within current assumptions and rhetoric around knowledge translation, highlighting misalignments with traditional thinking about communication. These issues can affect how knowledge translation work is perceived and practiced. Critical attention to the tensions emerging from the term knowledge translation is important for the field to continue to develop.

Confined to a tokenistic status: Social scientists in leadership roles in a national health research funding agency

The idea of interdisciplinarity has been taken up by academic and governmental organisations around the world and enacted through science policies, funding programs and higher education institutions. In Canada, interdisciplinarity led to a major transformation in health research funding. In 2000, the federal government closed the Medical Research Council (MRC) and created the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). From the outset, CIHR's vision and goals were innovative, as it sought to include the social sciences within its purview alongside more traditional health research sectors. The extent to which it has been successful in this endeavour, however, remains unknown. The aim of our study was to examine how CIHR's intentions to foster inclusiveness and cooperation across disciplines were implemented in the agency's own organisational structure. We focused on social scientists' representation on committees and among decision-makers between 2000 and 2015, one of the key mandates of CIHR being to include the social sciences within its remit and support research in this area. We examined the composition of the Governing Council, the Institute Scientific Directors, the Chairs of the College of Reviewers, and two International Review Panels invited by CIHR. We targeted these committees and decision-makers since they hold the power to influence the field of Canadian health research through the decisions they make. Our findings show that, while CIHR was created with the mandate to support the entire spectrum of health-related research—including the social sciences—this call for inclusiveness has not yet been materialized in the agency's organisational structure. Social scientists, as well as researchers from neighbouring disciplines such as social epidemiology, health promotion and the humanities, are still confined to low levels of representation within CIHR's highest echelons. This imbalance limits social scientists' input into health research in Canada and undermines CIHR's interdisciplinary ambition.

A Federated Data Linkage Strategy to Support Population Health Research in Canada

ABSTRACT
 ObjectivesCanada has established a pan-Canadian cohort with over 300,000 volunteer participants aged 35-69, to support research on cancer and chronic disease. A key feature of the cohort is that participants have consented to link their cohort data with administrative datasets. This prospective cohort, representing nearly 1 in 50 Canadians in this age range will be followed for multiple decades, building a platform that supports access to timely, high-quality, data related to cancer and other chronic diseases, which will enable researchers to answer complex system questions and achieve better health outcomes for Canadians.
 ApproachA baseline “core” questionnaire was administered to participants capturing information on socio-demographics, economic characteristics, personal and familial history of diseases and lifestyle and health behaviours. A re-contact questionnaire is planned for 2016 to update baseline information and add depth to specific areas and capture changes over time. To realize the full potential for this cohort to support transformative research it is crucial to be able to link this data with other provincial datasets, such as cancer registries, hospital records and mortality data.
 For the most part, health data in Canada resides under the purview of health providers and, or government custodians in each of the provinces and territories. As such, an innovative federated data linkage strategy is required to link cohort data with health administrative data in each regions, adhering to existing privacy and regulatory requirements, while providing central access for researchers.
 ResultsTo date, 40% of all cohort participants have been linked with priority provincial administrative data. Each province has its own unique data linkage challenges, requiring unique customized solutions. By the end of 2017 we anticipate that the number of participants who will have had their data linked will increase to nearly 70%. The federated data linkage strategy and infrastructure offer an innovative approach that others can learn from; however to realize the full potential of the cohort and support transformative research partnerships and collaborations are required.
 ConclusionEfforts to organize resources and establish systems for data linkage and optimize data sharing and utilization in Canada are underway and include discussions with the provincial privacy commissioners, national and provincial and territorial data custodians and other thought leaders in the field.

Are visible minorities “invisible” in Canadian health data and research? A scoping review

PurposeCanada’s visible minority population is increasing rapidly, yet despite the demographic significance of this population, there is a surprising dearth of nationally representative health data on visible minorities. This is a major challenge to undertaking research on the health of this group, particularly in the context of investigating racial/ethnic disparities and health disadvantages that are rooted in racialization. The purpose of this paper is to summarize: mortality and morbidity patterns for visible minorities; determinants of visible minority health; health status and determinants of the health of visible minority older adults (VMOA); and promising data sources that may be used to examine visible minority health in future research.Design/methodology/approachA scoping review of 99 studies or publications published between 1978 and 2014 (abstracts of 72 and full articles of 27) was conducted to summarize data and research findings on visible minority health to answer four specific questions: what is known about the morbidity and mortality patterns of visible minorities relative to white Canadians? What is known about the determinants of visible minority health? What is known about the health status of VMOA, a growing segment of Canada’s aging population, and how does this compare with white older adults? And finally, what data sources have been used to study visible minority health?FindingsThere is indeed a major gap in health data and research on visible minorities in Canada. Further, many studies failed to distinguish between immigrants and Canadian-born visible minorities, thus conflating effects of racial status with those of immigrant status on health. The VMOA population is even more invisible in health data and research. The most promising data set appears to be the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).Originality/valueThis paper makes an important contribution by providing a comprehensive overview of the nature, extent, and range of data and research available on the health of visible minorities in Canada. The authors make two key recommendations: first, over-sampling visible minorities in standard health surveys such as the CCHS, or conducting targeted health surveys of visible minorities. Surveys should collect information on key socio-demographic characteristics such as nativity, ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, and age-at-arrival for immigrants. Second, researchers should consider an intersectionality approach that takes into account the multiple factors that may affect a visible minority person’s health, including the role of discrimination based on racial status, immigrant characteristics for foreign-born visible minorities, age and the role of ageism for older adults, socioeconomic status, gender (for visible minority women), and geographic place or residence in their analyses.