The 2012 Media Awards for Health Reporting

Last week, we attended the Canadian Medical Association’s 2012 Media Awards for Health Reporting in Ottawa. The awards honour quality health-related journalism that “enhances understanding of health, the health care system, and the role of health professionals.”

This year’s winners wrote about and reported on a broad spectrum of health issues – from end-of-life care, to asbestos health risks and government cover-ups, to dental care in the north.

We’re big fans of the Maclean’s blog from Julia Belluz, Science-ish, which won in the Digital Reporting category for reporting on evidence-based health policies. Science-ish puts science and health care issues into plain language and does an excellent job explaining complex health topics. See for yourself!

The CMA also introduced four new categories this year: digital media, emerging health issues and multicultural and international health reporting. Of particular interest to us was the winner in the emerging health issues category – Jennifer Tryon of Global National News for her reporting on the Attaawapiskat housing crisis. The CMA chose determinants of health as this year’s issue, and Jennifer’s series represented the profound affect determinants like poverty and housing can have on the health of individuals and a community.

We’d like to offer our congratulations to all the winners and hope they will continue their important work reporting on the evidence and bringing to light Canada’s health care issues.

Winners: 

The Michelle Lang Award for Excellence in Print Reporting - In-depth feature article sponsored by The College of Family Physicians of Canada Lisa Priest, Globe and Mail - End of life
Special mention: Janet French, The StarPhoenix - The lost children; dental issues plague northern families 

Excellence in Health Reporting - Print (Large market) Sharon Kirkey, Postmedia News - Who will stop the pain? Canada's silent epidemic of suffering

Excellence in Health Reporting - Print (Mid-size market) Louisa Taylor, Ottawa Citizen - Unhealthy welcome: Why Canada is hazardous to their health

Excellence in Health Reporting - Television news Dany Croussette, Michel Rochon, Patrick André Perron, Gilles Turcotte, Ronald jr Roy, Normand Bourget, Radio-Canada - L'état d'urgence
Special mention: Kelly Crowe, Melanie Glanz, David MacIntosh, CBC News - Frozen eggs trade 

Excellence in Health Reporting - Television in-depth reporting Joseph Loiero, Terence McKenna, Gil Shochat, Alex Shprintsen, CBC News, The National - Fatal deception
Special mention: Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld, Jennifer Beard, CBC News - Kathleen Petty interview 

Excellence in Health Reporting - Radio Alison Motluk, Jim Handman, Bob McDonald , CBC Radio, Quirks & Quarks - Cheating the clock
Special mention: Carol Off, Jeff Douglas, Kevin Robertson, David McDougall, CBC Radio, As it Happens - Refugee health changes 

Excellence in Local Health Reporting - Print and broadcast Sonja Koenig, Kate Kyle, Sara Minogue, Joanne Stassen, CBC North - Cancer: A northern journey
Special mention: Heather Rivers, Woodstock Sentinel Review - The sad truth : Prescription drug use 

Excellence in Emerging Health Care Issue - Print and broadcast Jennifer Tryon, Global National News - Attawapiskat housing crisis
Special mention: Jennifer Tryon, Global National News - Refugee health cuts 

Excellence in Multicultural Health Reporting - Print and broadcast Sudha Krishnan, OMNI Television - Diabetes - Fighting a leading killer in the South Asian community

The Norman Bethune Award for Excellence in International Health Reporting - Print and broadcast Tanya Springer, Joan Webber, Pam Bertrand CBC Radio 1, The Current - Of mothers and merchants
Special mention: Dominique Forget, L'actualité - La peste blanche est de retour 

Excellence in Digital Health Reporting Julia Belluz, Macleans.ca - Science-ish on evidence-based health policies

My internship at the Health Council of Canada

Yvonne Tse was a 2011-2012 winner of the Health Innovation Challenge. As part of her prize, she had the chance to intern at the Health Council of Canada. Read her winning entry here. 
Working at the Health Council of Canada was a wonderful learning experience that offered an incredible exposure to current health care issues. Working in a national organization was initially overwhelming. However, the staff were incredibly supportive and approachable and eased my transition into my role as an intern for the past four months. As a result, I was able to participate and provide research support for a number of high quality reports. These projects refined my research skills and expanded my knowledge and perspective about Canada's current health care system.

I have conducted environmental scans for topics like integrated care and clinical practice guidelines, focusing particularly on activities in each jurisdiction across Canada. This was an opportunity to build on the research skills I’ve learned throughout my nursing degree thus far. It is easy to simply collect and summarize information, however, the more interesting and difficult part is learning how to critically analyse the collected information to determine its strength and applicability.

The privilege of sitting in on some of the meetings with the Health Council of Canada Councillors was another unique experience I had this summer. Being able to listen to the conversations and discussion about ongoing projects and hearing their perspectives on various health policy topics was very different and definitely contributed to my understanding of the policy-making processes happening behind the scenes on a national level. The amount of dedication, time and effort spent on discussion of health care issues and projects was very impressive.

Currently, I'm entering into my third year of the Nursing program at McMaster University and I'm hoping to transfer the new knowledge I've obtained at the Health Council of Canada into my clinical placements and other aspects of my nursing career. My experience at the Health Council helped me realize that I still have much to learn and I'm encouraged to seek opportunities in the future to enrich my understanding of the health care system. I hope my experience will encourage other students to apply! 

Yvonne with fellow Health Innovation Challenge winner and intern
Galina Gheihman. Read Galina's blog here. 

The importance of patient engagement

Recently, doctors at three hospitals in the U.S. made their medical notes available to patients. This included test results as well as detailed descriptions of the doctors’ diagnosis and treatment plans.

Why make the notes available? At the end of the year, Dr. Joann Elmore (the study’s author) said patients said it made them feel more competent in taking care of themselves, and that they better understood their medical issues and how to take medication appropriately.

Of the 5,390 patients who responded, 77-87% said they felt more in control of their care, and 60-78% reported increased adherence to medications.

We at the Health Council recognize the importance of engaging patients in their own care. In 2011, we reported that engaged patients perceived themselves to be healthier, and made better use of the health services and resources in the system.

Unfortunately, we found that only 48% of Canadians reported feeling involved and engaged in their own health care. Since engaged patients are more likely to actively participate in disease prevention, screening and health promotion activities – this is worrisome.

We hosted a National Symposium on Patient Engagement last year in Toronto, as well as a town hall on this topic in Vancouver. We are continually confronted with the importance of patient engagement and the need to include patient voices when designing and delivering health services in Canada. Read our full report on patient engagement in Canada here.