Refugees' Care Experiences, Self-Reported Health Outcomes and Transition to Mainstream Health Care After One Year at the Refugee Engagement and Community Health (REACH) Clinic.

This study reports how refugees experienced care at an integrated clinic during their first year in Canada and how they transitioned to a community physician. A survey was completed by 75 Government Assisted Refugees followed at the REACH clinic between 2018 and 2020; 16 agreed to an additional interview. Regression modelling explored the relationship between "perceived health status at one year" and several independent variables. Qualitative thematic analysis provided context. Tailored access to care and enhanced communication through interpretation contributed to satisfaction with clinic services. A significant positive relationship was found between their perceived health status and frequency of visits (p < 0.042), and "doctors' advice about how to stay healthy" (p < 0.039). Interview findings highlighted the important role of settlement agencies, timing for a successful transition and physicians' support resources. While refugees benefit from attending integrated clinics, these should also prepare the care transition to community physicians. Targeted government funding and continued medical education could enhance refugees' transition experience.

Interest In and Uptake of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): A Cross-Sectional Study of High-Risk Patients in Western Canada.

Rationale Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective, evidence-based HIV prevention strategy. However, its use in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan province of western Canada, is relatively new. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the interest and uptake of PrEP and investigate factors associated with HIV PrEP by high-risk patients. Methods  A cross-sectional, self-administered survey of patients attending Saskatoon's Public Health Services Sexual Health Clinic was conducted from October until December 2018. The primary outcome was the interest in taking PrEP to reduce the risk of HIV infection. This outcome was evaluated for its association with potential correlates, which included: sociodemographic characteristics, HIV risk perception, prior PrEP awareness, and sexual behaviors/lifestyles. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were used to pursue our research objectives. Results One hundred forty-one participants were recruited from a sexual health clinic in Saskatoon. The median age (interquartile range) was 26 (22-31) years. The median number of partners (interquartile range) was 3 (2-4) partners. A total of 66.0% of participants were unaware of PrEP, and almost half ( 49.6%) indicated an interest in taking PrEP. Among those disinterested in PrEP, 49.3% perceived minimal HIV risk, 35.2% expressed concern regarding side effects, 28.1% cited the added need for condom use, 23.9% indicated incomplete effectiveness, and 22.5% did not wish to undergo regular bloodwork. Multivariate analysis showed that interested patients were more likely to have been previously aware of PrEP (OR: 2.6, p-value = 0.03), perceived themselves to be vulnerable to HIV (OR: 15.7, p = <0.0001), or were unsure about their risk (OR: 3.9, p = 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that a lack of knowledge regarding personal HIV risk and PrEP as a preventive option may influence PrEP interest. There lies a need for more health promotion campaigns around the health benefits of PrEP, including literacy efforts on HIV risk, concerns around side effects, and associated blood work with PrEP use.

Evaluation of the impact of the Healthy Start/Départ Santé intervention on improving menu planning practices and improving the congruence between planned menus and actual food served in Saskatchewan childcare centres.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Healthy Start/Départ Santé (HS/DS) intervention program on improving menu planning practices and improving the congruence between planned menus and actual food served in licensed childcare centres in Saskatchewan. Overall, 39 licensed childcare centres in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, were selected through a cluster randomized control trial to evaluate the impact of the HS/DS intervention. The pre and post intervention food menus of these centres were analyzed and compared to the Saskatchewan Childcare Nutrition Guidelines (SCNG). The food and beverages served at lunch were observed and digitally recorded using digital plate-waste measures. The congruence between the planned menus and the actual food served was assessed. Descriptive analyses and non-parametric tests were performed to determine the impact of the intervention. The results of this study indicated that there was no significant difference between the groups regarding the distribution and proportion of centres that adhered to the SCNG. The centres that received the intervention demonstrated significant improvements in adherence to their written menus, with the proportions of match between the items that served and listed (p-value = 0.029), and additional items served (p-value = 0.014). Within each group, intervention and usual practice, there were significant differences in centres that met the foods to limit guideline among the usual practice centres (p-value = 0.035). Findings from this study indicated that the HS/DS intervention had a positive impact on improving the adherence of the participating centres to the centres' planned menus. HS/DS trial registration number: NCT02375490.

Comparison between the Healthy Start-Départ Santé online and in-person training of childcare educators to improve healthy eating and physical activity practices and knowledge of physical activity and fundamental movement skills: A controlled trial.

Online training may be a more effective and sustainable way to reach educators in early childcare centres (ECCs). This study compared the effectiveness of an online version of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé (HSDS) training to the traditional in-person version of the training as well as to the usual practice condition on ECC educators' healthy eating (HE) and physical activity (PA) practices and knowledge of PA and fundamental movement skills (FMS). Seventy-eight ECCs were randomly chosen across the provinces of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, Canada and were allocated to either the online training, the in-person training or the usual practice groups between 2013 and 2018. Educators in each group completed a self-administered questionnaire before and nine months after the intervention, which included questions regarding their HE and PA practices in the ECC, as well as their knowledge of children's FMS and PA. Group differences were assessed with mixed-effect models. Compared to educators in the usual practice group, educators in the online training group reported a greater improvement in scores for HE and PA practices (p = 0.03 and 0.03, respectively), but change for educators in the in-person training group were not different (p = 0.8 and 0.56, respectively). The rate of improvement in FMS and PA knowledge did not differ across all three groups (p = 0.9). The HSDS online training is an effective method of improving educators' HE and PA practices in ECCs. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02375490).

Effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé approach on physical activity, healthy eating and fundamental movement skills of preschoolers attending childcare centres: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Since young children spend approximately 30 h per week in early childcare centres (ECC), this setting is ideal to foster healthy behaviours. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé (HSDS) randomized controlled trial in increasing physical activity (PA) levels and improving healthy eating and fundamental movement skills in preschoolers attending ECC. METHODS: Sixty-one ECC were randomly selected and allocated to either the usual practice (n = 30; n = 433 children) or intervention group (n = 31; n = 464 children). The HSDS intervention group was provided a 3-h on-site training for childcare educators which aimed to increase their knowledge and self-efficacy in promoting healthy eating, PA and development of fundamental movement skills in preschoolers. PA was measured during childcare hours for five consecutive days using the Actical accelerometer. Preschoolers' fundamental movement skills were assessed using the standard TGMD-II protocol and POMP scores. Food intake was evaluated using digital photography-assisted weighted plate waste at lunch, over two consecutive days. All data were collected prior to the HSDS intervention and again 9 months later. Mixed-effect models were used to analyse the effectiveness of the HSDS intervention on all outcome measures. RESULTS: Total number of children who provided valid data at baseline and endpoint for PA, food intake and fundamental movement skills were 259, 670 and 492, respectively. Children in the HSDS intervention group had, on average, a 3.33 greater point increase in their locomotor motor skills scores than children in the control group (ß = 3.33, p = 0.009). No significant differences in effects were observed for object control, PA and food intake. However, results demonstrated a marginal increase in portions of fruits and vegetables served in the intervention group compared to control group (ß = 0.06, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Of the 12 outcome variables investigated in this study, 10 were not different between the study groups and two of them (locomotor skills and vegetables and fruits servings) showed a significant improvement. This suggests that HSDS is an effective intervention for the promotion of some healthy behaviours among preschoolers attending ECC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT02375490. Registered on February 24, 2015; 77 retrospectively registered.

More comprehensively measuring quality of life in life-threatening illness: the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire - Expanded.

BACKGROUND: Domains other than those commonly measured (physical, psychological, social, and sometimes existential/spiritual) are important to the quality of life of people with life-threatening illness. The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) - Revised measures the four common domains. The aim of this study was to create a psychometrically sound instrument, MQOL - Expanded, to comprehensively measure quality of life by adding to MQOL-Revised the domains of cognition, healthcare, environment, (feeling like a) burden, and possibly, finance. METHODS: Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on three datasets to ascertain whether seven new items belonged with existing MQOL-Revised domains, whether good model fit was obtained with their addition as five separate domains to MQOL-Revised, and whether a second-order factor representing overall quality of life was present. People with life-threatening illnesses (mainly cancer) or aged > 80 were recruited from 15 healthcare sites in seven Canadian provinces. Settings included: palliative home care and inpatient units; acute care units; oncology outpatient clinics. RESULTS: Good model fit was obtained when adding each of the five domains separately to MQOL-Revised and for the nine correlated domains. Fit was acceptable for a second-order factor model. The financial domain was removed because of low importance. The resulting MQOL-Expanded is a 21-item instrument with eight domains (fit of eight correlated domains: Comparative Fit Index = .96; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .033). CONCLUSIONS: MQOL-Expanded builds on MQOL-Revised to more comprehensively measure the quality of life of people with life-threatening illness. Our analyses provide validity evidence for the MQOL-Expanded domain and summary scores; the need for further validation research is discussed. Use of MQOL-Expanded will enable a more holistic understanding of the quality of life of people with a life-threatening illness and the impact of treatments and interventions upon it. It will allow for a better understanding of less commonly assessed but important life domains (cognition, healthcare, environment, feeling like a burden) and their relationship to the more commonly assessed domains (physical, psychological, social, existential/spiritual).

A Customized Intervention Program Aiming to Improve Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Among Preschool Children: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Iran Healthy Start Study).

BACKGROUND: Prevention of childhood obesity is a key approach to the primary prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Several models, based on the population health approach and aligned with ecological models, are used to design childhood obesity prevention programs around the world. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to introduce the design and evaluation plan of "Iran Healthy Start (IHS)/Aghazi Salem, Koodake Irani"-the customized Iranian version of Canadian Healthy Start/Départ Santé health promotion program-which is now being developed in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Mashhad, Iran) and focuses on improving physical activity and healthy eating among preschool children. METHODS: We will evaluate the intervention using a pilot randomized controlled design. The components of intervention include customized Decoda Web-based resources for children, an implementation guide for educators and managers, training and monitoring, communication and knowledge exchange, building partnership, and parent engagement. Outcomes include changes in anthropometry, physical activity level, nutritional risk status and dietary intake, and quality of life. RESULTS: The project is funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The intervention was completed by the end of March 2018, and the analysis is currently under way. The first results of the IHS intervention program are expected to be submitted for publication in December 2018. CONCLUSIONS: The double burden of malnutrition in early years children is a major health concern in developing countries. This justifies the need for health promotion programs that are specifically designed to target both overnutrition and undernutrition prevention. If the efficacy approved, the IHS could potentially be a comprehensive health promotion program for young children whose lifestyle behaviors can be improved toward a healthy future life in a nutrition transition setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Clinical Trials Registry Platform IRCT2016041927475N1; https://en.irct.ir/trial/22497. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/11329.

The Future Is Now-Prospective Study of Radiosurgery for More Than 4 Brain Metastases to Start in 2018!

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has replaced whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) as standard therapy for most patients with four or fewer brain metastases due to improved cognitive outcomes and more favorable health related quality of life (QoL). Whether SRS or WBRT is the optimal radiation modality for patients with five to fifteen brain metastases remains an open question. Efforts are underway to develop prospective evidence to answer this question. One of the planned trials is a Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)-lead North American intergroup trial. In general cancer treatments must have two basic aims: prolonging and improving QoL. In this vein, the selection of overall survival and QoL metrics as outcomes appear obvious. Potential secondary outcomes are numerous: patient/disease related, treatment related, economic, translational, imaging, and dosimetric. In designing a trial, one must also ponder what is standard WBRT-specifically, whether it should be associated with memantine. With the rapid accrual of an intergroup trial of hippocampal-sparing WBRT, we may find that the standard WBRT regimen changes in the course of planned trials. As up-front radiosurgery is increasingly used for more than 4 brain metastases without high level evidence, we have a window of opportunity to develop high quality evidence which will help guide our future clinical and policy decisions.

Promoting physical activity, healthy eating and gross motor skills development among preschoolers attending childcare centers: Process evaluation of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention using the RE-AIM framework.

BACKGROUND: The Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention was developed to promote physical activity, gross motor skills and healthy eating among preschoolers attending childcare centers. This process evaluation aimed to report the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention. METHODS: The RE-AIM framework was used to guide this process evaluation. Data were collected across 140 childcare centers who received the Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention in the provinces of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, Canada. Quantitative data were collected through director questionnaires at 10 months and 2 years after the initial training and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were collected throughout the intervention. RESULTS: The intervention was successful in reaching a large number of childcare centres and engaging both rural and urban communities across Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Centres reported increasing opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating, which were generally low-cost, easy and quick to implement. However, these changes were rarely transformed into formal written policies. A total of 87% of centers reported using the physical activity resource and 68% using the nutrition resource on a weekly basis. Implementation fidelity of the initial training was high. Of those centers who received the initial training, 75% participated in the mid-point booster session training. Two year post-implementation questionnaires indicated that 47% of centers were still using the Active Play Equipment kit, while 42% were still using the physical activity resource and 37% were still using the nutrition resource. Key challenges to implementation and sustainability identified during the evaluation were consistent among all of the REAIM elements. These challenges included lack of time, lack of support from childcare staff and low parental engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest the implementation of Healthy Start-Départ Santé may be improved further by addressing resistance to change and varied levels of engagement among childcare staff. In addition, further work is needed to provide parents with opportunities to engage in HSDS with their children.

Lunch is ready but not healthy: An analysis of lunches served in childcare centres in two Canadian provinces.

OBJECTIVES: Childcare centres (CCs) typically offer one meal and snacks daily. This study compared what is served in CCs with what the nutritional recommendations are; described and compared the nutritional composition of lunches served in CCs in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan; and examined differences between French and English, and urban and rural centres. METHODS: The study involved 61 randomly selected CCs in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, Canada. Lunch content was measured on two consecutive days by weighing each food item served to children and by visually documenting the food items using digital photography. Food items were categorized into food groups according to Health Canada's Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide, and nutrients were analyzed using a nutritional analysis software. One-sample t tests compared lunch content with nutritional recommendations. Independent t tests compared the nutrient and food group content of lunches in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, French and English, and urban and rural CCs. RESULTS: On average, CCs did not meet provincial recommendations. Lunches in both provinces were low in calories (<517 kcal) and fibre (<7 g). Overall, Saskatchewan centres served greater amounts of food than New Brunswick centres (p < 0.05). French-speaking centres provided less fat (p = 0.047), less saturated fat (p = 0.01), and fewer servings of meat and alternatives (p = 0.02), and more trans fat (p = 0.03) than English-speaking centres. There were no differences between rural and urban centres. CONCLUSIONS: Few CC lunches met nutritional recommendations. Interventions are required to improve the quality of foods offered in CCs. Reviewing or developing comprehensive nutrition guidelines is warranted.

Association between childcare educators' practices and preschoolers' physical activity and dietary intake: a cross-sectional analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Childcare educators may be role models for healthy eating and physical activity (PA) behaviours among young children. This study aimed to identify which childcare educators' practices are associated with preschoolers' dietary intake and PA levels. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis included 723 preschoolers from 50 randomly selected childcare centres in two Canadian provinces. All data were collected in the fall of 2013 and 2014 and analysed in the fall of 2015. PA was assessed using Actical accelerometers during childcare hours for 5 consecutive days. Children's dietary intake was measured at lunch on 2 consecutive days using weighed plate waste and digital photography. Childcare educators' nutrition practices (modelling, nutrition education, satiety recognition, verbal encouragement and not using food as rewards) and PA practices (informal and formal PA promotion) were assessed by direct observation over the course of 2 days, using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care tool. Associations between educators' practices and preschoolers' PA and dietary intake were examined using multilevel linear regressions. RESULTS: Overall, modelling of healthy eating was positively associated with children's intake of sugar (ß=0.141, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.27), while calorie (ß=-0.456, 95% CI -1.46 to -0.02) and fibre intake (ß=-0.066, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.01) were negatively associated with providing nutrition education. Not using food as rewards was also negatively associated with fat intake (ß=-0.144, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.002). None of the educators' PA practices were associated with children's participation in PA. CONCLUSIONS: Modelling healthy eating, providing nutrition education and not using food as rewards are associated with children's dietary intake at lunch in childcare centres, highlighting the role that educators play in shaping preschoolers' eating behaviours. Although PA practices were not associated with children's PA levels, there is a need to reduce sedentary time in childcare centres.

"Monkey see, monkey do": Peers' behaviors predict preschoolers' physical activity and dietary intake in childcare centers.

Preschoolers observe and imitate the behaviors of those who are similar to them. Therefore, peers may be role models for preschoolers' dietary intake and physical activity in childcare centers. This study examined whether peers' behaviors predict change in preschoolers' dietary intake and physical activity in childcare centers over 9months. A total of 238 preschoolers (3 to 5years old) from 23 childcare centers in two Canadian provinces provided data at the beginning (October 2013 and 2014) and the end (June 2014 and 2015) of a 9-month period for this longitudinal study. Dietary intake was collected at lunch using weighed plate waste and digital photography on two consecutive weekdays. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometers over five days. Multilevel linear regressions were used to estimate the influence of peers' behaviors on preschoolers' change in dietary intake and physical activity over 9months. Results showed that preschoolers whose dietary intake or physical activity level deviated the most from those of their peers at the beginning of the year demonstrated greater change in their intakes and activity levels over 9months, which enabled them to become more similar to their peers (all ß 95% CI ranged from -0.835 to -0.074). This study suggests that preschoolers' dietary intake and physical activity may be influenced by the behaviors of their peers in childcare centers. Since peers could play an important role in promoting healthy eating behaviors and physical activity in childcare centers, future studies should test interventions based on positive role modeling by children.

Surgical Management of the Primary Tumor in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Confirmatory Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have suggested that patients with stage IV colorectal cancer who undergo surgical resection of the primary tumor (SRPT) have better survival. Yet the results are not confirmed in the setting of a randomized controlled trial. Lack of randomization and failure to control prognostic variables such as performance status are major critiques to the findings of the observational studies. We previously have shown that SRPT, independent of chemotherapy and performance status, improves survival of stage IV CRC patients. The current study aims to validate our findings in patients with stage IV CRC who were diagnosed during the period of modern chemotherapy. METHODS: A cohort of 569 patients with stage IV CRC diagnosed during 2006-2010 in the province of Saskatchewan was evaluated. Cox regression model was used for the adjustment of prognostic variables. RESULTS: Median age was 69 years (59-95) and M: F was 1.4:1. Fifty-seven percent received chemotherapy, 91.4% received FOLFIRI or FOLFOX & 67% received a biologic agent. Median overall survival (OS) of patients who underwent SRPT and received chemotherapy was 27 months compared with 14 months of the non-resection group (p<0.0001). Median OS of patients who received all active agents and had SRPT was 39 months (95%CI: 25.1-52.9). On multivariate analysis, SRPT, hazard ratio (HR):0.44 (95%CI: 0.35-0.56), use of chemotherapy, HR: 0.33 (95%CI: 0.26-0.43), metastasectomy, HR: 0.43 (95%CI: 0.31-0.58), second line therapy, HR: 0.50 (95%CI: 0.35-0.70), and third line therapy, HR: 0.58 (95%CI: 0.41-0.83) were correlated with superior survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms our findings and supports a favorable association between SRPT and survival in patients with stage IV CRC who are treated with modern therapy.

A multilevel intervention to increase physical activity and improve healthy eating and physical literacy among young children (ages 3-5) attending early childcare centres: the Healthy Start-Départ Santé cluster randomised controlled trial study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a growing concern for public health. Given a majority of children in many countries spend approximately 30 h per week in early childcare centers, this environment represents a promising setting for implementing strategies to foster healthy behaviours for preventing and controlling childhood obesity. Healthy Start-Départ Santé was designed to promote physical activity, physical literacy, and healthy eating among preschoolers. The objectives of this study are to assess the effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention in improving physical activity levels, physical literacy, and healthy eating among preschoolers attending early childcare centers. METHODS/DESIGN: This study follows a cluster randomized controlled trial design in which the childcare centers are randomly assigned to receive the intervention or serve as usual care controls. The Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention is comprised of interlinked components aiming to enable families and educators to integrate physical activity and healthy eating in the daily lives of young children by influencing factors at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, physical environment and policy levels. The intervention period, spanning 6-8 months, is preceded and followed by data collections. Participants are recruited from 61 childcare centers in two Canadian provinces, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Centers eligible for this study have to prepare and provide meals for lunch and have at least 20 children between the ages of 3 and 5. Centers are excluded if they have previously received a physical activity or nutrition promoting intervention. Eligible centers are stratified by province, geographical location (urban or rural) and language (English or French), then recruited and randomized using a one to one protocol for each stratum. Data collection is ongoing. The primary study outcomes are assessed using accelerometers (physical activity levels), the Test of Gross Motor Development-II (physical literacy), and digital photography-assisted weighted plate waste (food intake). DISCUSSION: The multifaceted approach of Healthy Start-Départ Santé positions it well to improve the physical literacy and both dietary and physical activity behaviors of children attending early childcare centers. The results of this study will be of relevance given the overwhelming prevalence of overweight and obesity in children worldwide. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02375490 (ClinicalTrials.gov registry).

Regional Lymph Nodes Status and Ratio of Metastatic to Examined Lymph Nodes Correlate with Survival in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although lymph nodes status and the ratio of metastatic to examined lymph node (LNR) are important prognostic factors in early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC), their significance in patients with metastatic disease remains unknown. The study aims to determine prognostic importance of nodal status and LNR in patients with stage IV CRC. METHODS: A cohort of 1109 eligible patients who were diagnosed with synchronous metastatic CRC in Saskatchewan during 1992-2010 and underwent primary tumor resection was evaluated. We conducted the Cox proportional multivariate analyses to determine the prognostic significance of nodal status and LNR. RESULTS: Median age was 70 years (22-98) and M:F was 1.2:1. Rectal cancer was found in 26 % of patients; 96 % had T3/T4 tumor, and 82 % had node positive disease. The median LNR was 0.36 (0-1.0). Fifty-four percent received chemotherapy. Median overall survival of patients who had LNR of <0.36 and received chemotherapy was 29.7 months (95 % CI 26.6-32.9) compared with 15.6 months (95 % CI 13.6-17.6) with LNR of ≥0.36 (P < .001). On multivariate analyses, no chemotherapy (HR 2.36 [2.0-2.79]), not having metastasectomy (HR 1.94 [1.63-2.32]), LNR ≥0.36 (HR 1.59 [1.38-1.84]). nodal status (HR 1.34 [1.14-1.59]), and T status (HR 1.23 [1.07-1.40]) were correlated with survival. Test for interaction was positive for LNR and high-grade cancer (HR 1.51 [1.10-2.10]). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nodal status and LNR are important prognostic factors independent of chemotherapy and metastasectomy in stage IV CRC patients.

Healthy Start-Départ Santé: A pilot study of a multilevel intervention to increase physical activity, fundamental movement skills and healthy eating in rural childcare centres.

OBJECTIVES: In order to improve healthy behaviours among rural children in their early years, a physical activity and healthy eating intervention (Healthy Start-Départ Santé) was implemented in rural childcare centres throughout Saskatchewan. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of a multimodal physical activity and healthy eating intervention on educators' provision of opportunities for children to improve their physical activity levels, fundamental movement skills and healthy eating behaviours. SETTINGS: Six childcare centres (three Francophone and three Anglophone) located in five different rural and semi-rural communities in Saskatchewan participated in this intervention. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 69 children with a mean age of 4 years 9 months, and 19 female early childhood educators. INTERVENTION: Guided by an ecological framework, we implemented a population health controlled intervention, using a wait list control design (48 weeks delayed intervention), and evaluated its impact in rural childcare centres. Mixed methods were employed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. OUTCOMES: Overall, educators felt that the intervention supported the provision of physical activity and healthy eating opportunities for children. Increases in children's physical activity levels were reported following the intervention. CONCLUSION: The lessons learned in this study can be used to improve the Healthy Start-Départ Santé intervention so that its implementation can be effectively expanded to childcare centres within and outside Saskatchewan, in turn, supporting the healthy development of early years (0-5) children in the province and beyond.

Supporting Healthy Eating Among Rural Early Years Children: A Pulse Crop Pilot Intervention Study.

Dietary patterns are closely linked to healthy child development, which in turn is a powerful determinant of lifelong health and well-being. As many early years children spend a large part of their day in childcare centers, educators can have a large influence on their healthy eating behaviors. In Saskatchewan, a number of childcare centers are located in rural communities and research suggests that rural educators are influenced by unique factors when providing healthy eating opportunities for children. In order to diversify and improve the diets of rural early years children, a pulse crop intervention was piloted tested in one rural childcare center. A pre and post 28-week intervention design was used to evaluate the pulse crop intervention on increasing educators' knowledge and awareness about pulse crops and supporting educators in incorporating pulse crops into centers' menus. Overall, the intervention was effective in increasing rural educators' knowledge and use of pulse crops. Additionally, educators were able to diversify and increase the number of healthy meals offered in the childcare center. The lessons learned can be used to improve and expand the intervention to other childcare centers in Saskatchewan and beyond, in turn supporting the healthy development of early years children.

Surgical Resection of Primary Tumor in Asymptomatic or Minimally Symptomatic Patients With Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Canadian Province Experience.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection of the primary tumor in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. Survival benefit reported in the literature has been attributed to the selection of younger and healthier patients with good performance status. We have recently reported that resection of the primary tumor improved survival of patients with stage IV CRC. In this study we examined survival benefit of surgery in patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic primary tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of patients with stage IV CRC and asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic primary tumor, who were diagnosed during the period of 1992 to 2005, in the province of Saskatchewan Canada, was evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine survival. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to determine prognostic importance of resection of primary tumor. A test for interaction was performed for resection of primary tumor and other important clinicopathological variables. RESULTS: A total of 834 patients with a median age of 70 years (range, 22-93) and male:female ratio of 58:42 were identified. Among them 521 (63%) patients underwent surgery and 361 (43.3%) received chemotherapy. Patients who underwent surgery and received any chemotherapy had a median overall survival of 19.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.9-22.6) compared with 8.4 months (95% CI, 6.9-10.0) if they did not have surgery (P < .0001). In multivariate analysis, 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; 95% CI, 0.36-0.53), surgical resection of the primary tumor (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.39-0.57), metastasectomy (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.38-0.62), and second-line chemotherapy (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.92) were correlated with superior survival. A test for interaction between ≥ 1 metastatic sites and surgery was significant, which suggests a larger benefit of surgery in patients with stage IVA disease. CONCLUSION: Results of this large population-based cohort study suggest that resection of the primary tumor in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with stage IV CRC improved survival independent of other prognostic variables. The benefit was more pronounced in stage IVA disease.

Predictive Factors of the Use of Systemic Therapy in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Who Gets Chemotherapy?

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy improves survival in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC). Although in a clinical trial setting, strict eligibility criteria are used for chemotherapy, little is known about the use of chemotherapy in the general population. The study aims to assess clinicopathological variables that correlate with the use of chemotherapy in patients with stage IV CRC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study involving patients with stage IV CRC, diagnosed between 1992 and 2005, in the province of Saskatchewan was carried out. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation of various clinicopathological factors with the use of chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 1,237 eligible patients were identified. Their median age was 70 years (range: 22-98) and the male:female ratio was 1.3:1. 23.8% had an ECOG performance status (PS) of ≥2 and 61.8% of the patients had a comorbid illness. 46.8% of the patients received chemotherapy. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that an age of <65 years [odds ratio (OR) 3.82, 95% CI: 2.59-5.63], metastasectomy (OR 3.60, 95% CI: 1.82-7.10), normal albumin (OR 3.26, 95% CI: 2.44-4.36), no comorbid illness (OR 2.87, 95% CI: 1.34-6.16), ECOG PS of <2 (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.94-3.82), normal blood urea nitrogen (OR 2.24, 95% CI: 1.40-3.59), palliative radiation (OR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.38-2.99), primary tumor resection (OR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.47-2.73), and the time period (OR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.41-2.42) were significantly correlated with the use of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of chemotherapy appears to be increasing in stage IV CRC. Patients treated with curative intention or who underwent primary tumor resection were more likely to receive chemotherapy. Despite a known benefit of chemotherapy in elderly patients, a differential use of chemotherapy was noted in this population.