Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia?
Abstract Background Indigenous peoples globally experience a disproportionate burden of mental illness due to forced policies and practices of colonization and cultural disruption. The objective of this study was to provide a baseline profile of hospitalization rates for mental health-related Ambula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-018-0860-7 |
| _version_ | 1830481859060957184 |
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| author | Josée G. Lavoie Amanda Ward Sabrina T. Wong Naser Ibrahim Darrien Morton John D. O’Neil Michael Green |
| author_facet | Josée G. Lavoie Amanda Ward Sabrina T. Wong Naser Ibrahim Darrien Morton John D. O’Neil Michael Green |
| author_sort | Josée G. Lavoie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Indigenous peoples globally experience a disproportionate burden of mental illness due to forced policies and practices of colonization and cultural disruption. The objective of this study was to provide a baseline profile of hospitalization rates for mental health-related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among First-Nations living both on and off reserve in British Columbia, Canada, and explore the relationship between local access to health services and mental health-related hospitalization rates. Methods A population-based time trend analysis of mental health-related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions hospitalizations was conducted using de-identified administrative health data. The study population included all residents eligible under the universal British Columbia Medical Services Plan and living on and off First Nations reserves between 1994/95 and 2009/10. The definition of mental health-related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions included mood disorders and schizophrenia, and three different change measures were used to operationalize avoidable hospitalizations: 1) rates of episodes of hospital care, 2) rates of length of stay, and 3) readmission rates. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations approach, controlling for age, sex, and socio-economic status, to account for change over time. Results Our findings show that First Nations living on reserve have higher hospitalization rates for mental disorders compared to other British Columbia residents up until 2008. Those living off reserve had significantly higher hospitalization rates throughout the study period. On-reserve communities served by nursing stations had the lowest rates of hospitalization whereas communities with limited local services had the highest rates. Compared to other British Columbia residents, all First Nations have a shorter length of stay and lower readmission rates. Conclusions This study suggests that despite reduced rates of hospitalization for mental-health related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions over time for First Nations, gaps in mental health care still exist. We argue greater investments in primary mental health care are needed to support First Nations health. However, these efforts should place equal importance on prevention and the social determinants of health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:25:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81a59d1fdbf741169bf2ffc06cd27a96 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:25:03Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-81a59d1fdbf741169bf2ffc06cd27a962022-12-21T18:56:05ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762018-10-0117111510.1186/s12939-018-0860-7Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia?Josée G. Lavoie0Amanda Ward1Sabrina T. Wong2Naser Ibrahim3Darrien Morton4John D. O’Neil5Michael Green6Department of Community Health Sciences, Ongomiizwin Research, University of ManitobaFirst Nations Health AuthoritySchool of Nursing, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of ManitobaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of ManitobaFaculty of Health sciences, Simon Fraser UniversityDepartments of Family Medicine and Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen’s UniversityAbstract Background Indigenous peoples globally experience a disproportionate burden of mental illness due to forced policies and practices of colonization and cultural disruption. The objective of this study was to provide a baseline profile of hospitalization rates for mental health-related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among First-Nations living both on and off reserve in British Columbia, Canada, and explore the relationship between local access to health services and mental health-related hospitalization rates. Methods A population-based time trend analysis of mental health-related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions hospitalizations was conducted using de-identified administrative health data. The study population included all residents eligible under the universal British Columbia Medical Services Plan and living on and off First Nations reserves between 1994/95 and 2009/10. The definition of mental health-related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions included mood disorders and schizophrenia, and three different change measures were used to operationalize avoidable hospitalizations: 1) rates of episodes of hospital care, 2) rates of length of stay, and 3) readmission rates. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations approach, controlling for age, sex, and socio-economic status, to account for change over time. Results Our findings show that First Nations living on reserve have higher hospitalization rates for mental disorders compared to other British Columbia residents up until 2008. Those living off reserve had significantly higher hospitalization rates throughout the study period. On-reserve communities served by nursing stations had the lowest rates of hospitalization whereas communities with limited local services had the highest rates. Compared to other British Columbia residents, all First Nations have a shorter length of stay and lower readmission rates. Conclusions This study suggests that despite reduced rates of hospitalization for mental-health related Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions over time for First Nations, gaps in mental health care still exist. We argue greater investments in primary mental health care are needed to support First Nations health. However, these efforts should place equal importance on prevention and the social determinants of health.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-018-0860-7Mental healthIndigenous healthPrimary health careACSCNursing stationsFirst nations off-reserve |
| spellingShingle | Josée G. Lavoie Amanda Ward Sabrina T. Wong Naser Ibrahim Darrien Morton John D. O’Neil Michael Green Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia? International Journal for Equity in Health Mental health Indigenous health Primary health care ACSC Nursing stations First nations off-reserve |
| title | Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia? |
| title_full | Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia? |
| title_fullStr | Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia? |
| title_short | Hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions: what are the trends for First Nations in British Columbia? |
| title_sort | hospitalization for mental health related ambulatory care sensitive conditions what are the trends for first nations in british columbia |
| topic | Mental health Indigenous health Primary health care ACSC Nursing stations First nations off-reserve |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-018-0860-7 |
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