By Anya Smith, PhD
Statistical Coordinator – Regional Surveys
In the second installment of ‘Research Rounds’, the main types of health indicators addressed in the Regional Health Survey (FNRHS) and the Regional Early Childhood, Education, and Employment Survey (FNREEES) were discussed. The focus of this fifth installment is on the process by which certain health indicators are selected for inclusion in the FNRHS and FNREEES provincial reports.
Process of Selection
Introduction
The FNREEES and FNRHS are comprised of a large number of questions. It is useful to have such a large amount of data: it allows for the provision of up–to-date health information for First Nations in BC, and is an information resource for planning and research. The information in the surveys is useful for one purpose or another. Specific to the formation of reports, however, is the requirement that a select, smaller number of indicators be reported from the total number included in the original surveys. This is because to report on every indicator would be overwhelming and ineffective for readers. The FNHA takes a streamlined, informed approach to the selection of indicators by drawing on FNHA internal expertise, the First Nations Health Directors Association (FNHDA), as well as external experts. All parties work together to produce a succinct, relevant set of health indicators for provincial reporting. Below is outlined some key players and considerations in the indicator selection process.
1. Non-FNHA Advisory Committees
a. FNHDA Planning & Reporting Committee
The FNHDA is a member of the First Nations Health Governance Structure, along with the FNHA, and the First Nations Health Council (FNHC). All partners have different roles, with a common objective to improve health standards for BC First Nations. One role of the FNHDA is to provide advisory support. The FNHDA Planning & Reporting Committee is comprised of a number of First Nations Health Directors who can personally relate to the First Nations health and wellness perspective, and who are in direct contact with BC First Nations communities, positioning them as an important knowledge resource and experienced advocacy group for BC First Nations. In the case of regional surveys, the FNHDA provides informed feedback about the health interests of BC First Nations communities to FNHA members, and is actively involved in helping to select health indicators from this perspective.
b. External Advisory Committee
In addition to the FNHDA Planning & Reporting Committee, the FNHA also recruits external professional and academic individuals with subject – matter and/or technical expertise to augment internal expertise in these areas. It is important to the FNHA to maximize input from individuals across disciplines and professional foci in order to obtain a set of well-informed indicators. For example, the External Advisory Committee for the FNREEES is comprised of a large team of experts from various fields including early childhood and youth education, employment, childhood development, and epidemiologists. This diverse group provides invaluable feedback from an academic and professional perspective that together with the FNHDA, and FNHA staff, produce a series of applicable indicators for your use in policy and planning.
2. Other Considerations
Although this letter might make indicator selection look easy, it is actually a long and elaborate process! There are other considerations when it comes to indicator selection that go beyond the advisory committees. One of these relates to the concept of precision, which was discussed in ‘Research Rounds’ #3. In some cases, an indicator of interest might have a small sample size, meaning very few people answered the question. This could result in an estimate that is of little use to BC First Nations because it is unreliable, and therefore may not be reported. Refer back to ‘Research Rounds’ #3 to brush up on precision!
Thanks for reading!
Questions about our research? Please email RHS@fnha.ca or FNREEES@fnha.ca
For more on indicators Watch the "Wellness Indicators" video from the Regional Data Governance Engagement Sessions.