The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has been distributing ‘Research Rounds: Surveys’ for nearly 6 months now and we hope you’ve enjoyed them!
The FNHA is pleased to share that the Regional Early Childhood, Education, and Employment Survey (FNREEES) National Report has been released and can be found here.
The FNREEES preliminary report will be sent to all communities in the next month and a final Provincial Report is anticipated for release in early 2017. Also, the first stage of data collection for the Regional Health Survey (RHS) wrapped up at the end of September 2016, with over 3700 surveys completed in 63 communities!
With the completion of the first stage of RHS data collection, and the progression of the FNREEES reporting process, we conclude ‘Research Rounds: Surveys’ with this sixth and final installment summarizing survey content and potential data usage.
Although the number of RHS surveys conducted-to-date is sufficient to provide provincial–level and some regional-level results, the FNHA, at the direction of Nation and Regional level leadership, has opted to go a step further and continue collection in order to provide a wider range of results for each of the five BC health regions. This second stage of RHS data collection has commenced and will continue into 2017. The FNHA will keep communities updated regarding the progress of RHS data collection and thanks all communities who have, or plan to, participate in this important health survey.
With the completion of the first stage of RHS data collection, and the progression of the FNREEES reporting process, we conclude ‘Research Rounds: Surveys’ with this sixth and final installment summarizing survey content and potential data usage. However, the FNHA Survey staff are always available to answer your questions; please feel free to email anytime to
RHS@fnha.ca or
FNREEES@fhna.ca. Also find out more about these surveys here:
RHS and here:
FNREEES.
Summary of Survey Content
First Nations culture, tradition, and language are recognized as paramount to health and wellness for BC First Nations, and as such, questions regarding these topics are included in both the FNREEES and RHS. Examples include questions based on: spirituality, sense of balance (spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental), traditional teachings, cultural activities, language use, and fluency. In addition, the FNREEES and FNRHS explore health and wellness-related questions pertaining to the specific aims of each survey that are explained below.
1. FNREEES
As the name of this survey suggests, content of the FNREEES revolves around early childhood development, education and employment. The majority of health indicators included in the FNREEES are classified as ‘Non-Medical Determinants of Health’. You might recall from ‘Research Rounds: Surveys’ #2 that ‘Non-Medical Determinants of Health’ refer to experiential factors, such as living and working conditions that may contribute to developing a particular health status. Examples include, but are not limited to:
– School and/or employment status
– School and/or employment environment
– School and/or employment location
– Extracurricular activities
– Post-secondary education details
– Future aspirations
– Home environment for early childhood development
2. RHS
The RHS focuses on a wide array of topics including both ‘Non-Medical Determinants of Health’ and ‘Health Status’ factors (a measure of individuals’ current and expected states of health – see ‘Research Rounds: Surveys’ #2 for more details). Some examples include:
– General health condition
– Specific health conditions
– Physical activity level
– Diet and nutrition
– Food security
– Residential schooling
– Dental care
– Sexual health
– Personal wellness
The provincial and regional level results of the FNREEES and RHS aim to support policy, program, and funding proposals for BC First Nations.
Thanks for reading!
