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BACKGROUND: In the United States, implementation of the 7-valent conjugate vaccine into childhood immunization schedules has had an effect on the burden of pneumococcal disease in ail ages of the population. In order to evaluate the impact in Canada, it is essential to have an estimate of the burden of pneumococcal disease before routine use of the vaccine. METHODS: The incidence and costs of pneumococcal disease in the Canadian population in 2001 were estimated from various sources, including published studies, provincial databases, and expert opinion. RESULTS: In 2001, there was an estimated 565 000 cases of pneumococcal disease in the Canadian population, with invasive infections representing 0.7% of cases, pneumonia 7.5%, and acute otitis media 91.8%. There was a total 3000 deaths, mainly as a result of pneumonia and largely attributable to the population > 65 years of age. There was 54 330 life years lost due to pneumococcal disease, and 37 430 quality-adjusted life years lost due to acute disease, long-term sequelae and deaths. Societal costs were estimated at $193 million, with 82% borne by the health System and 18% borne by families. Invasive pneumococcal infections represented 17% of the costs, and non-invasive infections represented 83%, with approximately half of the latter proportion attributable to acute otitis media and myringotomy. CONCLUSION: The burden of pneumococcal disease before routine use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was significant in ail age groups of the Canadian population. This estimate will provide a baseline for further analysis of the direct and indirect impacts of the vaccine. / PROBLÉMATIQUE : Aux États-Unis, l'ajout du vaccin pneumococcique conjugué 7-valent au calendrier d'immunisation régulier des enfants a eu un effet sur le fardeau des maladies pneumococciques et ce, dans toutes les tranches d'âge de la population. Il importe, afin de mesurer cet impact au Canada, d'estimer le fardeau des maladies pneumococciques avant que l'usage de ce vaccin ne soit répandu. MÉTHODOLOGIE : L'incidence des maladies pneumococciques parmi la population canadienne et les coûts qui y sont associés ont été estimés à partir de données provenant de plusieurs sources, telles que des publications scientifiques, des banques de données provinciales et les avis de plusieurs experts. RÉSULTATS : En 2001, on estimait à 565 000 le nombre de cas d'infections pneumococciques parmi la population canadienne. Les infections invasives représentaient 0,7 % des cas, les pneumonies, 7,5 % et les otites moyennes aiguës, 91,8 %. On recensait 3 000 décès résultant essentiellement de pneumonies, principalement parmi la population âgée de 65 ans et plus. Au total, les infections pneumococciques étaient responsables de 54 330 années perdues, et les infections aiguës, les séquelles à long terme et les décès étaient à l'origine d'une perte de 37 430 années de vie de pleine qualité. Les coûts sociétaux ont été estimés à 193 millions de dollars, supportés à 82 % par le système de santé et à 18% par les familles. Les infections invasives et les infections non invasives représentaient 17 % et 83 % des coûts, respectivement. Près de la moitié du coût des infections non invasives était attribuable aux otites moyennes aiguës et aux myringotomies. CONCLUSION : Avant l'introduction de l'usage régulier de vaccin conjugué 7-valent, le fardeau des maladies pneumococciques était significatif dans tous les groupes d'âge de la population canadienne. Les résultats de cette étude constituent une base de référence pour les analyses futures des impacts directs et indirects du vaccin.

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Background: Although rare relative to adult cancers, cancer is still the leading cause of disease-related death in children in developed countries, including Canada. Few studies have specifically examined the epidemiology and public health significance of diagnosis and treatment delays in childhood cancer. This study aimed to investigate the nature of delays in care for children and adolescents with cancer in Canada and to assess the potential impact of such delays on clinical outcomes. / Study Design: I conducted a prospective cohort study to investigate the delays of cancer symptoms reporting, diagnosis, and treatment in children between 0-19 years of age in Canada. This study used a database from Health Canada's Treatment and Outcomes component of the Canadian Childhood Cancer Surveillance and Control Program. / Methodology: Patients were identified from 17 paediatric cancer centres across Canada. Subjects included in this study were residents of Canada, aged less than 20 years, diagnosed with a malignant tumour and had information on date of first symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and outcome available. Descriptive statistics and regression techniques (linear, logistic and Cox regression) were used as appropriate. I measured the individual impact of patient and provider delays on disease severity and prognosis by using judicious control for potential confounding mechanisms and mediating factors. / Study Findings and Significance: By measuring various types of delays in Canada, I found that varying lengths of patient and referral delay, across age groups, types of cancers, and Canadian settings, are the main contributors to diagnosis, HCS and overall delay. Factors relating to the patients, the parents, healthcare and the cancer may all exert different influences on different segments of cancer care. I also found a negative association between diagnosis delay and disease severity for lymphoma and CNS tumour patients. Furthermore, I found that diagnosis and physician delay had a negative effect, while patient delay had a positive effect, on survival for patients diagnosed with CNS tumours. The information provided from this study may form the basis for new effective policies aimed at eliminating obstacles in cancer the diagnostic and care trajectories for Canadian children with cancer and for improving their prognosis.

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Divorce is a significant event in children's lives. The ability of school personnel to be helpful with children of divorce can be influenced by their attitudes and by other factors. This study described the attitudes towards divorce of elementary school personnel and examined the relationships among the personnel's attitudes, personality factors, and selected personal and professional variables. The sample was comprised of 212 elementary school personnel from a large metropolitan school district in Western Canada. Data were derived from subjects' responses to the Sixteen Personality Factor Scale and two instruments developed by the author to assess subjects' attitudes towards divorce and their personal and professional characteristics. Findings indicated that teachers perceive divorce as a socially acceptable phenomenon. They perceived that it is better for children to live in happy homes, divorced or intact, than in conflict-ridden intact homes, and that children of divorce benefit when their fathers are active in parenting. Nearly all respondents perceived the school as fulfilling an important role for children of divorce. Significant differences were found between high and low scoring groups on each attitudinal sub-scale when personality factors, personal variables, and professional variables were considered. The results of this study suggest that certain personal variables (age, marital status, religion, and years of teaching experience) were related to differences in attitudes. Most of the professional variables (perceptions of children's motivation and homework completion and perceptions of parents' concerns) accounted for differences in attitudes. Several personality factors (warmth, ego-strength, rebelliousness, self-sufficiency, and imagination for example) also were indicated to have particular relevance for the attitudes of elementary school personnel towards divorce.