Yes / BACKGROUND: For most people, home is the preferred place of care and death. Despite the development of specialist palliative care and primary care models of community based service delivery, people who are dying, and their families/carers, can experience isolation, feel excluded from social circles and distanced from their communities. Loneliness and social isolation can have a detrimental impact on both health and quality of life. Internationally, models of social and practical support at the end of life are gaining momentum as a result of the Compassionate Communities movement. These models have not yet been subjected to rigorous evaluation. The aims of the study described in this protocol are: (1) to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of The Good Neighbour Partnership (GNP), a new volunteer-led model of social and practical care/support for community dwelling adults in Ireland who are living with advanced life-limiting illness; and (2) to pilot the method for a Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT). DESIGN: The INSPIRE study will be conducted within the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for the Evaluation of Complex Interventions (Phases 0-2) and includes an exploratory two-arm delayed intervention randomised controlled trial. Eighty patients and/or their carers will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: (I) Intervention: GNP in addition to standard care or (II) Control: Standard Care. Recipients of the GNP will be asked for their views on participating in both the study and the intervention. Quantitative and qualitative data will be gathered from both groups over eight weeks through face-to-face interviews which will be conducted before, during and after the intervention. The primary outcome is the effect of the intervention on social and practical need. Secondary outcomes are quality of life, loneliness, social support, social capital, unscheduled health service utilisation, caregiver burden, adverse impacts, and satisfaction with intervention. Volunteers engaged in the GNP will also be assessed in terms of their death anxiety, death self efficacy, self-reported knowledge and confidence with eleven skills considered necessary to be effective GNP volunteers. DISCUSSION: The INSPIRE study addresses an important knowledge gap, providing evidence on the efficacy, utility and acceptability of a unique model of social and practical support for people living at home, with advanced life-limiting illness. The findings will be important in informing the development (and evaluation) of similar service models and policy elsewhere both nationally and internationally. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN18400594 18(th) February 2015.

Yes / The frequency of visits to Emergency Departments (ED) varies greatly between populations. This may reflect variation in patient behaviour, need, accessibility, and service configuration as well as the complex interactions between these factors. This study investigates the relationship between distance, socio-economic deprivation, and proximity to an alternative care setting (a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU)), with particular attention to the interaction between distance and deprivation. It is set in a population of approximately 5.4 million living in central England, which is highly heterogeneous in terms of ethnicity, socio-economics, and distance to hospital. The study data set captured 1,413,363 ED visits made by residents of the region to National Health Service (NHS) hospitals during the financial year 2007/8. Our units of analysis were small units of census geography having an average population of 1,545. Separate regression models were made for children and adults. For each additional kilometre of distance from a hospital, predicted child attendances fell by 2.2% (1.7%-2.6% p<0.001) and predicted adult attendances fell by 1.5% (1.2% -1.8%, p<0.001). Compared to the least deprived quintile, attendances in the most deprived quintile more than doubled for children (incident rate ratio (IRR) = 2.19, (1.90-2.54, p<0.001)) and adults (IRR 2.26, (2.01-2.55, p<0.001)). Proximity of an MIU was significant and both adult and child attendances were greater in populations who lived further away from them, suggesting that MIUs may reduce ED demand. The interaction between distance and deprivation was significant. Attendance in deprived neighbourhoods reduces with distance to a greater degree than in less deprived ones for both adults and children. In conclusion, ED use is related to both deprivation and distance, but the effect of distance is modified by deprivation.

Introdução: Malformações congênitas afetam 2-3% recém-nascidos e estima-se que metade desses problemas poderiam ser prevenidos. Considerando que o ácido fólico reduz o risco de DTN, que a fortificação compulsória das farinhas, de trigo e milho com ferro ácido fólico ocorre desde julho de 2004 e ainda que o Brasil é um país de grande heterogeneidade. Justifica-se, conhecer a evolução dos DTN e sua distribuição espaço-temporal, com vistas a contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento das políticas públicas que visem a prevenção e a minimização desse problema na população brasileira. Objetivo: Analisar a intervenção da fortificação de farinhas com ácido fólico na prevalência de defeitos do fechamento do tubo neural no Brasil. Método: Estudo ecológico, transversal, de desenho misto. Dados foram obtidos do Sinasc. População de estudo foi composta pelos 12.992 casos de DTN (anencefalia, encefalocele e espinha bífida) entre 32.996.065 nascidos no período de 2000-2010. A prevalência de DTN foi calculada para cada 10.000 nascidos vivos. Foi realizada uma analise descritiva exploratória e posterior analise de regressão segmentada e análise espacial com utilização do Índide Global de Moran e indicador Local de Associação espacial. Foram utilizados os softwares Epi info versão 3.4; SPSS versão 17 Terraview versão 3.2.1 e o programa R (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria; http://www.r-project.org).. Todos os aspectos éticos foram respeitados quanto ao uso das informações obtidas no banco de dados disponíveis no Datasus. Resultados: A prevalência global dos DTN foi de 3,94 casos para cada 10000nv. Ao longo dos anos, entre os anos de 2000 a 2010, verifica-se que o número de casos apresentou uma taxa de variação positiva de 17,3%. Crescimento representado em 2000, por 3,26 casos/10000nv que passou em 2010 para 4,28 casos/10000nv. Em 2005, verificou-se um declínio na prevalência, momento em que a fortificação estava de fato sendo implantada. Constata-se na análise de regressão segmentada que a tendência em praticamente todos os estados tem três segmentos: uma tendência de aumento, seguido de queda no momento da intervenção e posterior tendência de aumento. Foram mapeadas as prevalências da doença em dois triênios, o primeiro antes da fortificação, entre 2001-2003 e o segundo após entre 2008-2010. A prevalência de DTN aumentou no segundo triênio em 19 estados brasileiros. Observou-se áreas de conglomerados embora nem sempre exista a autocorrelação espacial. Conclusão: Conclui-se que embora a prevalência dos DTN tenha declinado em meados de 2005, ela volta a crescer após esse período de modo significativo em alguns estados. Deve-se buscar monitorar o teor do ácido fólico nas farinhas através da implantação de uma metodologia analítica para monitoramento dos alimentos fortificados. A distribuição espaço temporal dos agravos abordados é importante, pois permite a compreensão desses eventos complexos e dinâmicos. Estudos nessa área contribuem na elaboração de políticas públicas para reduzir a prevalência dessas doenças. / Introduction: Congenital malformations affect 2-3% of newborns and it is estimated that half of these problems could be prevented. Considering that folic acid reduces the risk of NTDs, the mandatory fortification of flour, wheat and corn with iron folic acid occurs since July 2004 in Brazil and this is a country of great diversity. These aspects justify studying the evolution of NTD and their distribution in time and space, to contribute to the improvement of public policies for the prevention and reduction of these diseases in Brazilian population. Objective: To analyze the intervention of the fortification of flour with folic acid in the prevalence of neural tube defects in Brazil. Methods: Ecological study, cross, mixed design. Data were obtained from SINASC. Study population consisted of 12 992 cases of NTDs (anencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida) between 32,996,065 born in 2000-2010 period. The prevalence of NTDs was calculated for every 10,000 live births. An exploratory descriptive analysis and later segmented regression analysis and spatial analysis using the Global index Moran and Local. Epi Info version 3.4 software were used; SPSS version 17, Terraview version 3.2.1 and the R program (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria; http://www.r-project.org). All ethical aspects were respected in the use of information obtained the database available in Datasus. Results: The overall prevalence of NTDs was 3.94 cases per 10000nv. Over the years between 2000 and 2010, it was found that the number of cases showed a positive rate of change of 17.3%. Growth represented in 2000 by 3.26 cases / 10000nv that passed in 2010 to 4.28 cases / 10000nv. In 2005, there was a decline in the prevalence, at which time the fortification was actually being implemented. Notes on the segmented regression analysis that the trend in every state has three segments: an increasing trend, followed by a decrease at the time of intervention and subsequent increasing trend. The prevalence of the disease in two periods were mapped, the first before fortification, between 2001-2003 and between 2008-2010 after the second. The prevalence of NTDs increased in the second three years in 19 Brazilian states. It was noted areas where clustering though not always there spatial autocorrelation. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of NTDs has declined in mid-2005, it grows back after this period significantly in some states. It should seek to monitor the content of folic acid in flour through the implementation of an analytical methodology for monitoring of fortified foods. The timeline distribution of diseases covered is important because it gives an understanding of these complex and dynamic events. Studies in this area contribute to the development of public policies to reduce the prevalence of these diseases.

Introdução: Malformações congênitas afetam 2-3% recém-nascidos e estima-se que metade desses problemas poderiam ser prevenidos. Considerando que o ácido fólico reduz o risco de DTN, que a fortificação compulsória das farinhas, de trigo e milho com ferro ácido fólico ocorre desde julho de 2004 e ainda que o Brasil é um país de grande heterogeneidade. Justifica-se, conhecer a evolução dos DTN e sua distribuição espaço-temporal, com vistas a contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento das políticas públicas que visem a prevenção e a minimização desse problema na população brasileira. Objetivo: Analisar a intervenção da fortificação de farinhas com ácido fólico na prevalência de defeitos do fechamento do tubo neural no Brasil. Método: Estudo ecológico, transversal, de desenho misto. Dados foram obtidos do Sinasc. População de estudo foi composta pelos 12.992 casos de DTN (anencefalia, encefalocele e espinha bífida) entre 32.996.065 nascidos no período de 2000-2010. A prevalência de DTN foi calculada para cada 10.000 nascidos vivos. Foi realizada uma analise descritiva exploratória e posterior analise de regressão segmentada e análise espacial com utilização do Índide Global de Moran e indicador Local de Associação espacial. Foram utilizados os softwares Epi info versão 3.4; SPSS versão 17 Terraview versão 3.2.1 e o programa R (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria; http://www.r-project.org).. Todos os aspectos éticos foram respeitados quanto ao uso das informações obtidas no banco de dados disponíveis no Datasus. Resultados: A prevalência global dos DTN foi de 3,94 casos para cada 10000nv. Ao longo dos anos, entre os anos de 2000 a 2010, verifica-se que o número de casos apresentou uma taxa de variação positiva de 17,3%. Crescimento representado em 2000, por 3,26 casos/10000nv que passou em 2010 para 4,28 casos/10000nv. Em 2005, verificou-se um declínio na prevalência, momento em que a fortificação estava de fato sendo implantada. Constata-se na análise de regressão segmentada que a tendência em praticamente todos os estados tem três segmentos: uma tendência de aumento, seguido de queda no momento da intervenção e posterior tendência de aumento. Foram mapeadas as prevalências da doença em dois triênios, o primeiro antes da fortificação, entre 2001-2003 e o segundo após entre 2008-2010. A prevalência de DTN aumentou no segundo triênio em 19 estados brasileiros. Observou-se áreas de conglomerados embora nem sempre exista a autocorrelação espacial. Conclusão: Conclui-se que embora a prevalência dos DTN tenha declinado em meados de 2005, ela volta a crescer após esse período de modo significativo em alguns estados. Deve-se buscar monitorar o teor do ácido fólico nas farinhas através da implantação de uma metodologia analítica para monitoramento dos alimentos fortificados. A distribuição espaço temporal dos agravos abordados é importante, pois permite a compreensão desses eventos complexos e dinâmicos. Estudos nessa área contribuem na elaboração de políticas públicas para reduzir a prevalência dessas doenças. / Introduction: Congenital malformations affect 2-3% of newborns and it is estimated that half of these problems could be prevented. Considering that folic acid reduces the risk of NTDs, the mandatory fortification of flour, wheat and corn with iron folic acid occurs since July 2004 in Brazil and this is a country of great diversity. These aspects justify studying the evolution of NTD and their distribution in time and space, to contribute to the improvement of public policies for the prevention and reduction of these diseases in Brazilian population. Objective: To analyze the intervention of the fortification of flour with folic acid in the prevalence of neural tube defects in Brazil. Methods: Ecological study, cross, mixed design. Data were obtained from SINASC. Study population consisted of 12 992 cases of NTDs (anencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida) between 32,996,065 born in 2000-2010 period. The prevalence of NTDs was calculated for every 10,000 live births. An exploratory descriptive analysis and later segmented regression analysis and spatial analysis using the Global index Moran and Local. Epi Info version 3.4 software were used; SPSS version 17, Terraview version 3.2.1 and the R program (The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria; http://www.r-project.org). All ethical aspects were respected in the use of information obtained the database available in Datasus. Results: The overall prevalence of NTDs was 3.94 cases per 10000nv. Over the years between 2000 and 2010, it was found that the number of cases showed a positive rate of change of 17.3%. Growth represented in 2000 by 3.26 cases / 10000nv that passed in 2010 to 4.28 cases / 10000nv. In 2005, there was a decline in the prevalence, at which time the fortification was actually being implemented. Notes on the segmented regression analysis that the trend in every state has three segments: an increasing trend, followed by a decrease at the time of intervention and subsequent increasing trend. The prevalence of the disease in two periods were mapped, the first before fortification, between 2001-2003 and between 2008-2010 after the second. The prevalence of NTDs increased in the second three years in 19 Brazilian states. It was noted areas where clustering though not always there spatial autocorrelation. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of NTDs has declined in mid-2005, it grows back after this period significantly in some states. It should seek to monitor the content of folic acid in flour through the implementation of an analytical methodology for monitoring of fortified foods. The timeline distribution of diseases covered is important because it gives an understanding of these complex and dynamic events. Studies in this area contribute to the development of public policies to reduce the prevalence of these diseases.

OBJETIVO: Visualizar padrões espaciais de mortalidade perinatal e identificar os municípios com prioridade para intervenção no Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo ecológico e exploratório utilizando técnica de geoprocessamento com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde sobre mortalidade perinatal no Vale do Paraíba nos anos de 2004 a 2008. Foram obtidas taxas por 1.000 nascimentos e, a partir das distribuições dessas, foram criados mapas temáticos. Foi utilizado o índice de Moran, que estima autocorrelação espacial e foram identificados os municípios com alta prioridade de intervenção pelo diagrama de espalhamento de Moran, representado em forma de box map. Foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para estudar a variável social IPRS (Índice Paulista de Responsabilidade Social) dos municípios estudados e o coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal. RESULTADOS: No período estudado foram incluídos 141.293 nascidos vivos, com 2244 óbitos perinatais, coeficiente médio de mortalidade de 20,4 (DP 6,8) e mediana de 18,9. O índice de Moran identificou dependência espacial entre os municípios analisados quanto à mortalidade neonatal precoce (p < 0,05), sendo que para a mortalidade fetal e perinatal não houve significância estatística, apesar do mapa de distribuição espacial do coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal ter identificado um aglomerado de municípios com coeficientes mais elevados. Nas variáveis estudadas observamos contribuição maior da gestação na adolescência na mortalidade perinatal. Foram identificados cinco municípios com alta prioridade para intervenções. CONCLUSÃO: A análise espacial foi um instrumento útil para identificar os municípios onde há necessidade de intervenção em relação à mortalidade perinatal / OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze spatial standards of perinatal mortality and identify the priority cities for intervention in the Paraiba Valley, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological and exploratory study using a technique of geoprocessing with data of the Informatics Department of the Single Health System on perinatal mortality in the years of 2004 to 2008. Rates per 1000 births were obtained and, starting from the distribution of these rates, thematic maps were created. The global Moran index, which estimates the spatial autocorrelation was used, and the cities with high priority for intervention were identified according to the Moran scattering diagram, represented in box map. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to study the socioeconomic variable IPRS (Social Responsibility Index of Sao Paulo State) of the cities studied and the perinatal mortality coefficient. RESULTS: During the study period, 141.293 live births were included, with 2244 perinatal deaths, with average coefficient of 20,4 and median of 18,9. The global Moran index was 0,24 (p < 0,05) for early neonatal mortality, demonstrating a spatial autocorrelation among the cities for these coefficient, while fetal and perinatal mortality have no statistical significance, despite the spatial distribution map of perinatal mortality coefficient have identified a cluster of cities with higher coefficients. In the variables studied, we observed a greater contribution of the variable adolescent pregnant. Five cities deserving special attention for future interventions were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial analysis was a useful tool in identifying the cities in which an intervention is necessary regarding the perinatal mortality

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 monicareginabocchi_dissert.pdf: 2907394 bytes, checksum: c48a0e16494a52698ca5ba65562e2c2a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-08-15 / The objectives included studying the occurrence of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in the region of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil in the period between 1998 and 2005, to describe the reported variables, to reclassify notified cases of ATL over this period according to the probable location of infection and to spatially analyze and characterize the transmission areas. Methods: The study was developed from confirmed notifications of ATL in the region of São José do Rio Preto. The studied variables included: date of notification, age, gender, rural or urban zone, occupation and probable location of infection. Reinvestigations, reclassifications and visits to the probable infection sites were made for all suspected autochthony cases which were then georeferenced and photographed. Results and conclusions: The number of indecisive cases was reduced from 27.2% to 7.8%. The number of imported cases increased from 50.0% to 70.8%. Autochthones dropped from 22.8% to 21.4%, however with alterations in their probable infection sites. There was a change in the classifications in 31.1% of cases. The most affected age range was between 31 and 40 years old and men (68.2%) were infected more than women. Occupation was not associated with the disease in 89.9% of the cases. The foci presented with similar landscape, always with woods, even in the periurban areas (9.1%). / Estudar a ocorrência de Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA) nos municípios da região de São José do Rio Preto, entre 1998 e 2005. Descrever as variáveis das fichas de investigação. Reclassificar os casos de LTA notificados no período do estudo, segundo local provável de infecção. Analisar e caracterizar espacialmente as áreas de transmissão. Métodos: O estudo foi desenvolvido a partir das notificações de casos confirmados de LTA nos municípios da região de São José do Rio Preto. Variáveis estudadas: data da notificação, faixa etária, sexo, zona urbana ou rural, ocupação e local provável da infecção. Realizaram-se reinvestigação, reclassificação e visita aos locais prováveis de infecção dos casos com suspeita de autoctonia, os quais foram georreferenciados e fotografados. Resultados e conclusões: os casos indeterminados foram reduzidos de 27,2% para 7,8%. Os importados aumentaram de 50,0% para 70,8%. Os autóctones passaram de 22,8% para 21,4%, porém com alteração dos locais prováveis de infecção. Ocorreu alteração na classificação em 31,1% dos casos. A faixa etária mais acometida foi entre 31 e 40 anos (31,8%) e o sexo mais atingido foi o masculino (68,2%). A ocupação não teve relação com a doença em 89,9% dos casos. Os focos apresentaram paisagens semelhantes, sempre relacionadas à presença de matas, mesmo nos casos periurbanos (9,1%).

OBJETIVO: Visualizar padrões espaciais de mortalidade perinatal e identificar os municípios com prioridade para intervenção no Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo ecológico e exploratório utilizando técnica de geoprocessamento com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde sobre mortalidade perinatal no Vale do Paraíba nos anos de 2004 a 2008. Foram obtidas taxas por 1.000 nascimentos e, a partir das distribuições dessas, foram criados mapas temáticos. Foi utilizado o índice de Moran, que estima autocorrelação espacial e foram identificados os municípios com alta prioridade de intervenção pelo diagrama de espalhamento de Moran, representado em forma de box map. Foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para estudar a variável social IPRS (Índice Paulista de Responsabilidade Social) dos municípios estudados e o coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal. RESULTADOS: No período estudado foram incluídos 141.293 nascidos vivos, com 2244 óbitos perinatais, coeficiente médio de mortalidade de 20,4 (DP 6,8) e mediana de 18,9. O índice de Moran identificou dependência espacial entre os municípios analisados quanto à mortalidade neonatal precoce (p < 0,05), sendo que para a mortalidade fetal e perinatal não houve significância estatística, apesar do mapa de distribuição espacial do coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal ter identificado um aglomerado de municípios com coeficientes mais elevados. Nas variáveis estudadas observamos contribuição maior da gestação na adolescência na mortalidade perinatal. Foram identificados cinco municípios com alta prioridade para intervenções. CONCLUSÃO: A análise espacial foi um instrumento útil para identificar os municípios onde há necessidade de intervenção em relação à mortalidade perinatal / OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze spatial standards of perinatal mortality and identify the priority cities for intervention in the Paraiba Valley, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological and exploratory study using a technique of geoprocessing with data of the Informatics Department of the Single Health System on perinatal mortality in the years of 2004 to 2008. Rates per 1000 births were obtained and, starting from the distribution of these rates, thematic maps were created. The global Moran index, which estimates the spatial autocorrelation was used, and the cities with high priority for intervention were identified according to the Moran scattering diagram, represented in box map. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to study the socioeconomic variable IPRS (Social Responsibility Index of Sao Paulo State) of the cities studied and the perinatal mortality coefficient. RESULTS: During the study period, 141.293 live births were included, with 2244 perinatal deaths, with average coefficient of 20,4 and median of 18,9. The global Moran index was 0,24 (p < 0,05) for early neonatal mortality, demonstrating a spatial autocorrelation among the cities for these coefficient, while fetal and perinatal mortality have no statistical significance, despite the spatial distribution map of perinatal mortality coefficient have identified a cluster of cities with higher coefficients. In the variables studied, we observed a greater contribution of the variable adolescent pregnant. Five cities deserving special attention for future interventions were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial analysis was a useful tool in identifying the cities in which an intervention is necessary regarding the perinatal mortality

The comprehensive cancer control approach is used by state, tribes, tribal organizations, territorial and Pacific Island Jurisdiction cancer coalitions to spur local implementation of cancer plans to reduce the burden of cancer in jurisdictions across the country. There is a rich diversity of models and approaches to the development of relationships and scope of planning for cancer control activities between coalitions and advocates in local communities. The national comprehensive cancer control philosophy provides an operational framework while support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention enables coalitions to act as catalysts to bring local partners together to combat cancer in communities. This manuscript describes multiple characteristics of cancer coalitions and how they are organized. Two models of how coalitions and local partners collaborate are described. A case study method was used to identify how five different state and tribal coalitions use the two models to organize their collaborations with local communities that result in local implementation of cancer plan priorities. Conclusions support the use of multiple organizing models to ensure involvement of diverse interests and sensitivity to local cancer issues that encourages implementation of cancer control activities.

Contexte : Un accès adéquat aux aliments sains dans les environnements résidentiels peut contribuer aux saines habitudes alimentaires. Un tel accès est d’autant plus important pour les personnes âgées, où les changements associés au vieillissement peuvent accentuer leur dépendance aux ressources disponibles dans le voisinage. Cependant, cette relation n’a pas encore été établie chez les aînés. Objectifs : La présente thèse vise à quantifier les associations entre l’environnement alimentaire local et les habitudes alimentaires de personnes âgées vivant à domicile en milieu urbain. La thèse s’est insérée dans un projet plus large qui a apparié les données provenant d’une cohorte d’aînés québécois vivant dans la région métropolitaine montréalaise avec des données provenant d’un système d’information géographique. Trois études répondent aux objectifs spécifiques suivants : (1) développer des indices relatifs de mixité alimentaire pour qualifier l’offre d’aliments sains dans les magasins d’alimentation et l’offre de restaurants situés dans les quartiers faisant partie du territoire à l’étude et en examiner la validité; (2) quantifier les associations entre la disponibilité relative de magasins d’alimentation et de restaurants près du domicile et les habitudes alimentaires des aînés; (3) examiner l’influence des connaissances subjectives en nutrition dans la relation entre l’environnement alimentaire près du domicile et les habitudes alimentaires chez les hommes et les femmes âgés. Méthodes : Le devis consiste en une analyse secondaire de données transversales provenant de trois sources : les données du cycle 1 pour 848 participants de l’Étude longitudinale québécoise « La nutrition comme déterminant d’un vieillissement réussi » (2003-2008), le Recensement de 2001 de Statistique Canada et un registre privé de commerces et services (2005), ces derniers regroupés dans un système d’information géographique nommé Mégaphone. Des analyses bivariées non paramétriques ont été appliquées pour répondre à l’objectif 1. Les associations entre l’exposition aux commerces alimentaires dans le voisinage et les habitudes alimentaires (objectif 2), ainsi que l’influence des connaissances subjectives en nutrition dans cette relation (objectif 3), ont été vérifiées au moyen d’analyses de régression linéaires. Résultats : Les analyses ont révélé trois résultats importants. Premièrement, l’utilisation d’indices relatifs pour caractériser l’offre alimentaire s’avère pertinente pour l’étude des habitudes alimentaires, plus particulièrement pour l’offre de restaurants-minute. Deuxièmement, l’omniprésence d’aspects défavorables dans l’environnement, caractérisé par une offre relativement plus élevée de restaurants-minute, semble nuire davantage aux saines habitudes alimentaires que la présence d’opportunités d’achats d’aliments sains dans les magasins d’alimentation. Troisièmement, un environnement alimentaire plus favorable aux saines habitudes pourrait réduire les écarts quant à la qualité de l’alimentation chez les femmes ayant de plus faibles connaissances subjectives en nutrition par rapport aux femmes mieux informées. Conclusion : Ces résultats mettent en relief la complexité des liens entre l’environnement local et l’alimentation. Dans l’éventualité où ces résultats seraient reproduits dans des recherches futures, des stratégies populationnelles visant à résoudre un déséquilibre entre l’accès aux sources d’aliments sains par rapport aux aliments peu nutritifs semblent prometteuses. / Context: Adequate access to healthful foods in residential environments may contribute to healthful dietary practices. Such access is important for older adults where changes associated with aging may accentuate their dependence on resources available in their residential neighborhood. However, this relationship has not been established for seniors. Objectives: This thesis aims to quantify associations between the local food environment and dietary patterns of independent urban-dwelling older adults. The thesis is part of a larger project involving the linkage of data from a cohort of Québec seniors living in the Montréal metropolitan area and data from a geographic information system. Three studies addressed the following specific objectives: (1) to develop relative indices of local-area food sources outlets to qualify stores potentially selling healthful foods and supply of restaurants in neighborhoods that were part of the study area, (2) to quantify associations between the relative availability of food stores and restaurants in residential area and dietary patterns of members of the cohort, (3) to examine the influence of subjective nutrition knowledge in the relationship between the residential food environment and dietary patterns among older men and women. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from three different sources was performed: (1) person-level data on 848 participants from cycle 1 of the Québec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging , (2) 2001 Census data from Statistics Canada and (3) data from private businesses and services registry (2005), these two gathered in a geographic information system called Megaphone. Nonparametric bivariate analyses were applied to address objective 1. Associations between exposure to residential-area food sources and dietary patterns (objective 2), as well as moderating effect of nutrition knowledge (objective 3), were tested using linear regression analyses. Results: Analyses revealed three important results. First, the use of relative indices to characterize availability of local-area food sources is relevant to the study of dietary patterns, particularly regarding the supply of fast food restaurants. Second, the ubiquity of unfavorable aspects in the food environment, characterized by relatively higher fast food restaurants offer seem more detrimental to healthful eating habits that the presence of opportunities to buy healthful foods in food stores. Third, a residential food environment more favorable to healthful dietary patterns could reduce disparities in diet quality between women with low nutrition knowledge compared to women more knowledgeable. Conclusion: These results highlight the complex links between local environment and diet. If findings can be replicated in future research, population-based strategies to address an imbalance between accessibility to healthful food sources relative to unhealthful food sources, would be promising.

Contexte : Un accès adéquat aux aliments sains dans les environnements résidentiels peut contribuer aux saines habitudes alimentaires. Un tel accès est d’autant plus important pour les personnes âgées, où les changements associés au vieillissement peuvent accentuer leur dépendance aux ressources disponibles dans le voisinage. Cependant, cette relation n’a pas encore été établie chez les aînés. Objectifs : La présente thèse vise à quantifier les associations entre l’environnement alimentaire local et les habitudes alimentaires de personnes âgées vivant à domicile en milieu urbain. La thèse s’est insérée dans un projet plus large qui a apparié les données provenant d’une cohorte d’aînés québécois vivant dans la région métropolitaine montréalaise avec des données provenant d’un système d’information géographique. Trois études répondent aux objectifs spécifiques suivants : (1) développer des indices relatifs de mixité alimentaire pour qualifier l’offre d’aliments sains dans les magasins d’alimentation et l’offre de restaurants situés dans les quartiers faisant partie du territoire à l’étude et en examiner la validité; (2) quantifier les associations entre la disponibilité relative de magasins d’alimentation et de restaurants près du domicile et les habitudes alimentaires des aînés; (3) examiner l’influence des connaissances subjectives en nutrition dans la relation entre l’environnement alimentaire près du domicile et les habitudes alimentaires chez les hommes et les femmes âgés. Méthodes : Le devis consiste en une analyse secondaire de données transversales provenant de trois sources : les données du cycle 1 pour 848 participants de l’Étude longitudinale québécoise « La nutrition comme déterminant d’un vieillissement réussi » (2003-2008), le Recensement de 2001 de Statistique Canada et un registre privé de commerces et services (2005), ces derniers regroupés dans un système d’information géographique nommé Mégaphone. Des analyses bivariées non paramétriques ont été appliquées pour répondre à l’objectif 1. Les associations entre l’exposition aux commerces alimentaires dans le voisinage et les habitudes alimentaires (objectif 2), ainsi que l’influence des connaissances subjectives en nutrition dans cette relation (objectif 3), ont été vérifiées au moyen d’analyses de régression linéaires. Résultats : Les analyses ont révélé trois résultats importants. Premièrement, l’utilisation d’indices relatifs pour caractériser l’offre alimentaire s’avère pertinente pour l’étude des habitudes alimentaires, plus particulièrement pour l’offre de restaurants-minute. Deuxièmement, l’omniprésence d’aspects défavorables dans l’environnement, caractérisé par une offre relativement plus élevée de restaurants-minute, semble nuire davantage aux saines habitudes alimentaires que la présence d’opportunités d’achats d’aliments sains dans les magasins d’alimentation. Troisièmement, un environnement alimentaire plus favorable aux saines habitudes pourrait réduire les écarts quant à la qualité de l’alimentation chez les femmes ayant de plus faibles connaissances subjectives en nutrition par rapport aux femmes mieux informées. Conclusion : Ces résultats mettent en relief la complexité des liens entre l’environnement local et l’alimentation. Dans l’éventualité où ces résultats seraient reproduits dans des recherches futures, des stratégies populationnelles visant à résoudre un déséquilibre entre l’accès aux sources d’aliments sains par rapport aux aliments peu nutritifs semblent prometteuses. / Context: Adequate access to healthful foods in residential environments may contribute to healthful dietary practices. Such access is important for older adults where changes associated with aging may accentuate their dependence on resources available in their residential neighborhood. However, this relationship has not been established for seniors. Objectives: This thesis aims to quantify associations between the local food environment and dietary patterns of independent urban-dwelling older adults. The thesis is part of a larger project involving the linkage of data from a cohort of Québec seniors living in the Montréal metropolitan area and data from a geographic information system. Three studies addressed the following specific objectives: (1) to develop relative indices of local-area food sources outlets to qualify stores potentially selling healthful foods and supply of restaurants in neighborhoods that were part of the study area, (2) to quantify associations between the relative availability of food stores and restaurants in residential area and dietary patterns of members of the cohort, (3) to examine the influence of subjective nutrition knowledge in the relationship between the residential food environment and dietary patterns among older men and women. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from three different sources was performed: (1) person-level data on 848 participants from cycle 1 of the Québec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging , (2) 2001 Census data from Statistics Canada and (3) data from private businesses and services registry (2005), these two gathered in a geographic information system called Megaphone. Nonparametric bivariate analyses were applied to address objective 1. Associations between exposure to residential-area food sources and dietary patterns (objective 2), as well as moderating effect of nutrition knowledge (objective 3), were tested using linear regression analyses. Results: Analyses revealed three important results. First, the use of relative indices to characterize availability of local-area food sources is relevant to the study of dietary patterns, particularly regarding the supply of fast food restaurants. Second, the ubiquity of unfavorable aspects in the food environment, characterized by relatively higher fast food restaurants offer seem more detrimental to healthful eating habits that the presence of opportunities to buy healthful foods in food stores. Third, a residential food environment more favorable to healthful dietary patterns could reduce disparities in diet quality between women with low nutrition knowledge compared to women more knowledgeable. Conclusion: These results highlight the complex links between local environment and diet. If findings can be replicated in future research, population-based strategies to address an imbalance between accessibility to healthful food sources relative to unhealthful food sources, would be promising.