|
 The
Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Program announces the
development of a DVD to educate our Aboriginal population
regarding cerebrovascular disease, including stroke and blood
pressure management. Funding for the project was received
from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
"Next to cardiac and cancer mortality, stroke is the
third leading cause of death in Northwestern Ontario”
explains Dr. David Howse, TBRHSC Neurologist.
Conventional education programs have proven ineffective and,
at times, inappropriate for this population, so awareness
of risk factors for stroke within Aboriginal communities in
Northwestern Ontario is limited. It was decided that improved
educational resources for healthcare providers would positively
impact the health status of Aboriginal people. “The
DVD is great”, says Brenda Mason. Brenda is a Social
Worker at the LPH and provides aboriginal services to Adult
Mental Health patients at TBRHSC. “I like the fact that
it is in Aboriginal languages and I believe this DVD will
be helpful in educating our Aboriginal people about stroke
and the possible consequences of high blood pressure.”
With the Aboriginal percentage of the population substantially
greater in Northwestern Ontario (13.9%) than in the Province
(1.7%), there is a growing incidence of risk factors for cerebrovascular
disease. High blood pressure is 2.8 times more prevalent in
Aboriginal men and 2.5 times more prevalent in Aboriginal
women than non-Aboriginal Canadians. Correspondingly, Aboriginal
people in Canada have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia,
diabetes, obesity and tobacco use.
Using three presentations - Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, and English
- we follow Brenda’s brief journey through a treatment
centre to understand how stroke and blood pressure are affected
by smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol, and medication.
The educational DVD materials also be available on the KNet
Meeting Place website.
In collaboration with thirteen representatives of the Nishnawbe-Aski,
Grand Council Treaty #3, Union of Ontario Indians and Independent
First Nation, and six healthcare professionals familiar with
the Aboriginal population, the project was undertaken. Common
themes were identified: use of Elders; Medicine Wheel colours
(white, yellow, red, and black); mother earth; story-telling;
community environment; use of drums; use of water; visual
aids; holistic; humour; and non-intrusive production values.
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