The Canadian team will work with Indigenous primary care services to develop and implement a program with patients and families that will increase knowledge of medications, increase confidence and ability to self-manage CVD, and increase empowerment in interactions with health workers. The program will also increase health workers knowledge of health literacy and their skills for working with people with high health literacy needs. Five health provider sites in Australia, Canada, and NZ will participate with 100 patients and families at each site.

Last year, Dr. Smylie's team's work was published in Indigenous Children's Health Report: Health Assessment in Action. The study was one of the first international reports of its kind; providing insight into common issues affecting Indigenous children's health around the world.

The research grant proposal was selected by a panel representing health authorities in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In 2002, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia entered into a partnership to support research in the area of Indigenous peoples' health.

Source: St. Michael's Hospital