Research Profiles - A Rural Way to Health

Image Research Profiles - A Rural way to Health.

Canada is known for its breathtaking natural landscapes. In fact, most of our country – about 95% – is considered rural or remote territory, whether it's in the frozen Arctic, the golden prairies, or the salt-sprayed east. And approximately 30% of Canada's population calls these open spaces home.1 Some of these rural residents are seniors with long-standing ties to their small communities. Some are members of Canada's First Nations. Some are farmers working long hours on the land. All of our rural citizens face unique health challenges.

One of the biggest challenges they face is the lack of timely access to health-care services. Canadians who live outside of urban centres often have to travel large distances to get the care they need. For rural Canadians who are struggling to pay the bills or who have limited access to transportation, making routine trips to the nearest city can be very difficult.

This access barrier, and other factors such as lifestyle differences, has led to an urban/rural health disparity. Canadians who live in rural areas tend to have higher rates of injury and premature death than their urban counterparts. They also suffer from higher rates of cardiovascular disease and respiratory illnesses.2

But many rural Canadians have a strong connection to their communities. Their extended social network can create a sense of belonging, which may translate into health benefits. And through creative solutions, such as telehealth programs, researchers are working to extend health-care services to all Canadians who need them, when they need them.

These CIHR-funded research projects are exploring potential solutions for rural health:

  • When Home is a Dangerous Workplace – Dr. William Pickett of Queen's University, Dr. James Dosman of the University of Saskatchewan and Dr. Barbara Haas of the University of Toronto examine the prevention and treatment of injuries in rural Canada.
  • The Little Town That Could – The University of Lethbridge's Dr. Judith Kulig explores the importance of resiliency to the health of small communities.
  • Dealing With Dementia in Rural Communities: The Rural and Remote Memory Clinic – Dr. Debra Morgan of the University of Saskatchewan is examining whether an interdisciplinary clinic coupled with a telehealth program can improve dementia treatment for rural patients.
  • When You Can't Come to the Counsellor: Mental Health Treatment Comes to Rural Residents – Dr. Patrick McGrath of Dalhousie University and Lindsay Friesen of the University of Regina bring mental health treatment to youth in rural and remote areas through phone- and web-based therapy sessions.

Dr. Robyn Tamblyn
Scientific Director
CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research

  1. Health Canada, Just for You: Rural Canadians (accessed June 15, 2011).
  2. Canadian Institute for Health Information, How Healthy are Rural Canadians? An Assessment of their Health Status and Health Determinants (Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2006).