{"title":"Exploring Indigenous food sovereignty and food environments characteristics through food interventions in Canada: a scoping review.","authors":"Fabrice Mobetty, Malek Batal, Valérie Levacher, Ines Sebai, Geneviève Mercille","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438428","DOIUrl":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438428","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Indigenous food sovereignty (IFS) has the potential to reconnect Indigenous peoples in Canada to their food systems, reduce health problems and improve food security. Using PRISMA-ScR guidelines to search Medline, Web of Science, Embase and Cabi databases, this review sought to explore the characteristics of IFS promotion and the food environments involved through food and nutrition interventions in Indigenous communities in Canada. Data from 30 relevant studies published between 2004 and 2022 were included, analysed and synthesised using a thematic approach based on key IFS principles and a food environment typology. Most studies were conducted in urban contexts, mainly in provinces with the largest Indigenous populations. Local descriptions of IFS showed conceptual and operational similarities. Among the four key principles of IFS, the principle of participation was the most reported. Gardening, farming, hunting, fishing and gathering were the main food activities used to operationalise IFS in traditional and cultivated food environments. Several IFS facilitators and barriers were identified. The IFS movement that emerged from the literature in Canada advocates for a healthy and sustainable food system based on traditional beliefs and controlled by communities to ensure wellbeing and food security. This review provides evidence of converging visions for food autonomy despite the heterogeneity of Indigenous nations in Canada.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2438428"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11639103/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142817933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bridging the distance: understanding access to healthcare through stories from Gwich'in medical travellers in Northwest Territories.","authors":"Crystal Milligan, Sharla Greenland, Lorna Storr, Agnes Pascal, Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox, Mark J Dobrow","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2024.2438430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In northern Canada, medical travel - the movement of patients to a larger centre to access healthcare services outside their home community - is a dominant feature of the healthcare system. This qualitative study explored the medical travel experiences of Gwich'in living above the Arctic Circle in the Gwich'in Settlement Area in Northwest Territories (NT). Data collection in 2020 comprised storytelling sessions with 10 Gwich'in medical travellers (6 female, 4 male). Using inductive and deductive methods with continual critical reflexivity, and guided by Gwich'in values, concerns about access to healthcare were found to be at the heart of each story. A broad conceptualisation of access was applied to understand and interpret the results according to six dimensions: accessibility, availability, affordability, adequacy, acceptability, and awareness. Situated within a context of colonialism, structural inequities and other factors relevant across the Circumpolar North, the results suggest that the NT medical travel policy framework provides only partial access to care. This article illustrates a need for healthcare and other government systems to think about policy and programmes in a more wholistic, equitable and relationship-centred way, which would help not only to bridge distances across geography, but also between peoples.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2438430"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142827704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating sensory assessments in preventive home visits: a cross-sectional study of the Faroe Islands.","authors":"Haanes Gro Gade, Tor Martin Kvikstad, Ása Roin","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2442153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2024.2442153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Sensory impairments, including hearing and vision loss, are common in older adults and can affect quality of life. This study examines the integration of hearing and vision assessments in preventive home visits (PHVs) for older adults in the Faroe Islands, comparing outcomes between urban and rural settings.<b>Aim:</b> To evaluate the feasibility of including sensory assessments in PHVs and compare sensory measurements between Tórshavn (urban) and rural districts.<b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study with 175 participants aged 76 was conducted in Tórshavn and five rural areas. Data included demographics, self-assessments, and clinical evaluations using standardized tools.<b>Results:</b> Visual impairments were slightly more prevalent in rural areas, while hearing impairments showed no significant differences. Discrepancies between self-reported and measured impairments emphasized the importance of objective assessments. Sensory acreenings during PHVs improved early detection and highlighted inequities in access to specialized services.<b>Conclusion:</b> Integrating sensory assessments in PHVs is feasible and beneficial, adressing disparities between urban and rural areas. These screenings support equitable healthcare and early intervention, promoting better quality of life for older adults across diverse settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2442153"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142854109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Healthcare delivery in the arctic-telehealth prospects.","authors":"Yonatan Hayoun, Israel Gannot","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438429","DOIUrl":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438429","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Arctic region, characterised by its remote and geographically challenging environment, is home to predominantly Indigenous populations who experience significant healthcare disparities compared to urban counterparts. This paper synthesises evidence on the persistent challenges in delivering healthcare in the Arctic, including geographical remoteness, healthcare personnel shortages, and cultural and language barriers. Telehealth emerges as a crucial solution, offering a nuanced approach to overcoming physical and systemic barriers. We review current implementations of telehealth in the Arctic, highlighting successful adaptations to local cultural contexts and technological limitations. By integrating a patient-centred approach, infrastructure readiness, and relevant telehealth services, a holistic healthcare delivery model tailored for the Arctic environment is proposed. New type of technologies is also proposed to enhance remote care possibilities. This paper underscores the need for collaborative efforts in research, policy making, and healthcare provision to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of health services in the Arctic, aiming to close the gap in health equity. Key references from seminal works and recent studies provide a foundation for the discussions and recommendations presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2438429"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142846569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Collective wellbeing sacrifices versus superior ego - perspectives on adherence to COVID-19 recommendations in Stockholm, Sweden.","authors":"Dan Sigvardsson, Marlene Makenzius","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2024.2438431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden adopted a recommendation-based approach rather than strict lockdowns. This approach relies on public willingness to adhere to guidelines and motivations for prosocial behaviour. This study aimed to explore the motivations behind adherence or non-adherence to COVID-19 recommendations in Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2022 with 20 participants aged 26 to 63, all residing and working in Stockholm. The interviews were conducted via online platforms, Teams and Zoom, transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The analysis yielded two overarching themes that motivated adherence or non-adherence, <i>Sacrificing comfort for collective wellbeing</i> and <i>A sense of being superior and able to handle national recommendations in your own way</i> derived from six categories: (i) Social pressure and the desire to appear prosocial, (ii) Embracing a new reality as a means to return to normalcy, (iii) The absence of punitive measures for non-adherence, (iv) Creating safe environments and circumventing the system, (v) Negotiating which recommendations to follow and (vi) Diminished adherence over time. Adherence to public health recommendations was driven by social pressure and a desire to protect loved ones, often requiring personal sacrifices and behavioural adjustments. Conversely, non-adherence stemmed from a sense of autonomy, mental well-being preservation and tiredness, highlighting the challenges of sustaining compliance over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2438431"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142846568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mylene Ratelle, Breanna Phillipps, Kelly Skinner, Yvonne Lamers, Larisse Melo, Brian Laird, Leon Andrew, Jessie Yakeleya, Alyssa Bougie, Kirsten Jensen, Deborah Simmons
{"title":"Nutrition biomarker assessment and exploration of the role of country foods to improve food security in the Sahtú Region, Canada.","authors":"Mylene Ratelle, Breanna Phillipps, Kelly Skinner, Yvonne Lamers, Larisse Melo, Brian Laird, Leon Andrew, Jessie Yakeleya, Alyssa Bougie, Kirsten Jensen, Deborah Simmons","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2438434","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2024.2438434","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Country foods (i.e. wild traditional food) are associated with improved nutrition for northern populations. In response to community concerns, a project was implemented from 2019 to 2021 in the Sahtú region, Northwest Territories, Canada, to: 1) analyse nutrition biomarkers (vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D, E, folate, P, Na) in blood samples, in order to assess nutritional status and identify nutrient deficiencies, and 2) use a survey to document how access to country foods may improve food security in the community of Tulı́t'a. Findings from the nutritional biomarker assessments (n = 128) indicated that 94% of participants experienced clinical vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/L of plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3) and 9% had folate deficiency (<8.7 nmol/L total folate). In the previous 12 months, 71% of participants did not always have money to get more food when needed, but 92% of participants said they were not left hungry. Country foods were used to increase the quality or quantity of the diet. Increasing country food consumption, such as fatty fish and large game meat and organs could mitigate the vitamin D and folate deficiencies. Policies should be implemented to improve food security in the North by facilitating access to country food.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2438434"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142864174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Greg Toffner, David Alain Koff, Alexander Drossos, Uranchimeg Tsegmed, Margaret Andrea Baumann
{"title":"A community-based task shifting program in 25 remote indigenous communities in Nunavut, Canada.","authors":"Greg Toffner, David Alain Koff, Alexander Drossos, Uranchimeg Tsegmed, Margaret Andrea Baumann","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2439119","DOIUrl":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2439119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Task shifting can improve access, availability, efficiency, and quality of health services in under resourced settings. Task shifting can occur formally or informally within health professions, between health professions, between support staff and health professions, or between lay community members and health professionals. There are currently thousands of Indigenous peoples in Canada's high Arctic, living in remote communities, north of the 60<sup>th</sup> parallel with limited access to basic medical services. In Nunavut, 25 remote fly-in communities exist in some of the most sparsely populated and harshest conditions on earth. Diminished access to or absence of basic health services such as diagnostic imaging and staff resources in remote communities can have a detrimental effect on patient care, and health outcomes. The existence of a community based diagnostic x-ray training program using a task shifting model addresses a gap in quality and access to services and subsequent treatment for community residents in this region.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"2439119"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11639059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142817931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ida Margrethe Nielsen, Lisbeth Uhrskov Sørensen, Søren Wichmand, Parnûna Heilmann, Michael Lynge Pedersen
{"title":"Substance use and lifestyle risk factors for somatic disorders among psychiatric patients in Greenland.","authors":"Ida Margrethe Nielsen, Lisbeth Uhrskov Sørensen, Søren Wichmand, Parnûna Heilmann, Michael Lynge Pedersen","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2421049","DOIUrl":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2421049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patients with psychotic disorders exhibit elevated mortality and morbidity rates compared to the general population primarily due to comorbid somatic diseases. This study aims to describe the prevalence of selected risk factors and somatic disorders among psychiatric patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder. Material and methods: Data were retrieved from Greenland's nationwide electronic medical record. The study population consists of 104 patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, encompassing schizophrenia or schizotypal and delusional disorders, residing in Nuuk. The study population comprised 104 patients (68 males and 36 females) with a mean age of 40 years. More than 80% were daily smokers, and 68% had harmful use of cannabis. More than half had dyslipidemia (any imbalance in lipids), while over a quarter were classified as obese with body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher. Eighteen percent had hypertension, and six percent suffered from diabetes. This study revealed a notable prevalence of risk factors for somatic diseases, particularly smoking and cannabis use among patients with schizophrenia in Nuuk, indicating that a high prevalence of somatic diseases might be expected as the population gets older and the risk of developing somatic diseases becomes greater. Increased focus on monitoring and preventing those as part of the health care is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"83 1","pages":"2421049"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11514394/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marie Tolver Nielsen, Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen, Stig Andersen, Sam Riahi, Uka Wilhjelm Geisler, Michael Lynge Pedersen, Nadja Albertsen
{"title":"Quality of care among patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in Greenland.","authors":"Marie Tolver Nielsen, Maja Hykkelbjerg Nielsen, Stig Andersen, Sam Riahi, Uka Wilhjelm Geisler, Michael Lynge Pedersen, Nadja Albertsen","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2311965","DOIUrl":"10.1080/22423982.2024.2311965","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This cross-sectional study sought to assess the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis in Greenland among various age groups and examine the corresponding quality of care. We collected data from Greenland's electronic medical records and evaluated the quality of care using six internationally recommended indicators, which are: percentage of AF patients with an assessment of smoking status within the previous year, an assessment of body mass index within the previous year, assessment of blood pressure within the previous year, measurement of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), treatment with an anticoagulant and percentage of patients with a measurement of serum-creatinine. We found the prevalence of AF among patients aged 20 years or older in Greenland to be 1.75% (95% CI 1.62-1.88). We found an increasing prevalence of AF with age and a greater proportion of men than women until the age of 74 years. Our study suggests that the associated quality of care could be higher as the requirement of only one of the six quality indicators was met. A lack of registration may partly explain this, and initiatives to improve the quality of care are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"83 1","pages":"2311965"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139706700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community directed assessment of pain in a northern Saskatchewan Cree community.","authors":"Tayah Zhang, Elder Rose Dorian, Sally Sewap, Rachel Johnson, Heather Foulds, Brenna Bath, Stacey Lovo","doi":"10.1080/22423982.2023.2300858","DOIUrl":"10.1080/22423982.2023.2300858","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Indigenous Elder advisors in Pelican Narrows, a Cree community in Northern Saskatchewan, have indicated that Western pain scales may not be responsive tools for pain assessments within their community. This study employed a mixed methods research design that involved two phases. Phase one was the development of a pain scale in collaboration with an Elder and a Knowledge Keeper. Phase two was a pilot of the CDPS utilised during virtual physiotherapy sessions for chronic back pain. Twenty-seven participants completed the pre-physiotherapy treatment questionnaires, and 10 participants engaged in semi-structured interviews (9 community members; 1 healthcare provider). A weighted kappa analysis yielded k = 0.696, indicating a good agreement between the CDPS and Faces Pain Scale-Revised in terms of documenting participants' pain. Qualitative data from interviews with community members revealed three major themes: 1) Learnings Regarding Pain Scales, 2) Patient Centered Care; and 3) Strength-Based Solutions for Improving Pain Communication. Two themes were uncovered through conversations with the HCP: 1) Perspectives on CDPS and 2) Healthcare Provider Experiences Communicating about Pain. Moreover, a patient-centredcentred approach is important to ensure comprehensive pain assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":13930,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Circumpolar Health","volume":"83 1","pages":"2300858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10773658/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139110881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}