Analysis of 2021 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs)

Funding opportunity

Researchers are invited to apply for a new grant funding opportunity sponsored by Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) Women and Diversity Health program (WDH) to conduct a feasibility study of the 2021 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs) data for multivariable analysis with respect to diversity, ethnicity and health data for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Anticipated timeline and budget

Background

Women and diverse populations have been historically under-researched in medicine, and this has limited our knowledge of their unique health needs, including health risks, prevention, and treatment options. For these reasons, CFHS established the WDH program. The program aims to optimize prevention and care for women and members with diversity factors, using an intersectional lens, to improve their physical, mental, and psychosocial wellbeing. This is aligned with governmental priorities and current shifts in research.

Since its inception in 2022, the WDH program has focused on establishing relationships with stakeholders and partners to identify collaborative opportunities and minimize duplication of effort, as well as to begin to identify opportunities for high priority research.

Until recently, in Canada, the ability to assess the impact of military service on health for members with diverse identity factors has been limited by a lack of large datasets which capture all the necessary data elements. This has limited the capacity of researchers and policymakers to understand the impact of military service on health outcomes for members with diverse identity factors, such as ethnicity and Indigenous identity, among others. In 2021, for the first time in over 50 years, Statistics Canada added a military service indicator variable to the Canadian census, which allows for the identification of those serving in the Canadian military to self-identify. Adding to what is collected in the census, Statistics Canada has created the CanCHECs, a population-based linked dataset, which combines census long-form data with administrative health data such as mortality, cancer and hospitalization, among others.

Research objectives

The aim of this funding opportunity is to:

1. determine the feasibility of using the CanCHECs data for multivariable analyses assessing diversity factors (e.g., ethnicity, Indigenous identity, and other variables of interest) in the CAF, and
2. carry out a multivariable analysis using the CanCHECs data to assess the association between selected measures of diversity, military service, and health in the CAF.

Research teams should use appropriate multivariable analytic methods when developing their proposals and also consider how they will address feasibility and utility of the dataset.

Desired outputs

• A research study in the format of a report, including an Executive Summary, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Data analysis, Results, Discussion and References, and the other specifications as described above. The research team is encouraged to publish their findings in one or more peer-reviewed publications. Applicants are encouraged to include anticipated costs for both publication and data access through Statistics Canada in their proposed budget.
• The report should address the following objectives:
  • Using an appropriate multivariable analysis technique, assess an association between history of CAF service, at least one diversity factor (e.g., ethnicity, Indigenous identity, another variable of interest), and health (e.g., hospitalization, cancer, mortality, etc).
  • Address issues of feasibility that are encountered, including the utility of the dataset for these analyses. Issues to address may include:
    • Limitations of the military indicator variable.
    • Available sample size for a multivariable analysis and needed stratifications.
    • Data access and data release through Statistics Canada.
  • Make recommendations regarding utility and feasibility of future analyses using CanCHECs data in the report.
• Include a knowledge translation or knowledge transfer component.
• SAGER guidelines followed, with a detailed description of GBA+ considerations.
• Virtual presentation of findings to project sponsor (may take place after the project end date).
• Quarterly progress reports provided to the WDH.

Applicant qualifications and requirements

• Principal investigator (PI) must have a PhD or MD in a relevant field, and experience carrying out multivariable analyses with large datasets.
• All appropriate academic research guidelines are expected to be followed, including a research ethics board approval from an accredited academic institution in Canada prior to funding being issued if applicable to the method(s) selected.
• Additional internal DND/CFHS approval will be required for research involving CAF members. A CFHS point of contact will be provided to facilitate this process once the research proposals are selected.
• All reports, publications, and presentations from this funding should acknowledge that the research was carried out in response to a Funding Opportunity developed and funded by the CFHS WDH.

Application deadline

As stated above. Please download and submit the Research Funding Application form.

Applicants are advised to include eight weeks of administrative lead-time in their timelines. This will allow for ethics board submission and approval (if required), and the drafting and signing of the funding agreement.

Enquiries

Questions about this funding opportunity can be sent to the VAC Research office.