Data is a key component in creating an evidence base about Canadian Veterans and military personnel. Such evidence can be used to inform programs and products that support this population’s health and well-being.  

What is this Research About?

The objective of this work is to encourage and support the use of evidence and research about the health and well-being of Canadian Veterans and/or military personnel. The researchers created an unofficial inventory of public survey data sources that touch on these topics to serve as a resource for researchers, policy makers, and service providers.  

What did the Researcher Do?

The researchers developed a list of targeted search terms and, between May and August 2023, they searched relevant websites to identify data sources that relate to the health and well-being of Veterans and/or military personnel in Canada. Once the sources were identified, the researchers summarized the information and created an inventory of these existing survey data sources.

What did the Researchers Find?

30 surveys included data on Canadian Veterans and/or military personnel. Of these:

• 5 focused on Veterans;
• 7 focused on military personnel;
• 1 focused on both Veterans and military personnel; and  
• 17 focused on the Canadian general population and also included a Veteran and/or military personnel identifier question.

Most of the survey data sources are administered and maintained by Statistics Canada; 19 are currently active.

The Veteran and/or military personnel identifier questions varies across the surveys which creates some challenges for users (e.g. if wishing to compare data across surveys).

The depth and scope of Veteran and/or military data could be broadened by:

• establishing ways to link Veteran and/or military data with existing national administrative data sources;
• developing a detailed standard question to identify Veterans and military personnel in future surveys;
• adding identifier questions to more general population surveys; and
• enhancing collaborations with key partners

Source

Jakobsen W, Carvalho L, Hall A, An inventory of survey data sources describing the health and well-being of Canadian Veterans and military personnel. Charlottetown PE: Veterans Affairs Canada. Research Directorate Technical Report, April 2024. https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.934874/publication.html