December 2004

Seasons Greetings

ACTION ITEMS

Celebrex:  On-going trials with COX2 inhibitors

Data from one of two cancer studies indicates an increased risk of cardiovascular problems in patients taking Celebrex - the second study shows no increase. view PDF (15.70KB) | comments

It’s no laughing matter

Being stuck on a low rise toilet in a public washroom is seen by many as hysterically funny. But when it happens at the new international airport terminal in Ottawa, it's no laughing matter. view PDF (11.56KB) | comments

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

CAPA expanding into new areas

From its modest beginnings three years ago, CAPA has taken root and is expanding into new areas of arthritis advocacy. New faces have joined the Steering Committee, Juvenile Inflammatory Arthritis has moved to the forefront of arthritis concerns and home care has been added to the CAPA plate. view PDF (11.86KB) | comments

COMMENT AND PERSPECTIVE

Agreement signed between CAPA and The Arthritis Society

Memo of Understanding outlines the respective rights and obligations of CAPA and TAS and defines the nature of their relationship and the expectations of each. view PDF (11.17KB) | comments

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis:  The Facts

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is among the most common chronic diseases in children. It is es timated that one in 1000 Canadian children below the age of 16 live with JIA, making it one of the most common chronic disorders of childhood. Read the facts. view PDF (18.29KB) | comments

Home Care in Canada:  Part 1

In their 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care , the First Ministers agreed that: Home care is an essential part of modern, integrated and patient-centred health care. A regional sketch of the home care services available throughout Canada begins today. view PDF (18.10KB) | comments

“Canada cannot be the drugstore for the United States”

Progress is being made in leaps and bounds on the issue of Cross Border Internet Pharmacy. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon including Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh. view PDF (12.49KB) | comments

National Pharmacare: Where are we now?

A ministerial task force mandated by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the Future of Health Care meeting held in September is charged with developing a national pharmaceutical strategy by June 30, 2006. Where are we now? view PDF (18.93KB) | comments

Cochrane:  The value of consumer participation

Hundreds of researchers, health care providers and consumers gathered to discuss how to “Bridge the Gaps” in summarizing research results and disseminating this information to health care providers and patients at the Cochrane Colloquium held in Ottawa this October. view PDF (19.22KB) | comments

Inside the briefcase: Take a look

• IAPO affirms importance of patient inclusion in decision making process

  The International Alliance of Patients' Organizations is the only global alliance representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centred healthcare worldwide. Their vision is that patients throughout the world be at the centre of healthcare. Their members are patients’ organizations working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers.
  
  On November 18th, at the Priority Medicines Conference in The Hague, the IAPO presented recommendations to the Dutch Government, in its Presidency of the European Union “ to act upon its commitment to involve patients in research prioritization and to install concrete mechanisms for comprehensive patient involvement.” Editor view PDF (13.51KB) | comments

• Disability Tax Credit: Tax fairness closer for people with disabilities
  Tax fairness for people with disabilities in Canada is closer thanks to a comprehensive report released by the government of Canada on December 15. The Coalition for Disability Tax Credit Reform is asking the government to act quickly on implementing the twenty-five recommendations in the report by the Technical Advisory Committee. The recommendations include:
  
  Not included in the report is an investment in programs and services.
  
  The Coalition for Disability Tax Credit Reform has been the driving force calling for changes in the eligibility requirements of the DTC to ensure [tax fairness] for Canadians with mental and physical disabilities. Editor

• Getting research knowledge where it belongs - with the user.
  In order to make use of knowledge gained from research, it must be transmitted in a timely fashion and in a clear and usable format to those who can make the best use of it. The Knowledge Exchange Task Force (KETF) is an innovative pilot project of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA), designed to accelerate the translation and exchange of new research knowledge among clinicians and consumers for the benefit of both. The project is chaired by Flora Dell, the Consumer Representative on the Advisory Board of IMHA. Mary Brachaniec and Otto Kamensek, both CAPA members, have been appointed to the task force and participated in the inaugural meeting held in November. Otto is also Co-Chair of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada (BC) . Anne Dooley

• Arthritis takes centre stage
  The English version of the latest issue of the Bone and Joint Decade (BJD) newsletter, focusing on arthritis, is available on its http://www.bjdcanada.org. The French version will be posted in a couple of weeks.
  
  Content includes articles about attitudes on living with RA; the importance of physicaltherapy; information of the Getting a Grip program; a patient’s perspective on the Bone and Joint Decade by CAPA Steering Committee member, Mary Kim; an update on the Consumer Advisory Council of the Canadian Arthritis Network by CAPA V.P. Jean Légaré; and by Anne Dooley, CAPA Research Chair, the importance of patient involvement in helping set the arthritis research agenda.
  
  Submissions are welcome for the next newsletter that will focus on Trauma and the one following on Paediatrics.
  
  The Bone and Joint Decade attempts to understand and address musculoskeletal diseases and disorders in view to the burden they place on society and the economy. It was launched by the World Health Organization in January 2000. Editor

• Cochrane Collaboration: A guide for newcomers
  A guide for newcomers to The Cochrane Collaboration was distributed in draft form at the introductory session during the Ottawa Colloquium. It is now available on the Collaboration website at http://www.cochrane.org/docs/newcomersguide.htm
  
  The Guide is designed to provide a 'snapshot' view of the Collaboration, with links to much more detailed information for those who want it. Newcomers are encouraged to visit the site, review the material and send comments as to its usefulness to Jini. Jini Hetherington, Cochrane Collaboration Secretariat

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

Vioxx and you:  Do you have a story to tell?

Since Merck and Co. Inc. pulled Vioxx off the shelves, CAPA Steering Committee members have been asked countless times how this decision affects their lives. The majority of us do not have personal experiences to relate. Do you? view PDF (21.78KB) | comments