The Centre for Rural Health Research at UBC and the BC rural health network are launching a research project, The goal of which is to address the gap between health care in urban and rural BC.
“This study looks to address this gap by investigating the role of rural communities in health policymaking, identifying current disconnects, and developing strategies for more effective engagement,” said the Centre for Rural Health Research in a press release.
“A blend of interviews with policymakers and rural leaders, alongside a province-wide survey, will shed light on the status of rural community involvement in health planning. The findings are expected to help craft a more inclusive, representative healthcare planning process in BC, promote better health outcomes for rural communities, and contribute to the creation of an online platform for public input on healthcare policies.”
Survey participants will be eligible for a draw to win one of three $100 gift cards.
“Understanding current community experience with engagement in health planning is the first step to closing the gap,” says the principal co-investigator, Dr. Jude Kornelsen.
“This is a process that is of growing concern to many rural communities as residents feel their solutions to health care challenges are not being taken into planning consideration,” added Paul Adams, Executive Director, of BC Rural Health Network.
The research project is funded through a grant from the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) of BC.
The survey can be found at https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bgvgdrMI6MjNqfk
To learn more, contact the research coordinator Kate Wills at kate.wills@ubc.ca
@HunterWilld
hunter.wild@northernsentinel.com
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