Nunavut is about to benefit from a new research unit seeking to address health priorities in the territory, asking Nunavummiut about their needs.
A joint investment of $4.8 million over the next five years from the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut (GN), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the Nunavut Research Institute, and the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (QHRC) will fund the creation of the Nunavut Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) and Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials Unit (SUPPORT).
"The Nunavut SPOR Support Unit (NuSPOR) will be a research entity in Nunavut that prioritizes the patient and the community as interrelated concepts that drive the health research process," stated the governing committee for SPOR. "In turn, the NuSPOR support unit will support knowledge translation and mobilization in Nunavut. The unit will strengthen and build capacity for health research in Nunavut, guided by the priorities of Nunavummiut. Each partner organization brings strengths to conduct community-based and community-led research, as well as unique perspectives on health, research, and well-being for Nunavummiut; these established collaborative relationships provide a solid foundation for the NuSPOR unit to build patient-oriented research in Nunavut."
The idea behind the program is that patients, their families, caregivers and communities are in the best position to know what’s important to them when receiving healthcare. Patient-oriented research and care is vital. It allows the perspectives and lived experience of patients themselves to inform research.
"Investing in Nunavut SPOR SUPPORT unit means that Nunavummiut, like other Canadians with lived experience, will not just be participants but important partners in health research," said GN Health Minister John Main. "As a government, we believe that by supporting research that prioritizes the voices and perspectives of Nunavummiut we will create a healthcare system that serves them better.”
This new SPOR SUPPORT unit connects localized health research with local patient needs, ensuring that evidence-based solutions are used to improve healthcare and the health and wellness of Inuit communities. A priority is conducting studies and gathering data focused on the health of children and youth. The first year of operations will be dedicated to establishing and supporting the unit.
Canada’s SPOR is intended to be a pan-Canadian initiative dedicated to integrating the voices of patients in research and healthcare, and is being led by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research with support from partners across the country.
"By integrating evidence at all levels of the healthcare system, we’re helping achieve SPOR’s vision of improving health outcomes and enhancing the healthcare experience for patients," NTI stated in a news release.
“Having research that respects and is informed by Nunavut Inuit will enhance Inuit self-determination, promote culturally-appropriate initiatives, and lead to programs that better respond to Inuit needs," said NTI President Aluki Kotierk. "The health and well being of Inuit families can only benefit by having Inuit patients as part of the research process, and I’m pleased that Nunavut has joined the other provinces and territories by establishing a SPOR SUPPORT unit.”
