Private Supplemental Insurance and Mental Health Care Utilization in Canada - An Investigation Using Nonparametric Estimation Methods 
Dr. Luc Clair, October 2, 2017
Read more | Get paper (PDF)

Abstract:
The heterogeneous nature of mental illness leads to individual treatment plans that may consist of community-based non-physician mental health services (e.g. psychologists and social workers) and prescription medications. ...While Canada's universal system of public health insurance fully covers the cost of medically necessary hospital and physician services, the public plan generally does not cover the use of prescription drugs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of supplementary insurance plans in the utilization of prescription drugs for mental illness and mental health service providers. I employ nonparametric conditional probability density function estimation methods and nonparametric regression estimation methods. I find that supplemental insurance affects the utilization of medication. Furthermore, I find that conditional on having used a mental health pharmaceutical, those with insurance are more likely to use a higher number medications than those without insurance. My results show that lack of private supplemental insurance may act as a barrier for some individuals to access important mental health goods and services.

Early Onset of Type 2 Diabetes Among Visible Minority and Immigrant Populations in Canada 
Dr. Eric Y. Tenkorang, 2015
Read more | Get paper (PDF) | Get presentation, March 3, 2017 (PDF)

Abstract:
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects nearly over three million Canadians, including immigrants. The timing of the first onset of diabetes has been linked to other severe co-morbidities. Yet, there is a dearth of empirical studies that examine the timing of the onset of diabetes among Canadians, ...in general, and among immigrants and ethnic minority populations within Canada, in particular. We address this research void by applying event history techniques to the 2013 Canadian Community and Health Survey.

Dr. Eric Y. Tenkorang is currently an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His research interests over the past few years have broadly examined the social and cultural determinants of health among at-risk and vulnerable populations in low-income settings. Specifically, he has been interested in the sexual reproductive health of youth and women in HIV endemic parts of the world, mostly sub-Saharan Africa. These interests have grown into examining the sociocultural underpinnings of chronic diseases in developing and developed countries. He serves on CIHR’s Institute Advisory Board for Health Promotion and Prevention.