SPECIAL INTEREST REPORT POSTER DISPLAY

DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY THERAPY ASSISTANT PROGRAM IN THE KIVALLIQ REGION OF NUNAVUT, CANADA. Achtemichuk M¹, Moni F², Bruce M³, Alec M⁴, Anne D⁵; ¹JA Hildes Northern Medical Unit, Winnipeg, MB. ²same. ³same. ⁴same. ⁵same

PURPOSE: Canada’s Inuit people experience a disproportionately high rate of disability compared to the national average. As a result, the University of Manitoba and the Department of Health and Social Services of Nunavut jointly implemented a community-based medical rehabilitation program in 2000 in the Kivalliq Region of Canada’s central Arctic. RELEVANCE: Sustainable and relevant programming in isolated cross-cultural communities is a challenge for rehabilitation services world-wide. The development of a community-based therapy assistant program is one strategy in tackling such issues. DESCRIPTION: In the first phase of the program, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology services were established. The second phase involves a sustainable community therapy assistant program guided by a community needs assessment carried out in 2002. Program concepts are consistent with a modified World Health Organization Community Based Rehabilitation approach and in keeping with the expressed desire of the Inuit for community development as articulated in the Nunavut government’s Bathurst Mandate. EVALUATION: Community input has been instrumental in the development of this innovative program for a northern Canadian setting. Positive community feedback has been received since its inception through the use of consumer consultation. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a community-based therapy assistant program has facilitated community participation in rehabilitation programming, as well as fostering relevant cross-cultural and sensitive health care. Future ongoing evaluation of this program will help determine its effectiveness and efficacy. IMPLICATIONS: This model of program development provides a framework for similar program development in other cross-cultural remote settings. KEYWORDS: Aboriginal, therapy assistant, community. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: nil.