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Core Indicators Home Page

The Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario

This website contains definitions (but not data) for over 120 public health indicators. Public health epidemiologists in Ontario collaborated with various partners to collate extensive information on each indicator. The result is a resource that enhances accurate and standardized reporting of information across public health units in Ontario. The Core Indicators were originally created to link to objectives outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines. They are now being revised to reflect the Ontario Public Health Standards released in November 2008. The Core Indicators form the foundation for community health status reporting in public health in Ontario.

It is our goal to keep the information on this web site as current and relevant as possible. Please contact the webmaster if you notice any outdated information, incorrect information or inactive links.

About the Core Indicators (Summary Pamphlet) 
History
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions

Publications and Key Presentations

Acknowledgements

How to cite Core Indicator/Core Indicator resource webpages


The History of the Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario

Public health epidemiologists in Ontario have long felt the need for a consistent set of health indicator definitions. In February 1998, a group of epidemiologists met at the urging of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) to discuss systematically defining health indicators. As a result, the Association of Public Health Epidemiologists in Ontario (APHEO) created the Provincial Health Indicators Work Group (PHIWG). PHIWG brought together epidemiologists from across the province, together with staff from health intelligence units (HIUs), the Public Health Resources Education and Development (PHRED) Program, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), two branches of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC), and Health Canada. A list of the numerous members of PHIWG through the years is available at Members.

PHIWG built the indicators on the work of the past, most notably the Community Health Profile, produced in 1994 by the MOHLTC, the User’s Guide to 40 Community Health Indicators from 1992, and the Central East (CE) Collaboration Project. The CE Collaboration Project started as a Metropolitan Toronto initiative but expanded. It brought together public health units and district health councils in Central East Region to design a chart book of health indicators. The chart book pages were produced by the Central East Health Information Partnership (CEHIP). Other HIUs also had similar projects.

PHIWG met 12 times during 1998 and 1999 (see Minutes ). During 1998, PHIWG worked closely with the PHRED team producing the Report on the Health Status of the Residents of Ontario to ensure consistency between the two projects. The Core Indicators are organized in a similar framework as this Ontario Health Status Report. PHIWG’s work finally culminated in a draft report produced in November 1999 entitled Core Population Health Indicators for Ontario. The report was distributed in a binder to all public health units in Ontario and was available to everyone on the APHEO website. Feedback on the indicators was obtained from a variety of users.

In January 2001, PHIWG began Round 2 to revise and expand the first draft. New members revitalized PHIWG and took on the arduous role of adding new material to the indicators as an add-on to their busy regular jobs. The goal was to develop a website that could really showcase the indicators and the newly developed resources and be readily accessible and easily updated on a continuous basis. As well, the web environment allows for linkages with other resources on the Internet and can easily coordinate redundant information such as notes on data sources. During the summer of 2002, a Seneca student created a searchable website for the Core Indicators with funding from the Central East Health Information Partnership. The website was launched at APHEO’s 2002 Conference in Grand Bend.

In February 2006 the work group began a third round of revisions to the indicators and officially changed their name to the Core Indicators Work Group. In-depth review was planned for three sections of the indicators: Reproductive Health; Cancer Incidence and Early Detection of Cancer; and Infectious Diseases. A review of leading causes of mortality and hospitalization was added. Five sub-groups were formed to complete these reviews. General review is ongoing for all other indicators and resources.


Testimonials

"I just wanted to say (Though you've heard a million times) - how great the revisions of the indicators are - we have been using them a lot & they have helped point out some fixes that need to be made to our RRFSS data dictionary pages."
APHEO member, July 2009 

"I was on the site yesterday and am very impressed. People who worked on these did a tremendous job. This is a wonderful resource, particularly the table at the bottom that reflected the changes and the link to the standards makes it easier for us to apply the data."
APHEO member, July 2009 

"What an incredible project you and your colleagues continue to develop. The APHEO indicators site is a veritable gold mine of information, guide and HELP for those of us who are particularly scientifically challenged. My thanks to you and all your colleagues for this most useful web-site!"
District Health Council Planner, November 2004

"I must say congratulations on an informative and useful web site for the population health indicators. I have just started searching for others that are working in the area of performance measures for public health and I received wonderful information at this site!"
Department of Health and Wellness, New Brunswick, January 2001

 

Publications and Key Presentations on the Core Indicators

Suzanne Fegan & Natalie Greenidge
Drinking in excess of the low-risk alcohol guidelines: Core Indicator revision
APHEO Conference, June 9 -11, 2013

Natalie Greenidge & Brenda Guarda
APHEO Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario: A Collaborative Approach to Enhancing Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Capacity
The Ontario Public Health Convention, April 4, 2013 

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak & Brenda Guarda
APHEO Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario: Focus on Reproductive Health Core Indicators
PHO Epidemiology Rounds, January 17, 2013 

Ahalya Mahendra
The importance of including multiple disciplines when developing indicators for the built environment
World Alliance for Risk Factor Surveillance (WARFS) Global Conference, October 2011

Ahalya Mahendra
Lessons Learned Developing Indicators for the Built Environment
Locally Driven Collaborative Projects Meeting, July 2011

Mary-Kathryn Tighe
Aligning the APHEO Core Indicators for Public Health with the Ontario Public Health Standards: Data Source and Data Gaps
APHEO Conference, May 2011

Shanna Hoetmer
Core Indicators for Public Health on Comprehensive Tobacco Control
Smoke-Free Ontario Scientific Advisory Committee Knowledge Exchange Forum, March 2011

Shanna Hoetmer
Core Indicators for Public Health on Alcohol and Substance Use
Meeting of the National Surveillance Advisory Committee on Substance Use, May 2009

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak and Harleen Sahota
New Products in the Core Indicators Project
APHEO / CSEB Joint Conference, May 2009

Harleen Sahota, Mary-Anne Pietrusiak, Brenda Guarda, Shanna Hoetmer, JoAnn Heale, Ahalya Mahendra and Joanna Oliver
Core Indicators for Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance

Symposium of The Canadian Alliance for Regional Risk Factor Surveillance, February 2009

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak and Harleen Sahota
Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario
Ontario
Public Health Association, October 2008

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak and Harleen Sahota
Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario
Durham Region Health Department Research and Knowledge Exchange Symposium, October 2008

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario
Challenges in Defining, Describing and Understanding the Burden of Chronic Conditions
Health Care 2008: ICES Symposium, Toronto, January 21, 2008

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario
Chronic Disease Surveillance Strategy Development Workshop, Toronto, March 20, 2006

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario
Ontario Public Health Association Conference, Toronto, November 23, 2004

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak, Sherri Ennis, Nam Bains
Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario: An Interactive Workshop
Measurement in Health Care: ICES Symposium, Toronto, January 14, 2003

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak, Sherri Ennis
Launch of the Website for the Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario
APHEO Conference 2002, Measuring Environmental Impacts on Health, Grand Bend, Ontario, September 30, 2002

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak, Hyewon Lee-Han, Ruth Sanderson
Developing and Using Health Indicators: Provincial Health Indicators Work Group
Strengthening Public Health for the Future: Spring 2001 Education Days, Ontario MOHLTC, Toronto, April 30, 2001

Pietrusiak M. Core Population Health Indicators for Ontario. PHERO 1999; 10(12);248-251.

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
Core Population Health Indicators
Ontario Public Health Association, Toronto, November 16, 1999

Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
Core Population Health Indicators for Ontario: Health Status Reports in the New Millennium
Canadian Public Health Association Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 8, 1999


References

1. Ontario Ministry of Health, Community Health Division. (1994) Community Health Profile.
2. Chevalier S, Choiniere R, Bernier L, Sauvageau Y, Masson I, Cadieux E. User’s Guide to 40 Community Health Indicators, 1992. Minister of Supply and Services Canada.


Acknowledgements

The Core Indicators for Public Health in Ontario is the product of many people working over many years. First and foremost, thanks to the members of the Core Indicators Work Group, formerly the Provincial Health Indicators Working Group (see Members for the full list) who poured their energy into the project, some for many years, and some through many job changes. Honourable mention goes to Chairman Mary-Anne Pietrusiak and members Ruth Sanderson and Julie Stratton who were with the project right from the first meeting in February 1998 and persevered through many iterations. Kudos to the various employers of the PHIWG members that gave the go ahead to use "company" time for a provincial initiative.

The initial website would not have been created without Sten Ardal of the (disbanded) Central East Health Information Partnership (CEHIP) who had the insight and generosity to hire Seneca student Julia Silkova. She used her tremendous skill to make the Core Indicators website a reality. PHIWG member Sherri Ennis proved invaluable not only with the website supervision but with content decisions as well. And thanks to Paul Lee of CEHIP and Krys Gutkowski of the Durham Region Health Department who continued to work on the website once Julia and Sherri were no longer at CEHIP.

The current version of the Core Indicators and APHEO website is thanks to Lee Sieswerda, Ruth Sanderson, and a grant from the Ministry of Health Promotion.

Thank you to Anna Goral and Jill Mallon who worked on the Ontario Health Status Report during 1998 and contributed greatly to the Core Indicators during this crucial time.

We also appreciate the efforts of Ruth Diaz, Anne Marie Holt and Andrea Smith who worked on various aspects of the project as epidemiology students of the University of Toronto.

Jason Gilmore’s regular correspondence and support provided very useful insight into the Health Indicators of Statistics Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information, allowing for more coordinated efforts between this project and the Core Indicators.

Thank you also the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and now the Ministry of Health Promotion, specifically Elizabeth Rael, who provided a location, refreshments, and lunches for our marathon meetings.

Finally, we appreciate the input of the many reviewers who commented on all drafts of the indicators.

Reviewers and Contributors

July 4, 2008 - July 3, 2009 (Core Indicators for Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance grant)

Amanda Tavares, Region of Waterloo Public Health
Anjali Misra, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
Anna Chiarelli, Cancer Care Ontario
Beth Theis, Cancer Care Ontario
Brenda Wannell , Statistics Canada
Carol Paul, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Chee Wong, Ministry of Health Promotion
Dawn Marvin, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Deborah Carr, Oxford County, Public Health & Emergency Services
Denise De Pape, BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
Diane Nishri, Cancer Care Ontario
Doug Manuel, Ottawa Health Research Institute
Elizabeth Rael, Ministry of Health Promotion
Ellen Chan, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Emma Tucker, Halton Region Health Department
Erin Pichora, Cancer Care Ontario
Frank Shi, Eastern Ontario Health Unit
Heather Thomas, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Jaime Chow, Durham Region Health Department
Jay Onysko, Public Health Agency of Canada
Jennifer Jenkins, Halton Regional Health Department
Jennifer Skinner, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
JoAnn Heale, Ministry of Health & Long Term Care
John Barbaro, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Julie Mandeville, Statistics Canada
Julie Stratton, Region of Peel Public Health
Karey Iron, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
Katherine Russell, Ottawa Public Health
Kathy Moran, Regional Municipality of York
Katrice Edgar, Public Health Services Department, City of Hamilton
Krista Burns, Ministry of Health Promotion
Laurie Elit, McMaster University
Lee Sieswerda, Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Lisa Pogany, Public Health Agency of Canada
Loraine Marrett, Cancer Care Ontario
Lorna Larsen, Ministry of Health Promotion
Mary O'Brien, Halton Region Health Department
Mary-Anne Pietrusiak, Durham Region Health Department
Maurizzio Colarossi, Region of Peel Public Health
Michael King, Sudbury & District Health Unit
Michael Spinks, South East LHIN (formerly Cancer Care Ontario)
Norman Giesbrecht, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
OPHA Food Security Workgroup
Pat Vanderkoy,
Region of Waterloo Public Health
Robbi Howlett, Cancer Care Ontario
Robert Mann, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Saira Bahl, Cancer Care Ontario
Scott Leatherdale, Cancer Care Ontario
Shailee Tanna, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Shanna Hoetmer, York Region Community and Health Services
Shawn O'Connor, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Sherri Deamond, Durham Region Health Department
Stephen Drew, Region of Waterloo Public Health
Susan Bondy, University of Toronto
Suzanne Sinclair, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Sylvain Tremblay, Statistics Canada
Verna Mai, Cancer Care Ontario
Vicky Majpruz, Cancer Care Ontario
Vikki Edwards, City of Hamilton Public Health Services
Youth and Adult Substance Misuse working groups and Injury Prevention, Durham Region
Health Department

Previous years: 

Camille Achonu, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion
Chris Altmayer, Halton-Peel District Health Council
Linda Baigent, Essex Kent Lambton DHC
Sandra Bennett, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Catherine Bingle, Simcoe County District Health Unit
Pat Brown, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Deane Burns, Deane L. Burns Consulting
Terry Delmore, Halton Region Health Department
Jason Gilmore, Statistics Canada
Effie Gournis, Toronto Public Health
JoAnn Heale, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Eric Holowaty, Cancer Care Ontario
Philippa Holowaty, McMaster University
Michelle Hooper, Health Canada
Meera Jain, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Rebecca Kong, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics
Stephanie Loomer, Thames Valley District Health Council
Neil MacKenzie, Windsor Essex Health Unit
Darshaka Malaviarachchi, Sudbury and District Health Unit
Ameeta Mathur, Toronto Public Health
Neil Mattes, Durham Region Health Department
Stephanie McFaul, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Arsalan Monavvari, St. Michael's Hospital and William Osler Health Centre
Kathy Moran, Durham Region Health Department
Lee-Ann Nalezyty, Northwestern Ontario District Health Council
Wil Ng, Toronto Public Health
Chine Nkado, Health Planner, Region of Peel Health Department
My-Yen Quach, Health Canada
Rolf Puchtinger, Huron County Health Unit
Elizabeth Rea, Toronto Public Health
Anne E. Rhodes, University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital
Hilary Robinson, Health Canada
Carol Smith Romeril, Durham and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Council
Bill Ryding, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Vic Sahai, Northern Health Information Partnership
Jennifer Sarkella, Southwest Region Health Information Partnership
Rebecca Stuart, Toronto Public Health
Susan Taylor-Clapp, Health Canada
Kamila Tomcik, City of Ottawa, People Services Department
Sylvain Tremblay, Statistics Canada
Yvonne Tyml, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Jane Ying, Toronto Public Health

 

How to cite Core Indicator/Core Indicator resource webpages (Vancouver)

Sample: 
Association for Public Health Epidemiologists in Ontario (APHEO) [Internet]. Toronto: APHEO; c2011. Core indicators for public health in Ontario: preterm birth rate; 2013 Jan 16 [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available from: http://www.apheo.ca/index.php?pid=140.

c2011: current copyright year for APHEO website
2013 Jan 16: date the webpage was last updated/revised

Last Revision:  March 11, 2014

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