Prof Joins Federal Task Force
Friday, Mar. 26
Preventive health care focus of 15-member interprofessional group
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Prof. Paula Brauer, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, has been named to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
The mandate of the 15-member group is to develop and communicate clinical practice guidelines for primary and preventive care, based on systematic analysis of scientific evidence. It will also serve as an authoritative voice that speaks to relevant issues in the health-care field, says Brauer, whose research focuses on the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention programs in primary care, especially for obesity and metabolic syndrome.
“It’s an opportunity to have some influence in the broader arena and to improve our health-care system,” she says.
Brauer believes a national inter-professional group such as this is needed to make evidence-informed recommendations for preventive health care. This includes such issues as cancer screening, vaccinations and lifestyle interventions to prevent progression to clinical disease in people with risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
“Our role will be to vet the evidence and recommend the most feasible, effective and important options to promote the health of Canadians.”
Brauer will meet her new task force colleagues in late April during a two-day meeting in Ottawa. For more information, visit www.canadiantaskforce.ca/index.html.