Canadian Health Surveys, 1950-1997

Ora Kendall, Tammy Lipskie and Shauna MacEachern

Abstract

This paper provides a brief history of Canadian health surveys and a review of health or health-related surveys from the first national household survey in 1950/51 to the present time. Surveys have evolved from collecting information on health care utilization, health status and some risk behaviours to a wider range of health determinants following the 1974 Lalonde report. In addition to the occasional cross-sectional surveys, there are periodic surveys, longitudinal surveys, school-based surveys and surveys based on subgroups in the population or specific topic areas. The survey review is presented in the following four tables: Table 1 summarizes national surveys including such information as the date(s) and frequency of data collection, topic areas, target population, sample size and response rate for each survey; Table 2 provides the same information for provincial surveys; both tables point to Table 3, which supplements the previous information with survey sponsors and contacts; Table 4 provides similar information for commercial surveys. This reference, which will be updated periodically, is intended to act as a source of information and support in the development of new surveys.

Key words: Canada; health behaviour; health care surveys; health surveys; risk factors

Surveys, in some form or another, have been around for a long time. The origin of surveys dates back to biblical times with the use of censuses and, more recently, in the 1800s and 1900s with election predictions and market research. The word survey comes from the Latin sur [over] and videre [see], i.e. "to oversee," and eventually came to mean a general or comprehensive view of anything.¹

Several individual studies of morbidity have been conducted since the First World War, including the first Canadian study related to health care, carried out by Dalhousie University in 1939. A more organized collection of morbidity data was initiated in 1933, with the national reporting of communicable diseases by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, with reports compiled by the provinces. However, the first national population-based health survey, the Canadian Sickness Survey, did not take place until 1950/51.²

There are two objectives to this paper.

• To provide a brief history of national and provincial Canadian health (and health-related) surveys
• To provide a reference list from the 1950s to the present that serves as a source of information on the health of Canadians and as a source of questions for designing and conducting new surveys
  

With the prosperity of the postwar era and new methods of financing health care, there was a greater demand for and utilization of health services. There was also a need to plan and evaluate costly new health care programs, particularly the National Health Program, initiated in 1948. The provinces were already surveying their health facilities, resources and personnel, but comparatively little information was being collected on the state of health of the population and its use of health care services. The Canadian Sickness Survey (1950/51) was designed to obtain an overall picture of the health problems of Canadians in the context of their social, physical and economic environment.²

The Nutrition Canada Survey was conducted between 1970 and 1972 to determine the prevalence of nutritional diseases across Canada and examine food consumption patterns in the population.⁴ It is Canada's only national nutrition survey, although several provincial nutrition surveys have been initiated since 1990. Manitoba and Ontario incorporated nutrition components into their other surveys, the Manitoba Heart Health Survey (1989/90) and the Ontario Health Survey (1990), respectively.

In 1974, Lalonde's New Perspective on the Health of Canadians drew attention to a wider range of health determinants, such as human biology, environment and lifestyle, in addition to the health care system. Consequently, the next national health survey, the Canada Health Survey (1978/79), emphasized the collection of information on lifestyle habits and included a physical measures component in one third of the household interviews.³ The Canada Health Survey was a comprehensive health survey, designed to provide data at a national and regional level, and it has influenced many of the surveys that have followed.⁵

In 1981, the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Disabled and Handicapped published its report, recommending that the federal government direct Statistics Canada to develop a long-term strategy for collecting information on disabled persons in Canada. As the first response to the recommendation, the Canadian Health and Disabilities Survey was conducted in 1983/84, to determine the nature, cause and impact of disabilities in the population.³

In 1986/87, the Health and Activity Limitations Survey extended coverage of the Canadian Health and Disabilities Survey to geographically include the whole country, as well as Indian reserves and the permanent residents of institutions and collective dwellings. One of the objectives of the 1986 survey was to expand the definition of disabilities to include those due to psychiatric conditions.⁵ A second Health and Activity Limitations Survey was conducted in 1991, which further defined disabilities to include learning disabilities and mental and emotional functioning.

In 1985, the first in a series of Health Promotion Surveys and General Social Surveys was initiated. In addition to questions on lifestyle behaviours and preventive health practices, the Health Promotion Surveys have also included questions on knowledge and attitudes around health behaviours. The aim of the General Social Surveys was to monitor social trends over time and to investigate issues of emerging interest. Up until 1997, the General Social Survey was an annual survey that repeated its core content every five years. The General Social Survey is now a biennial survey and has replaced its health cycles with social and community support.

These two survey series also represent a significant departure from previous surveys in their use of random-digit dialling and telephone interviewing, as opposed to face-to-face interviewing techniques. Although houses without telephones are excluded from those surveys conducted exclusively by telephone, they represent only a small proportion of the population.^3,6 As a component of the 1996 National Population Health Survey, interviews for the latest Health Promotion Survey may be conducted face-to-face or by telephone.

There have been several follow-up or longitudinal surveys, including the 1988 Campbell's Survey on Well-Being in Canada and the Ontario Child Health Survey. The former provided national estimates from a subsample of the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey, and the latter was conducted in 1983 and repeated in 1987. In 1994, the National Population Health Survey and the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth were initiated with cycles planned every two years for twenty years or until children reached adulthood, respectively. These surveys were designed to provide cross-sectional estimates and examine changes in health and health behaviours over time, with the potential of linking to outcome data in the future. In addition, several provinces enlarged their sample size in the 1996 cycle of the National Population Health Survey, which will provide them with information at local levels.

In the 1980s, Health and Welfare Canada sponsored two large surveys of Canadian youth, the Canada Health Knowledge Survey and the Canada Health Attitudes and Behaviours Survey. In sharing the findings of these studies, Canada was invited to join a World Health Organization collaborative study on the health behaviours of schoolchildren conducted approximately every four years. The survey was initiated by researchers from England, Finland and Norway in 1982, after which it was adopted by the World Health Organization. When Canada joined in 1989, there were 16 countries, including Canada, participating in the study. By 1993/94, the survey had expanded to include 24 countries.^7,8 Other school surveys include the long running Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (since 1977) and the recent collaboration in the Atlantic provinces to produce a standardized student drug use survey.^9,10

In 1986, the first provincial heart health survey was conducted in Nova Scotia. Eventually all 10 provinces undertook heart health surveys between 1986 and 1995, following a core standardized protocol. Parts of the questionnaire were developed from previous surveys, including the Canada Blood Pressure Survey, the Canada Fitness Survey and the Survey of Smoking Habits of Canadians.¹¹ The heart health surveys collect information on cardiovascular risk factors, knowledge of the causes and consequences of cardiovascular disease and physical measures through home interviews and clinic visits.¹¹

In the following tables, an attempt has been made to summarize national and provincial health-related surveys, as well as surveys focused on specific topic areas or populations. Table 1 lists the year, frequency of collection, topic areas, target population, sample size and response rate for each national survey. Table 2 provides the same information for provincial surveys. Both tables refer to Table 3, which lists sponsor(s), data collector(s) and contact(s) for each survey. Table 4 is a list of some of the ongoing commercial (i.e. for profit) surveys and their contacts.

We plan to publish updated versions of these tables periodically, as a service to readers of Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC). We may not have been aware of some surveys and invite readers to contribute to the list, either through the corresponding author or through the CDIC Web site.

TABLE 1 National Canadian health surveys, 1950-1997
Year	Survey	Frequency	Topic areasa	Target populationb	Sample size (response rate %)c	Table 3d number
1950/51	Canadian Sickness Survey	Once	Ill health, health care, health care expenditures	All ages, provinces	36,389	1
1966-1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986	Survey of Smoking Habits (supplements to the Labour Force Survey)	Occasional	Smoking habits	15+, provinces	1966-1975: 70,000-80,000 1977-1986: 30,000-40,000	2
1970-1972	Nutrition Canada Survey	Once	Household profile, diete (24-hour dietary recall, food frequency), dental exam, physical assessments, general health review including health status, smoking, legal drug use	All ages, provinces, territories, reserves, 4 Inuit settlements	12,795 (46%) Indian: 1,806 (45%) Inuit: 400 (60%)	3
1978/79	Canada Health Survey	Once	Health status, family medical history, health care utilization, long-term disability, tobacco and alcohol use, daily activities, preventive health behaviours, emotional health, physical measures (including weight and height) component to 1/3 of households	All ages for household survey, 15+ for lifestyle survey, provinces	f IAQ: 31,668 (86%) LHQ: 23,791 (89%) PMQ: 5,662 (72%) Blood: 4,829 (80%)	4
1981	Canada Fitness Survey, (longitudinal follow-up of subsample in 1988, see Campbell's Survey on Well-Being in Canada)	Twice	Daily activities, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, eating habits, physical measures (STFg) on some respondents including weight and height, sleep	10+, STF: 7-69, provinces	23,400 (76%) STF: 14,365 (61%)	5
1982	Canada Health Knowledge Survey	Once	Knowledge of health, risk behaviours and safety	Grades 4, 7 and 10, schools, provinces, territories	28,905	6
1983/84	Canadian Health and Disability Survey (supplement to the Labour Force survey)	Once	Nature, severity and cause of disability, impact of disability	0-14, 15+, provinces	0-14: 59,195 (84-87%) 15+: 126,698 (93%)	7
1984/85	Canada Health Attitudes and Behaviours Survey	Once	All ages: diet (food frequency), smoking, leisure activities, safety, parent-child relationships, peer influence, self-esteem, body image, sleep, dental and mental health Older ages: alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex and family roles	Grades 4, 7 and 10, schools, provinces, territories	33,111	6
1985	Health Promotion Survey	Occasional	Health status, health knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, stress, barriers to health, tobacco, alcohol and drug use, physical activity, eating habits, safety, preventive health practices, social relationships	15+, provinces, territories	11,181 (81%) NWT: 1,000	2
1985	General Social Survey-Cycle 1	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: health status, health care services, activity limitations, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, height and weight, body image, sleep Focus content: social support and activities, help given to others	15+, provinces	11,200 (84%)	8
1985	Canadian Blood Pressure Survey (Hypertension Awareness Survey)	Once	Prevalence, knowledge of risk and control of high blood pressure, treatment and compliance	Ages 18+, provinces	3,092	9
1986	General Social Survey-Cycle 2	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: time use, social mobility, well-being Focus content: language	15+, provinces	16,390 (79%)	10
1986/87	Health and Activity Limitation Survey	Twice	Disabilities, special aids, social services, employment, education, transportation, accommodation, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical and social activity, economic characteristics	All ages, disabled and non-disabled, provinces, NWT and Yukon, Indian reserves, institutions, excluding correctional facilities Institutions: 15+	184,500 (90%) Institutions: 19,100 (97%)	11
1988	General Social Survey-Cycle 3	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: accidents, injuries, crime, perception of risk Focus content: victim services	15+, provinces	9,870 (82%)	8
1988	National Survey on Drinking and Driving	Once	Impaired driving-attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, and actions towards prevention	16-69, provinces	9,943 (80%)	2
1988	Campbell's Survey on Well-Being in Canada (see 1981 Canada Fitness Survey)	Twice Longitudinal follow-up of 1981 Canada Fitness Survey	Health status, health care services, social support, daily activities, tobacco use, diet, physical activity, physical measures including weight and height	7+, provinces	4,200 (80%) (3,068 took part in both surveys)	12
1988	Canada Youth and AIDS Survey	Once	Sources of information, behaviours, knowledge of AIDS and STDs, attitudes and opinions	Grades 7, 9 and 11, schools, drop-outs, street youth, college students, provinces, territories	38,000	13
1988	AIDS in Canada	Once	Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to AIDS	18+, provinces	1,259 (64%)	14
1989	General Social Survey-Cycle 4	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Education and work, well-being, no focus content	15+, provinces	11,728 (80%)	10
1989	National Alcohol and Drugs Survey	Once	Alcohol, smoking and drug use-patterns of use, consequences, attitudes, beliefs and opinions, role of family and friends	15+, provinces, Northwest Territoriesh	11,634 (79%)	2
1989, 1994	Canadian Forces Health and Lifestyle Survey (also conducted a drug and alcohol survey in 1982)	Every 5 years	Health status, health care, lifestyle factors, daily habits, work stress, mental health	18+, Canadian Armed Forces	1989: 6,160 (77%) 1994: 1,256 (64%)	15
1989, 1994, 1997	Tracking Nutrition Trends	Every 3 years	Knowledge and behaviours related to diet/nutrition	18+, provinces	Approx 2,000	16
1989/90, 1993/94	Health Behaviours of School-aged Children	Every 4 years	Health status, medications, dental care, leisure activities, physical activity, tobacco, alcohol and drug use, eating habits, body image, self-esteem, social activities, relationships with family, friends and other students	Grades 6, 8 and 10, schools, provinces, territories	1989-90: 5,565 1993-94: 6,758	17
1990	Health Promotion Survey	Occasional	Similar to 1985 survey, additional topics include workplace, activity limitations, body image, blood pressure, cholesterol, dental health, sexual practices and STDs, home environment issues	15+, provinces	13,792 (78%)	2
1990	General Social Survey-Cycle 5	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Family and friend relationships, no focus content	15+, provinces	13,495 (76%)	10
1991	General Social Survey-Cycle 6	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: repeat of 1985 GSS Focus content: various health topics including flu shots, height, weight, body image, sleep, occupation and health, emotional well-being	15+, provinces	11,924 (80%)	8
1991	Survey on Aging and Independence (supplement to the Labour Force Survey)	Once	Retirement, physical activity, community and environment, health status, stress, health enhancing behaviours, activity limitations, social support, home environment injuries, accidents	45+, provinces (household data)	20,000 (81%)	18
1991	Health and Activity Limitation Survey	Annual	Similar to 1986 survey, additional content on learning disabilities and mental and emotional functioning	All ages, in institutions- 15+, provinces, territories, institutions (reserves were included in the 1991 Aboriginal Peoples Survey)	129, 816 (87%) (disabled 29,952, non-disabled 99,864) Institutions: 9,970 (96%) (disabled 9,685, non-disabled 285)	11
1991	Aboriginal Peoples Survey	Once	Health status, health care, alcohol and tobacco use, eating habits, sports and recreational activities, social issues, mobility, education, work, expenditures and income Also includes questions from the 1991 Health and Activity Limitation Survey	15-64, provinces and territories, aboriginal communities and people outside those communities who indicated aboriginal origins on the 1991 census	81,750 adults 54,029 children 114,817 identified themselves as aboriginal (78-79%)	19
1992	General Social Survey-Cycle 7	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: time use Focus content: culture, sport, unpaid work, activities	15+, provinces	9,815 (77%)	10
1986-1992	Canadian Heart Health Database (includes all first time heart health surveys)	--	Cardiovascular disease-risk factors, knowledge of causes and consequences, health status, weight, height, body image, physical measures component	18-74, provincesi	j H: 23,129 (77%) C: 20,095 (67%) Blood: 18,688 (63%)	20
1993	General Social Survey-Cycle 8	Annual, Core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: accidents, injuries, crime Focus content: alcohol and drug use	15+, provinces	10,385 (82%)	8
1993	Violence Against Women Survey	Once	Fear of violence, sexual harassment, violence and threats by strangers, dates, boyfriends and others, marriage history, power/control, emotional abuse and violence in relationships, mother abuse history, opinions on ending violence, safety	18+, women, provinces, including women on reserves and military bases	12,300 (HHk: 64%, Indiv: 91%)	21
1994	Canada's Alcohol and Other Drugs Survey	Once	Alcohol, tobacco and drug use, consequences associated with use	15+, provinces	12,155 (76%)	22
1994	General Social Survey-Cycle 9	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: education, work and retirement, social mobility Focus content: transition to retirement	15+, provinces	11,876 (83%)	10
1994	Youth Smoking Survey (2 components: school-based and a supplement to the Labour Force Survey)	Once	Smoking attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, cessation, social influences, awareness of health risks, tobacco purchasing and marketing, tobacco restrictions	School: 10-14, Labour Force Survey: 15-19, provinces	School: 14,200 (80%) Labour Force Survey: 9,500 (81%)	23
1994	NPHS (National Population Health Survey) with Health Canada and provincial buy-ins of questions and/or increased sample size to the main survey-Cycle 1	Biennial	Core content: health status, 2-week disability, health care utilization, chronic conditions, preventive health practices, alcohol and tobacco use, physical activity, weight, height, sleep, injuries, legal drug use, mental health, social support Focus content: stress, sense of coherence	12+, (0-11 included in the NLSCY), provinces, territories, institutions	Main: 17,626 Territories: approx 2,400 Institutions: 2,000 (85-95% for all components)	24
1994	NPHS-Health Canada supplement to the main survey	Once	Sources of information, nutrition, smoking, injury prevention, breast-feeding, alcohol consumption and drug use during pregnancy, sexual health, health care services	12+, provinces	13,400 (91%)	25
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997	Childhood Vaccine Coverage Survey	Annual	Vaccine coverage, vaccination practices, parental attitudes towards	2 (also 7-yr-olds in 1997), provinces	800-1600/yr (70-85%)	26
1994/95	NLSCY (National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, information collected from parents, teachers and children)-Cycle 1	Every 2 years, following children to adulthood	Child-health, development, temperament, behaviour, child care and school experiences, activities, skills, feelings, smoking, drinking, drugs, family and custody history, family characteristics, neighbourhood	0-11 initially, provinces, territories (reduced questionnaires)	1994-95: 22,831 (HHk: 86%)	27
1994/95	Survey on Smoking in Canada	4 times in a 12-month period	Smoking habits	15+, provinces	Cycles: 1: 15,804 2: 13,398 3: 12,808 4: 12,424	28
1995	Physical Activity Monitor	Annual	Core content: physical activity Focus content: emotional well-being, height, weight, perceived health, barriers to physical activity, leisure time	18+, one child age 0-17 per family by proxy, provinces (1996 will include the territories)	2,500 (63%)	29
1995	General Social Survey-Cycle 10	Annual, core content repeats every 5 years	Core content: family relationships, family origins, work interruptions Focus content: environmental tobacco smoke	15+, provinces	10,749 (81%)	10
1996	General Social Survey-Cycle 11	Switch to biennial and uncertain repetition of core content	Core content: social and community support Focus content: tobacco use	15+, provinces	--	8
1996	NPHS (includes Health Canada and Alberta question buy-ins and increased sample size in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario)	Biennial	Core content: see 1994 NPHS Focus content: access to services	12+, provinces, territories, institutions	--	24
1996	Health Promotion Survey (Health Canada buy-in to NPHS)	Occasional	Tobacco and alcohol use, food security, weight, body image, social support and preventive health practices, access to HIV services, sexual health, road safety	12+, provinces	--	25
1996	National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance (population-based control sample for comparison to 19,500 cancer cases)	One time, plans to repeat	Residential history (in Canada), occupational history, physical activity, tobacco use, diet (includes alcohol use), height and weight, reproductive history, other cancer risk factors	20-74, 8 provinces (not Quebec or New Brunswick yet)	4,500	30
1996/97	NLSCY (National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, information collected from parents, teachers and children)-Cycle 2	Every 2 years following children to adulthood	See 1994/95 NLSCY	0-13, provinces, territories (reduced questionnaires)	--	27
a This column includes major topic areas, excluding demographic questions. Questions on family relationships, income, education, occupation, and/or dwelling conditions may be included in the demographic component of each survey. b Column may include age, grade, gender, school, and/or area covered. Most surveys do not include residents of institutions, military establishments and Indian reserves and may not include remote areas. Some of the aforementioned groups may be included in telephone surveys. The surveys do not cover the territories unless specifically stated. c Sample size indicates the actual number of respondents, although in some cases it may be an approximation of that number. Response rates used were those reported for each survey, and calculation methods may vary. d Table 3 provides a sponsor, data collector and contact for each survey. e Diet usually refers to a dietary assessment method such as a 24-hour recall or a food frequency questionnaire, whereas eating habits usually indicates a few nutrition questions. f IAQ: Interviewer Administered Questionnaire; LHQ: Lifestyle and your Health Questionnaire; PMQ: Physical Measures Questionnaire; Blood: Blood sample g STF: Standardized Test of Fitness h The Northwest Territories component of the National Alcohol and Drug Survey was conducted in 1991. i Excludes Indian reserves, military camps and institutions in all provinces, except Manitoba. j H: Home interview; C: Clinic visit; Blood: Blood sample k HH: household response rate

TABLE 2 Provincial health surveys, 1977-1997
Year	Survey	Frequency	Topic areasa	Target populationb	Sample size (response rate %)c	Table 3d number
1977- until the present	The Ontario Student Drug Use Survey	Biennial	Alcohol, tobacco and drug use, attitudes and beliefs, availability, drinking and driving	Grades 7, 9, 11 and 13, schools, Ontario	Approx 4,000/year (76-84%)	31
1977- until the present	Adult Drug Survey, now called the Ontario Drug Monitor	Occasional, annual after 1991 survey	Alcohol, tobacco (starting in 1991) and drug use, occasionally psychosocial determinants	18+, Ontario	1977-1995: approx 1,000 1996-present: approx 2400 (62-67%)	31
1982, 1987, 1993	Tobacco Use by Youth in the Northwest Territories Survey	Every 5 years	Tobacco use	Grades 4-12, schools, Northwest Territories	1982: 7,305 1987: 4,959 (66%) 1993: 5,017 (52%)	32
1983, 1987	Ontario Child Health Survey (longitudinal follow-up in 1987)	Twice, plans to repeat	Early history, parental/family domain factors, emotional and behavioural disorders, chronic medical illness, functional limitations, use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco (ages 12+), use of medical and social services, assessment of child impairment	Ages 4-16, follow-up ages 8-20, Ontario	1983: 3,294 1987: 2,614	33
1986	Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	Twice	Tobacco use, height, weight, overweight, body image, physical activity, awareness of dietary factors, diabetic and hypertensive status, knowledge of causes and consequences of CVD, physical measures component	18-74, Nova Scotia	e H: 2,108 (77%) C: 1,798 (66%) Blood: 1,585 (58%)	34
1987	Enquête Santé Québec	Once	Health status, health care and services, tobacco and alcohol use, legal and illegal drug use, weight, height, body image, sleep, mental health, activity restrictions, socio-economic factors, social support	All ages, Québec	32,003 (87%)	35
1988/89	Prince Edward Island Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, Prince Edward Island	e H: 2,088 (90%) C: 2,026 (87%) Blood: 1,959 (85%)	36
1988/89	New Brunswick Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, New Brunswick	e H: 2,093 (76%) C: 1,948 (71%) Blood: 1,839 (67%)	37
1988/89	Newfoundland Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, Newfoundland	e H: 2,394 (75%) C: 2,067 (65%) Blood: 2,017 (63%)	38
1989	British Columbia Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, British Columbia	e H: 2,394 (81%) C: 2,054 (69%) Blood: 1,886 (64%)	39
1989/90	Manitoba Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey, addition of diet (food frequency)	18-74, Manitoba	e H: 2,766 (77%) C: 2,316 (64%) Blood: 2,164 (60%)	40
1989/90	Saskatchewan Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, Saskatchewan	e H: 2,158 (75%) C: 1,749 (60%) Blood: 1,609 (56%)	41
1990	Alberta Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, Alberta	e H: 2,237 (82%) C: 1,993 (73%) Blood: 1,836 (67%)	42
1990	Nova Scotia Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet/food consumption patterns, (24-hour recall and food frequency), uses of fat, knowledge and opinions related to diet, chronic diseases, food preparation methods	18-74, Nova Scotia	2,212 ( 80%)	43
1990	Ontario Health Survey (for the next Ontario Health Survey, see the 1996 NPHS in Table 1)	Once	Health status, health problems, health care, legal and illegal drug use, activity restrictions, alcohol and tobacco use, physical activities, driving and safety, sexual health, occupational health, diet (food frequency)	All ages, Ontario Self-Completed Questionnaire (SCQ): 12+, Ontario	61,239 (HHf: 88%) SCQ: 49,164 (77%)	44
1990	Ontario Health Supplement (on mental health)	Once	Mental health-general health, knowledge and use of services, early life experiences, memory and concentration, relationships, eating and mental disorders	15+, Ontario	9,953 (77%)	45
1990	The BC Student Drug Use Survey	Once	Drug use	Grades 8-12, schools, British Columbia	14,140 (90%)	46
1990	Enquête québécoise sur la santé cardio-vasculaire	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, Quebec	e H: 2,353 (77%) C: 2,095 (69%) Blood: 2,028 (66%)	47
1990	Enquête québécoise sur la nutrition	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18-74, Quebec	2,118 (69%)	48
1991	Enquête québécoise auprès des Cris de la baie James	Once	General health survey, heart disease and nutrition	All ages, James Bay Cree territory, 9 localities	1,999 (89%)	49
1991	Enquête québécoise sur les facteurs de risque associés au sida et autres MTS: la population des 15-29 ans	Once	Risk factors associated with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases	15-29, Quebec	300 (72%)	50
1991	Consommation d'alcool et de drogues chez les jeunes québécois âgés entre 15 et 29 ans	Once	Alcohol and drug use	15-29, Quebec	300 (72%)	51
1991	Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey	Every 5 years	Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use, multiple drug use	Grades 7, 9, 10 and 12, schools, Nova Scotia	3,452	52
1992	Ontario Heart Health Survey	Once	Core content: see 1986 Nova Scotia Heart Health Survey	18-74, Ontario	e H: 2,538 (70%) C: 2,039 (56%) Blood: 1,765 (49%)	53
1992	Adolescent Health Survey	Once, plans to repeat	Health status, physical and mental health, self-esteem, weight, height, body image, dietary practices, injuries, violence, sexual health, tobacco, drug and alcohol use	Grades 7-12, schools, British Columbia	15,549 (74%)	54
1992	Enquête québécoise sur la santé mentale des enfants et adolescents	Once	Mental health	6-14, Quebec	6,240 (84%)	50
1992	Enquête Santé Québec auprès des Inuits du Québec nordique	Once	General health survey, heart health and nutrition	All ages, Quebec Nunavik region (between the 55th and 63rd parallel)	1,567 (80%)	55
1992/93	Enquête sociale et de santé	Once, (some overlap in content with the 1987 survey)	General health survey, lifestyle factors, accidents, mental health, use of health services and medications	All ages, Quebec	44,000 (87%)	56
1993	Saskatchewan Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18-74, Saskatchewan	--	57
1993	Northwest Territories' Health Attitudes, Knowledge and Behaviours Study	Once	Living conditions, mental health and self-concept, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, sexuality, nutrition and physical health, leisure activities, school, friends and family relationships, community, the future	Grades 4-10, teachers, schools, Northwest Territories	Grades 4-10: 5,926 (64%) Teachers: 452 (38%)	58
1993	Yukon Health Promotion Research Program-Health Promotion Survey	Once	Health status, general, physical, mental, social and spiritual health, health knowledge, risks and behaviours, alcohol and drug use, nutrition, child safety, physical and socio-cultural environment, health services utilization	15+, Yukon	HH: 1,444 (HH: 80%)	59
1993, 1995	School-based Prevention Project Student Survey	Twice	Drug use, other risk factors	Grades 8-12, schools, British Columbia	1993: 4,913 1995: 9,401 (85%)	60
1994	Alberta Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18-74, Alberta	--	61
1995	Nova Scotia Health Survey	Twice	General health survey expanding 1986 survey-satisfaction with health, activity limitation, care giving, depression, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking and second-hand smoke, physical activity, alcohol use, multiple CVD risk factors, chronic conditions, prevention and screening practices	18+, Nova Scotia	e H: 3,227 (72%) C: 2,658 (59%)	62
1995	PEI Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18+, Prince Edward Island	--	--
1996	Newfoundland Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18+, Newfoundland	--	--
1996	Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey	Every 5 years	Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use, multiple drug use, gambling, sexual behaviour, problem use and help-seeking behaviour, school drug education and policy	Grades 7, 9, 10 and 12, schools, Nova Scotia	3,790	63
1996	New Brunswick Student Drug Use Survey (conducted other student drug use surveys using a different protocol in 1986, 1988 and 1992)	Every 5 years	See Nova Scotia's 1996 Student Drug Use Survey	Grades 7, 9, 10 and 12, schools, New Brunswick	3,352	64
1996	Newfoundland and Labrador Student Drug Use Survey	Every 5 years	See 1996 Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey	Grades 7, 9, 10 and 12, schools, Newfoundland and Labrador	3,613	65
1996	Prince Edward Island Student Drug Use Survey (conducted other student drug use surveys using a different protocol in 1972, 1976, 1982, 1990)	Every 5 years	See 1996 Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey	Grades 7, 9, 10 and 12, schools, Prince Edward Island	3,062	66
1996	NPHS-Alberta buy-in (to be included in the NPHS file)	Once	Additional questions to NPHS: health information, tanning and UV exposure, alcohol use, body image, attitudes towards parents, health services, sexual health, social support, violence/personal safety	12+, Alberta	--	--
1996/97	New Brunswick Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18-74, New Brunswick	--	--
1997/98	Manitoba Nutrition Survey	Once	Diet (24-hour recall and food frequency)	18-74, Manitoba	--	67
a This column includes major topic areas, excluding demographic questions. Questions on family relationships, income, education, occupation, and/or dwelling conditions may be included in the demographic component of each survey. b Column may include age, grade, gender, school, and/or area covered. Most surveys do not include residents of institutions, military establishments and Indian reserves and may not include remote areas. Some of the aforementioned groups may be included in telephone surveys and in the Manitoba Heart Health Survey. The surveys do not cover the territories unless specifically stated. c Sample size indicates the actual number of respondents, although in some cases it may be an approximation of that number. Response rates used were those reported for each survey, and calculation methods may vary. d Table 3 provides a sponsor, data collector and contact for each survey. e H: Home interview; C: Clinic visit; Blood: Blood sample; Sample size and response rates were taken from the Canadian Heart Health Database f HH: household response rate

TABLE 3 List of survey sponsors, data collectors and contacts for national and provincial surveys (from Tables 1 and 2)
No	Survey sponsora	Data collector	Contact(s)b
1	Department of National Health and Welfare	Provinces; Dominion Bureau of Statistics	--
2	Health Promotion Studies Unit, Program Resources Division, Health Promotion Directorate, Health Services and Promotion Branch, Health and Welfare Canada (HWC)	Statistics Canada	Michael Sivyer Special Surveys Division Statistics Canada 5th Floor, Jean Talon Bldg Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-4598 or 1-800-461-9050 Fax: (613) 951-0562 E-mail: special@statcan.ca
3	Food and Drug Directorate, Health and Welfare Canada	Health and Welfare Canada	Peter Fischer Nutrition Research Division Bureau of Nutritional Sciences Health Protection Branch Tunney's Pasture, AL: 2203C Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0L2 Tel: (613) 957-0919 Fax: (613) 941-6182 Government Archives Division National Archives of Canada 344 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N3 Tel: (613) 996-8507 Fax: (613) 996-8982
4	Health and Welfare Canada; Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	Jeanine Bustros Health Statistics Division Statistics Canada 20th Floor, RH Coats Building Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-3285 Fax: (613) 951-4198 E-mail: nphs@statcan.ca
5	Fitness and Amateur Sport, Health and Welfare Canada; Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI)	Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute	Angèle Beaulieu / Mathilde Costa Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research  Institute 185 Somerset W, Suite 201 Ottawa, Ontario  K2P 0J2 Tel: (613) 233-5528 x23/x21 Fax: (613) 233-5536
6	Education and Training Unit, Health Promotion Directorate, Health and Welfare Canada	Social Program Evaluation Group, Queen's University	Matt King Social Program Evaluation Group Queen's University Kingston, Ontario  K7L 3N6 Tel: (613) 545-6255 Fax: (613) 545-2556 E-mail: spegmail@educ.queensu.ca
7	Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	Frank Grabowiecki Health Statistics Division Statistics Canada 18th Floor, RH Coats Bldg Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-8780 Fax: (613) 951-0792
8	Housing, Family and Social Statistics Division, Census and Demographic Statistics Branch, Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	Ed Praught Housing, Family and Social Statistics Division Statistics Canada 7th Floor, Jean Talon Bldg Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-9180 Fax: (613) 951-0387
9	Health Promotion Studies Unit, Program Resources Division, Health Promotion Directorate, Health Services and Promotion Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Victorian Order of Nurses; Community Health Centres; Laval University School of Nursing	Helen Johansen Health Division Statistics Canada Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 722-5570 Fax: (613) 951-0792
10	Housing, Family and Social Statistics Division, Census and Demographic Statistics Branch, Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	Ghislaine Villeneuve Housing, Family and Social Statistics  Division Statistics Canada 7th Floor, Jean Talon Bldg Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-4995 Fax: (613) 951-0387
11	Post Censal Surveys Division, Post Censal Surveys Program, Institutions and Social Statistics Branch, Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	Derrick Thomas Housing, Family and Social Statistics  Division Statistics Canada 7th Floor, Jean Talon Bldg Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-2093 Fax: (613) 951-0387 E-mail: thomder@statcan.ca
12	Fitness and Amateur Sport, HWC; Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI); Campbell's Soup Company Limited	CFLRI	See Angèle Beaulieu / Mathilde Costa
13	National Health Research and Development Program; Federal Centre for AIDS; Health and Welfare Canada	Social Program Evaluation Group, Queen's University	See Matt King
14	Federal Centre for AIDS; Health and Welfare Canada; National Health Research and Development Program	Institute for Social Research, York University	Michael Ornstein / Anne Oram Institute for Social Research, York University 4700 Keele Street North York, Ontario  M3J 1P3 Tel: (416) 736-5061 Fax: (416) 736-5749
15	Department of National Defence	Price Waterhouse	LCdr Bechard Health Services Branch National Defence Medical Centre Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0K2 Tel: (613) 945-6784 Fax: (613) 945-6750
16	National Institute of Nutrition; Agriculture and Agri-food Canada; industry sponsors	Canadian Facts Monitor	Cheryl Conrad National Institute of Nutrition 265 Carling Ave, Suite 302 Ottawa, Ontario  K1S 2E1 Tel: (613) 235-3355 Fax: (613) 235-7032
17	WHO Europe; Health and Welfare Canada	Social Program Evaluation Group, Queen's University	Mary E Johnston Public Analysis and Systems Influences Childhood and Adolescence Division Health Promotion and Programs Branch, HC Rm 2152, Finance Bldg Tunney's Pasture, AL: 0202C Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 1B5 Tel: (613) 957-0657 Fax: (613) 952-7046 E-mail: Mary_Johnston@hc-sc.gc.ca
18	Health Policy Division, Policy Planning and Information Branch, Health and Welfare Canada; Seniors Secretariat; Fitness and Amateur Sport; Consumer and Corporate Affairs; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Secretary of State; Veterans Affairs Canada; Communications Canada; Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	See Michael Sivyer
19	Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development	Statistics Canada	See Derrick Thomas
20	___	___	Alison C Edwards Canadian Heart Health Database Centre Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Memorial University of Newfoundland Prince Philip Parkway Health Science Centre St John's, Newfoundland  A1B 3V6
21	Health Canada (Federal Family Violence Initiative)	Statistics Canada	Karen Mihorean Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics 19th Floor, RH Coats Bldg Statistics Canada Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6 Tel: (613) 951-2064 Fax: (613) 951-6615
22	Health Promotion and Programs Branch (HPPB), Population Health and Issues Directorate, Health and Welfare Canada	Statistics Canada	See Michael Sivyer
23	Office of Tobacco Control, Environmental Health Directorate, Health and Welfare Canada	Statistics Canada	Murray Kaiserman / Margaret Morin Office of Tobacco Control Environmental Health Directorate 7th Floor, Brooke Claxton Bldg Tunney's Pasture, AL: 0907D1 Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0K9 Tel: (613) 954-5851/941-5898 Fax: (613) 941-1551
24	Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	See Jeanine Bustros
25	Health and Welfare Canada	Statistics Canada	See Jeanine Bustros
26	Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada	Canadian Facts	Adwoa Bentsi-Enchill Division of Immunization Bureau of Infectious Diseases Laboratory Centre for Disease Control Tunney's Pasture, AL: 0603E1 Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0L2 Tel: (613) 954-4365 Fax: (613) 998-6413
27	Applied Research Branch, Human Resources Development Canada; Statistics Canada	Statistics Canada	Susan McKellar Applied Research Branch Human Resources Development Canada 4th Floor, Place du Portage 140 Promenade du Portage Hull, Quebec  K1A 0J9
28	Policy and Consultation Branch, Health and Welfare Canada (Tobacco Demand Reduction Strategy)	Statistics Canada	See Michael Sivyer
29	Health Canada; Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI); Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, Ontario	Institute for Social Research, York University (for CFLRI)	See Angèle Beaulieu / Mathilde Costa
30	Action Plan on Health and the Environment, Health Canada; Environmental Risk Assessment and Case Surveillance Division, Cancer Bureau, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Protection Branch (HPB), Health Canada	Provincial cancer registries	Kenneth C Johnson Environmental Risk Assessment and Case  Surveillance Division, Cancer Bureau Laboratory Centre for Disease Control Tunney's Pasture, AL: 0601C1 Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0L2 Tel: (613) 957-0339 Fax: (613) 941-1732
31	The Addiction Research Foundation	Institute for Social Research, York University (Gallup for the adult surveys until 1991)	Edward M Adlaf Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario 33 Russell Street Toronto, Ontario  M5S 2S1 Tel: (416) 595-6925 Fax: (416) 595-6899
32	Health and Welfare Canada (1982, 1987); Northwest Territories Department of Health (1993)	Northwest Territories Department of Health	Rick Tremblay Department of Health and Social Services Government of the Northwest Territories PO Box 1320 Northwest Territories  X1A 2L9 Tel: (403) 920-3299 Fax: (403) 873-7706
33	McMaster University; Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services	Statistics Canada	Yvonne Racine Centre for Studies of Children at Risk Patterson Building Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals 1200 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario  L8N 3Z5 Tel: (905) 521-2100 x4345 Fax: (905) 574-6665
34	Nova Scotia Ministry of Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Nova Scotia Ministry of Health	See Alison C Edwards or David MacLean / Jane Farquharson Heart Health Nova Scotia 5599 Fenwick Street Halifax, Nova Scotia Tel: (902) 494-1919 Fax: (902) 494-1916
35	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; Départements de santé communautaire	Santé Québec	Daniel Tremblay Santé Québec 1200, avenue McGill College, Bureau 1620 Montréal (Québec)  H3B 4J8 Tel: (514) 873-4749 Fax: (514) 864-9919
36	Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Social Services; NHRDP; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Social Services	See Alison C Edwards or Rosemary White Health and Community Services PO Box 2000 Charlottetown, PEI  C1A 7N8 Tel: (902) 368-6147 Fax: (902) 368-6136 E-mail: rewhite@ihis.org
37	New Brunswick Department of Health and Community Services; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	New Brunswick Department of Health and Community Services	See Alison C Edwards or Christofer Balram / John Boyne Department of Health and Community  Services PO Box 5100 Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5G8 Tel: (506) 453-3092 Fax: (506) 453-2726 E-mail: johnbo@gov.nb.ca
38	Department of Health, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Department of Health of Newfoundland and Labrador	See Alison C Edwards or Eleanor Swanson Health Promotion Branch Department of Health Government of Newfoundland and Labrador PO Box 8700, Confederation Building St John's, Newfoundland  A1B 4J6 Tel: (709) 729-3940 Fax: (709) 729-5824
39	British Columbia Ministry of Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	British Columbia Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for Seniors	See Alison C Edwards or Lynne Blair Population Health Resource Branch BC Ministry of Health ROTH 1, 1520 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC  V8W 3C8 Tel: (604) 952-1711 Fax: (604) 952-1713
40	Manitoba Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Manitoba Health	See Alison C Edwards or Dale Gelskey Community Health Sciences Room 421, Education Bldg 71 Curry Place Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3E 0W3 Tel: (204) 945-6846 (Cadham Lab) Fax: (204) 786-4770
41	Saskatchewan Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Saskatchewan Health	See Alison C Edwards or Bruce Reeder Department of Community Health and  Epidemiology University of Saskatchewan Health Sciences Bldg 107 Wiggins Road Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7N 5E5 Tel: (306) 966-7934 Fax: (306) 966-7920
42	Alberta Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Alberta Health	See Alison C Edwards or Ronald J Dyck / Kathleen Ness Population Health Alberta Heart Health Project, Alberta Health 24th Floor, 10025 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2P4 Tel: (403) 427-2653 Fax: (403) 427-2511
43	Nova Scotia Ministry of Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Nova Scotia Ministry of Health	David MacLean / Jane Farquharson Heart Health Nova Scotia 5599 Fenwick Street Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3H 1R2 Tel: (902) 494-1919 Fax: (902) 494-1916
44	Ontario Ministry of Health; Premier's Council on Health Strategy	Statistics Canada	Carol Paul / Jessie Wong Information, Planning and Evaluation Branch Ontario Ministry of Health 2nd Floor, 5700 Yonge Street North York, Ontario  M2M 4K5 Tel: (416) 327-7733/7734 Fax: (416) 327-7517
45	Ontario Ministry of Health; Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services; Mental Health Foundation	Statistics Canada	See Carol Paul / Jessie Wong
46	Alcohol and Drug Programs, British Columbia Ministry of Health	Campbell Goodell Consultants	Michael Egilson Alcohol and Drug Services BC Ministry of Health Main Floor, 1520 Blanchard Street Victoria, British Columbia  V8W 3C8 Tel: (250) 952-1016 Fax: (250) 952-1570
47	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; NHRDP; Disease Prevention Division, HPPB, Health and Welfare Canada	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
48	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; NHRDP; Food Directorate, HPB, Health and Welfare Canada; Disease Prevention Division, HPPB, Health and Welfare Canada	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
49	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; Départements de Santé communautaire; NHRDP; le Conseil cri de la Santé et des Services sociaux de la baie James	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
50	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
51	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; Ministère du Conseil exécutif; le Comité permanent de lutte aux drogues	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
52	Drug Dependency Services; Nova Scotia Department of Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Health Canada	Department of Community Health  and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University	Christiane Poulin Department of Community Health and Epidemiology Dalhousie University 5849 University Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3H 4H7 Tel: (902) 494-1921 Fax: (902) 494-1597
53	Ontario Ministry of Health; National Health Research and Development Program; Disease Prevention Division, Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health and Welfare Canada	Ontario Ministry of Health	See Alison C Edwards or Richard Schabas Public Health Branch Ontario Ministry of Health 5700 Yonge Street North York, Ontario  M2M 4K5 Tel: (416) 327-7392 Fax: (416) 327-7438
54	McLeary Centre Society; Vancouver Foundation; British Columbia Health Research Foundation; Lions Gate Medical Research Foundation	McLeary Centre Society; provincial health units	Roger Tonkin / Aileen Murphy Overlynn Centre for Youth Health 401 N Esmond Avenue Burnaby, BC  V5C 1S4 Tel: (604) 291-1996 Fax: (604) 291-7308
55	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; National Health Research and Development Program (NHRDP); Nunavik Regional Council of Health and Social Services	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
56	Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; les Régies régionales de la santé et des Services sociaux	Santé Québec	See Daniel Tremblay
57	Saskatchewan Health; NHRDP; Food Directorate, HPB, HWC; Disease Prevention Division, HPPB, Health and Welfare Canada	University of Saskatchewan	___
58	North West Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment; National Health Research and Development Program; Health and Welfare Canada	Social Program Evaluation Group, Queen's University	Barb Hall / Gina Corvari NWT Department of Education, Culture and  Employment Box 1320 Yellowknife, NT  X1A 2L9 Tel: (403) 873-7678/7677 Fax: (403) 873-0109
59	Health and Welfare Canada; Yukon Government Department of Health and Social Services; Yukon Bureau of Statistics	Yukon Bureau of Statistics, Yukon Territorial Government	Joe MacGillivray Yukon Bureau of Statistics PO Box 2703 Whitehorse, YT  Y1A 2C6 Tel: (403) 667-5950 Fax: (403) 393-6203
60	Alcohol and Drug Services, British Columbia Ministry of Health	Institute of Health Promotion Research, University of British Columbia	See Michael Egilson
61	Alberta Health; NHRDP; Food Directorate, HPB, HWC; Disease Prevention Division, HPPB, Health and Welfare Canada	Alberta Health	___
62	Nova Scotia Ministry of Health; NHRDP; Disease Prevention Division, HPPB, Health and Welfare Canada	Nova Scotia Ministry of Health	See David MacLean / Jane Farquharson
63	Drug Dependency Services; Nova Scotia Department of Health; NHRDP; Health Canada (the standardized survey protocol)	Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University	See Christiane Poulin
64	Department of Health and Community Services, New Brunswick	Department of Health and Community Services, New Brunswick	John Boyne Department of Health and Community  Services PO Box 5100 Fredericton, NB  E3B 5G8 Tel: (506) 457-4983 Fax: (506) 453-2780 E-mail: johnbo@gov.nb.ca
65	Department of Health and Department of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; RCMP	Department of Health, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador	Carol Anne MacDonald / Beverly Clarke Addiction Services Department of Health Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 1st Floor, Confederation Building PO Box 8700 St John's, Newfoundland A1B 4J6 Tel: (709) 729-0623 Fax: (709) 729-5824
66	Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Social Services; PEI Department of Education	Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Social Services; schools	Linda Van Til / Emily Bryant Department of Health and Social Services PO Box 2000 Charlottetown, PEI  C1A 7N8 Tel: (902) 368-4964/368-6509 Fax: (902) 368-4969
67	Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch, Health Canada; Manitoba Health; University of Manitoba	University of Manitoba	___
a Sponsor: organization(s) that paid for and/or organized the survey b Statistics Canada can also be reached at general telephone/fax numbers: Tel: (613) 951-8116 or 1-800-263-1136; Fax: (613) 951-0581.

TABLE 4 National commercial surveys, 1982-1997
Year initiated	Survey	Frequency	Target populationa (approximate sample size)	Contact
1982/83	Canadian Eating Habits Survey	Every 5 years	3+, provinces (4,000)	Peter Greeensmith Market Facts of Canada Ltd 77 Bloor Street West, 12th Floor Toronto, Ontario  M5S 3A4 Tel: (416) 964-6262 Fax: (416) 964-5882
1987	Environmental Monitor	Quarterly	18+, provinces (1,500)	Doug Miller International Environmental Monitor Ltd 50 Lombard Street, Suite 2703 Toronto, Ontario  M5C 2X4 Tel: (416) 230-2231 Fax: (416) 363-5156
1988	Canada Health Monitor	Semi-annual	15+, provinces (2,500)	Earl Berger Canada Health Monitor Standard Life Centre 121 King Street West, Suite 700 Toronto, Ontario  M5H 3X7 Tel: (416) 368-0267 Fax: (416) 868-0362
1989	CRA Atlantic Omnibus Survey	Quarterly	18+, 4 Atlantic provinces (1,500)	Keith Newman Corporate Research Associates Inc 2695 Dutch Village Road, Suite 700 Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3L 4V2 Tel: (902) 421-1336 Fax: (902) 453-0344
1989	Beverage Consumption Study	Quarterly and annual	All ages, provinces (6,000)	Lauran Timlin Market Facts of Canada Ltd 77 Bloor Street West, 12th Floor Toronto, Ontario  M5S 3A4 Tel: (416) 964-6262 Fax: (416) 964-5882
1993	The Elder Monitor	Semi-annual	50+, provinces (1,500)	Doug Miller Synergistics Consulting 50 Lombard Street, Suite 2703 Toronto, Ontario  M5C 2X4 Tel: (416) 366-3083 Fax: (416) 363-5156
1993	Roper Reports Canada	Semi-annual	18+, provinces (1,200)	Mark Sudnick Starch Research Services Limited 29 Gervais Drive, Suite 309 Don Mills, Ontario  M3C 1Y9 Tel: (416) 391-2468 Fax: (416) 391-3876
a Target population includes age and area covered.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Bill Bradley and Prem Khosla for their advice and assistance, and for access to the DDMS/WinDAIS metabase of information on Canadian health surveys, which laid the groundwork for this report. We also thank Jonathan Stein and Laura Brown for their help in preparing this report, as well as the numerous contributors who provided us with information on the surveys listed here.

References

1. Bradburn NM, Sudman S. Polls and surveys-understanding what they tell us. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1988.

2. Department of National Health and Welfare and Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Illness and health care in Canada- Canadian Sickness Survey, 1950/51. Ottawa, 1960; Cat 82-518.

3. Statistics Canada (Health Division). A review of national health surveys in Canada, 1978-1987. In: Health Reports-Prototype. Ottawa, 1988; Cat 82-003:28-50.

4. Nutrition Canada. Nutrition-a national priority. Ottawa: Department of National Health and Welfare, 1973; Cat H58-36.

5. Millar W, Gentlemen J. An inventory of Canadian health surveys, 1966-1991 [internal report]. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Health Information, Statistics Canada; 1991.

6. Adams O, Ramsay T, Millar W. Overview of selected health surveys in Canada, 1985-1991. Health Reports 1992;4(1):25-51.

7. Health and Welfare Canada (King AJC, Coles B). The health of Canada's youth. Views and behaviours of 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds from 11 countries. Ottawa, 1992.

8. King A, Wold B, Tudor-Smith C, Harel Y. The health of youth: a cross-national survey. Europe: World Health Organization, 1996.

9. Adlaf EM, Ivis FJ, Smart RG, Walsh GW. The Ontario Student Drug Use Survey: 1977-1995. Toronto: Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, 1995.

10. Poulin, Christiane. Nova Scotia student drug use 1996: technical report. Halifax: Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Department of Health, 1996.

11. MacLean DR, Petrasovits A, Nargundkar M, Connelly PW, MacLeod E, Edwards A, et al. Canadian heart health surveys: a profile of cardiovascular risk survey methods and data analysis. Can Med Assoc J 1992;146(11):1969-74.  

Author References

Ora Kendall, Prevention Division, Cancer Bureau, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada, Tunney's Pasture, Address Locator: 0602E2, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0L2
Tammy Lipskie, Early Detection and Treatment Division, Cancer Bureau, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada
Shauna MacEachern, Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario

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