Grant: Operating Grant

Despite limited systematic data on its presence in northern Canada, Helicobacter pylori infection has been an emerging health concern in northern Aboriginal communities, where people are becoming aware of its health risks. In many such communities, people worry about the link between H. pylori and stomach cancer, a cancer that occurs more frequently in this region than on average across Canada. Physicians in the north view this infection as a major problem because it is found in many patients with common stomach complaints and standard treatment is often ineffective in this setting. Health authorities have identified the need for research aimed at developing H. pylori control strategies appropriate for the north. The proposed research seeks to generate knowledge about how health care decision makers can effectively manage H. pylori infection in a manner that addresses community concerns. To begin working toward these goals, the applicants formed the Canadian North Helicobacter pylori (CANHelp) Working Group, a collaborative team that links the University of Alberta with northern health authorities and community organizations. While the research goals require data from multiple northern settings, the team conducted a pilot project as a starting point in Aklavik, NWT, where they found that 62% of 355 participants had H. pylori infection, and among those infected, there was a high prevalence of precancerous stomach conditions. The objectives of the current proposal, developed at the request of northern communities are to: 1) Expand the research to additional communities in the NWT and Yukon to obtain representative data for informing regional public health strategies pertaining to H. pylori infection; 2) Identify cost-effective H. pylori management strategies for northern communities; 3) Create knowledge exchange strategies to help community members understand H. pylori health risks and currently available solutions.