May 2012

In this issue :

Doctors taking prevention to heart, 2nd edition   |   Demystifying midwifery
  |   Is the environment making us sick?   |  
Cancer and depression screening : A double standard 
|   Latest publications and communications  
|   Tell us what you're up to  |  


 

 

Doctors taking prevention to heart, 2nd edition

 

Cover "Pour que les médecins aient la prévention à coeur"
 
"Doctors taking prevention to heart"

Brigitte Maheux, professor and director of the community medicine clerkship at the University of Montreal, is pleased to announce the release of the electronic version of Pour que les médecins aient la prévention à coeur.

The objective of this document is to bring the community medicine clerkship to the attention of professors, program directors and students in the faculty of medicine, and anyone interested in medical education.

The document describes the learning objectives and structure of the clerkship which takes place at the Montreal Public Health Department (DSP) and the satellite campus in Mauricie simultaneously. It lists the individuals involved in the program and outlines the measures put in place to ensure that physicians graduating from the Université de Montréal take prevention to heart.


Contact : Brigitte Maheux, Chairholder,
brigitte.maheux@umontreal.ca

 

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Demystifying midwifery

 



  Mme Valérie Leuchtmann, Midwife,
Maison de naissance du Boisé
Photo : Louise Lefort

Twelve years after its legalization in Quebec, the role of the midwife remains poorly understood. There is a persisting level of ignorance and prejudice against its practice in medical circles.

Midwifery is fashioned to respond to the needs of women and their families for a ‘more natural, less medicalized’ pregnancy and birth experience in keeping with their values. It is estimated that by 2018, midwives would be providing pregnancy and delivery care to 10 % of pregnant women.

The Université de Montréal offers its 4th year medical students, the opportunity to complete field activities in a birthing centre staffed by midwives. Medical students can thus become acquainted with the midwife's approach to providing support for women and families preparing for childbirth and parenthood. Students can also learn about the extensive knowledge and skill set of a midwife. 

Such an experience exposes these future physicians to midwifery with the hope of fostering collaboration between the two groups of health professionals.

Contact : Louise Lefort, llefort@santepub-mtl.qc.ca

 

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Is the environment making us sick?

 



Visit to the Saint-Michel environmental complex
Photo : Louise Lefort

The community medicine clerkship at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine includes training in environmental health. The integration of an environmental perspective into medical training demonstrates on awareness on the part of health professionals, to the importance of the patient's environment and the need to identify problems directly or indirectly linked to it.

Organized visits at three sites (des Baillets potable water plant, the J.R. Marcotte water treatment plant, and the Saint-Michel environmental complex) expose students to issues related to water, air and soil quality, and to the various measures employed by the City of Montreal in preserving the health of its population.

Below are a few comments that demonstrate students' interest in environmental health:

"I had no idea of the extent to which a doctor could be involved in this area. I thought that in choosing medicine, I was giving up on issues that are important to me, such as environmental awareness. The environmental health course was a revelation!"

"Thanks to the environmental health course, I'm much more aware of the problems of air and water pollution, climate change and environmental emergencies. I’ve gained a more concrete understanding of how the environment can contribute to health problems among the population. In the future, I’ll ask patients where they live, which would help in the screening for potential health problems."

"I didn't know (the environment) could have such harmful effects on patients with chronic diseases (for example, the effects of smog on people with asthma or COPD). It seems important to take concrete steps to improve our environment so we can protect our planet and have a positive impact on the health of our populations."

Contact : Alice de Forges, alice.de.forges.de.parny@umontreal.ca

 

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Cancer and depression screening : A double standard

 


The emphasis placed by family medicine preceptors on cancer screening far outweighs that placed on screening for depression. This was revealed by the MPAC study conducted in 2010 and 2011 among graduating family physicians of Université Laval and the Université de Montréal (click here to see the Table).


Since, it is estimated that 1 in 10 Canadians would suffer from depression in the course of their lifetime, identifying and treating depressed individuals can reduce the risk of deaths due to suicide, accidents and substance abuse. This is why the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends systematic screening for depression in settings where follow-up can be provided.

Contact : Louise Lefort, llefort@santepub-mtl.qc.ca

 

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Latest publications of the Chair


The challenge of teaching occupational medicine to medical students : The Université de Montréal experience
Baillargeon M, Maheux B, Gilbert A, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011; 53 (11) : 1258-1261.

Latest communications of the Chair

Do family medicine preceptors value the assessment of patients’ lifestyle risk factors and home / work environments? Perceptions of recent graduates. (Poster)
Maheux B, Provost S, Gilbert A, Côté L, Authier L et Lefort L, The International Conference on Residency Education, Québec, septembre 2011.

Vision de la relève en médecine familiale sur la collaboration entre médecins et pharmaciens
Côté L, Normandeau M, Maheux B, Gilbert A, Authier L et Lefort L, Forum en médecine familiale, Montréal, novembre 2011. (Présentation orale)

Vision de la relève en médecine familiale sur la collaboration entre médecins et pharmaciens
Côté L, Normandeau M, Maheux B, Gilbert A, Authier L et Lefort L, La conférence internationale sur la formation des résidents, Québec, septembre 2011. (Présentation orale)

Importance given to preventive care in family medicine programs (Poster)
Maheux B, Provost S,  Gilbert A, Côté L, Authier L,  Lefort L et Sobanjo O, Family Medicine Forum, Montréal, november 2011. (Présentation orale)

Le partage des activités professionnelles entre médecins et infirmières : qu’en pensent les futurs médecins de famille?
Gilbert A, Maheux B, Lefort L, Authier L, Côté L, et Provost S, Forum en médecine familiale, Montréal, novembre 2011. (Présentation orale)

Préparer les futurs médecins aux défis de la collaboration interprofessionnelle
Maheux B, Gilbert A, Lebel P, Blais R, Lajeunesse J, Dumez V et Lecler M, Colloque en pédagogie médicale et des sciences de la santé, 80e congrès de l’ACFAS, Montréal, mai 2012. (Présentation orale)

Utilisation des TICs pour la formation et l’évaluation des étudiants dans le domaine de la prévention
Desaulniers M, Maheux B et Sobanjo O, Colloque en pédagogie médicale et des sciences de la santé, 80e congrès de l’ACFAS, Montréal, mai 2012. (Présentation orale)


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Tell us what you're up to

The Espace Prévention newsletter is a communication channel for anyone interested in better equipping future doctors for their role in prevention. If you are involved in developing educational tools or prevention activities, please submit an article to the newsletter or contact us.

Contact : Brigitte Maheux, Chairholder, brigitte.maheux@umontreal.ca

 

 

 

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