Research program and analytical framework

The FORCES-Santé research program is structured around three complementary components:

Analysis of health service needs, demand, and supply

This component examines the living conditions of Francophone minority communities (FMCs) and certain health indicators in order to identify vulnerabilities, assess demand, and determine needs in social and health services. Service supply is also analyzed in terms of the availability of French-language services and bilingual human resources by care sector and region. Equity of access is then assessed by comparing the offer of services in the language of the Francophone minority and in that of the Anglophone majority.

Study of the impact of policies, practice models, and training on active offer

This component examines, through a Francophone lens, the public policies and organizational practices that facilitate or hinder the balance between supply and demand for social and health services in French. It documents the organizational capacities and strategies for adapting services to the needs of Francophone minority communities (FMCs), taking into account resource allocation policies and intervention models.

Knowledge mobilization and data visualization

Knowledge mobilization is based on the ongoing processing and dissemination of information. FORCES-Santé pursues this commitment by identifying relevant evidence and highlighting it through various tools: synthesis products, literature reviews, research briefs, infographics, and other resources that facilitate science communication and application of best practices.

The development of a geographic data visualization platform – the Data Showcase – will provide access to different layers of information, including those on Francophone populations, the availability of French-language health services, as well as available and potential bilingual human resources. This platform will make it possible to visualize the adequacy of service provision in relation to needs and equity of access. The Data Showcase will be a valuable integrated source of information for decision-makers, researchers, and Francophone communities, leading to informed decision-making and improving French-language health services.

Analytical framework

Since the 2000s, healthcare systems have become more complex and costly. Their performance is a key government priority. Organizations such as the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have developed evaluation frameworks to analyze their effectiveness, which are essential tools for policy development and service planning. These indicators examine the needs of the population, available resources and structures, services offered, and their outcomes.

Drawing on these frameworks, we analyze health demand and needs of Francophone minority communities (FMCs) through the lens of social determinants and key health indicators, and we evaluate the supply of French-language services, including the availability of a bilingual workforce, as well as its adequacy to meet needs from an equity perspective.

Our research program seeks to answer four key questions :

To what extent do services meet the needs of Francophone minority communities (FMCs)?
Do these populations have equitable access to services in their language?
What are the best practices for providing access to services in French?
What measures would improve the performance of health systems with respect to these communities?

Framework inspired by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 2013, and the Conseil de la santé et du bien-être (CSBE), 2022

See the full research proposal (In French)

Through these initiatives, FORCES-Santé contributes to a better understanding of the health issues facing Francophone minority communities (FMCs) and to the improvement of policies and practices for equitable access to care.

Research program and analytical framework

Analytical framework

Let's bring science and communities together to improve equity, access, and quality of care in French in all minority situations across Canada.

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