Paediatric residents shine light on child poverty

National Resident Advocacy Day, now in its third year, gives residents hands-on experience in the CanMEDS role of health advocate and helps to raise awareness about critical child and youth health issues. For 2013, residents focused on child poverty, in part because of the impact it can have on long-term health.

“Poor health in childhood leads to poor health in adult[hood] and that’s becoming hugely taxing on the system,” said Dr. Stefan Slomp, a resident at the University of Saskatchewan. “From a financial standpoint it makes sense to make a difference early, but even for humane social reasons, I think we certainly could do better for our kids.”

University of Saskatchewan residents hosted a booth at Royal University Hospital, providing information and handouts to passersby. The residents also raised more than $600 in their one-day campaign, which was used to buy grocery cards for families who use the Student Wellness Initiative  clinic in downtown Saskatoon.

“It was nice to make that difference…. but even bigger than that, we got to raise awareness about child poverty, not just for the general public, but ... for other residents and hospital staff,” said Dr. Slomp.

At the University of Toronto, residents attended a Grand Rounds about social determinants of health and a presentation about health challenges and barriers to care for immigrant and refugee children new to Canada. Residents also met to review difficult poverty-related cases they’ve encountered, as well as to discuss projects aimed at helping families in at-risk neighbourhoods.

Dr. Ryan Smith, a University of Toronto paediatric resident, said advocacy is much more than meeting a CANMEDS competency. He knows it will also help him become a better doctor.

Dr. Smith said paediatricians need to appreciate the impact that socio-economic challenges can have on a patient’s health, and how those challenges may contribute to chronic health conditions over time.

He cited asthma as an example. While there are many factors at play, asthma patients are more likely to have limited access to healthcare, live in inadequate housing and have exposure to environmental irritants such as cockroaches, dust mites, cigarette smoke and other aeroallergens. These patients may also be more likely to be from a lower socio-economic background, said Dr. Smith.

“Recognizing that these disparities exist is an initial step in my training, and appreciating the impact on a much larger scale is needed going forward,” said Dr. Smith.

This annual initiative of the CPS Residents Section is supported by the Healthy Generations Foundation. A total of 16 paediatric residency programs participated in the most recent event, which took place on November 20, 2013.

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