Project 467151

The number of Canadians living with diabetes is projected to grow from 10% to 30% by 2030. African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) adults have a 6.6 times higher prevalence of diabetes compared to white adults, with an increasing incidence in ACB women. Early prevention and optimal diabetes care is needed to reduce complications. Systemic racism impacts access to care and outcomes as much as behavioural factors. Healthcare organizations may commit to addressing systemic racism, but without data available, it is unlikely that specific inequities can be identified with actions to reduce them implemented. This project utilizes a unique dataset at the St Michael Hospital Academic Family Health Team in Toronto, where 15,000 patients have provided data on race/ethnicity and other social determinants, linked to their electronic medical records (EMR). We will use active community-engagement to interpret data on diabetes inequities and co-design solutions that can be implemented in primary care. An advisory team consisting of patient partners, community partners from Diabetes Canada, TAIBU Community Health Centre which serves ACB-populations, the Black Health Alliance, and the Black Physician Association of Ontario will be formed. A retrospective EMR analysis will be performed to identify diabetic ACB patients, and compare healthcare access (visits, prescriptions) and outcomes (A1c, BP, renal function, complications) to other patients. Quarterly advisory group meetings to discuss data and formulate solutions will be arranged. We aim to describe and employ best-practices to utilizing race data in primary care from a project's inception to completion. This project will result in targeted interventions to improve diabetes care and engagement in care that are applicable across Canada.