As Canada’s healthcare landscape continues to evolve and all levels of government are exploring how
to best address its challenges, Advanis continues to support these efforts through a wide range of
research studies in the healthcare sector. For over two decades we’ve conducted healthcare research
for government agencies and ministries across Canada and have surveyed a diverse range of
populations, including difficult to reach populations and in situations where the use of traditional
surveying modes may not be viable. Our team’s experience with non-traditional techniques means we
are in a position to consider and propose methods tailored to meeting each project’s specific needs,
while still adhering to shared research standards. The following case study is an example of where
Advanis ventured off the beaten track by working closely with staff at 16 centres across Canada that
serve street-involved youth to address the study objectives.
Thinking Outside the Box
The Substance use among street-involved youth in Canada: Pan-Canadian findings from the People with Lived and Living Experience Survey is one of those projects where traditional means of surveying
the target population was not possible. Not only in terms of reaching the target audience, but also because of the difficulty of establishing a bond of trust with the population and gaining their support to participate in the research project. Health Canada's Bureau of Drug Research and Surveillance (BDRS) collaborated with Advanis to conduct a sentinel site survey to examine the prevalence of alcohol and drug use among street-involved youth aged 14 to 24.
A convenience sampling approach was used to identify sentinel sites (centres that serve street-involved youth) in urban areas. To get the sites on board, Advanis reached out to each site and provided information about the program, including an introductory letter provided by Health Canada and an overview of how the site would be compensated for their participation. Interested sites were invited to an introductory meeting attended by Health Canada and Advanis. The purpose of the meeting was to present the program, answer questions from potential sites, and confirm whether a site was suitable for the study.
Advanis provided the organizations that agreed to participate in the study with cell phones and SIM
cards, and trained their staff to conduct the survey. The questionnaire included both a quantitative and
qualitative component. To allow for unfiltered feedback, respondents were given the opportunity to
provide qualitative feedback either as part of the online survey (in writing), or via an automated voice recording (conducted by site staff). For young people who were uncomfortable or unable to complete
the questionnaire themselves, sentinel site staff provided the option to read the questions for them and
enter the answers on their behalf. A separate follow-up staff survey was also conducted to obtain
information on the overall quality of the interview. In total, 442 young Canadians took part in the survey.
Read the selected results here ⇒