Area of Focuss category: Survey

Long Term Care Family Experience Survey

Health Quality Alberta conducts surveys with family members of residents in long-term care facilities across Alberta. The information we collect and analyze is shared with each long term care facility, Alberta Health Services and the government to help inform future improvements.

In 2017, we conducted the fourth long term care family experience survey in collaboration with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services. The results of this survey were released in 2018. Surveys were also conducted in 2014-15, 2010-11, and 2007-08.

Alberta Continuing Care Act language effective April 1, 2024.  Historical references to home care and facility-based continuing care (including home care, designated supportive living, and long term care) may not reflect the updated language or terms found in the new Alberta Continuing Care Act. Refer to the Alberta Health Services Continuing Care Glossary for definitions.

Overweight & Obesity in Adult Albertans

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the prevalence, burden, and rates of use of a number of key healthcare services for overweight and obese individuals. The report also provides a rationale for the role of primary healthcare in weight management for adult Albertans living with overweight and obesity.

In 2014, the Health Quality Alberta conducted a survey of adult Albertans about their use and satisfaction with healthcare services. As part of this survey, self-reported height and weight were collected from individuals in order to calculate their body mass index. According to these findings, nearly six out of 10 Albertans over the age of 18 were either overweight or obese. The estimated provincial prevalence of adults with overweight and obesity was 35.2 per cent and 23.9 per cent, respectively. In addition, obesity was associated with an increased risk of multiple comorbidities, greater use of healthcare system services, and a lower self-rated individual quality of life.

Managing overweight and obese populations, as well as comorbid conditions, falls predominantly on primary healthcare providers. Evidence shows that diverse strategies for the management of overweight and obesity within primary healthcare are associated with benefits in weight management; however, the most effective mix of providers, interventions, and duration requires further evaluation. Moving forward, Alberta may benefit from working towards a more unified strategy for weight management that includes opportunities to engage Albertans in discussions about weight management, and to increase the use of team-based care across all weight categories.

Emergency Department Survey

Health Quality Alberta surveys Albertans about their experience at select emergency departments (EDs) in the province (see list below). We share the information we collect with Alberta Health Services to help inform future improvements.

For more information: Emergency department patient experience survey FAQ

We also report a selection of the results publicly via our online monitoring tool, FOCUS on Healthcare. The emergency department area of FOCUS on Healthcare features interactive charts that are updated quarterly (every three months) and present emergency department administrative data as well as patient experience survey data.

Adding Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) to our emergency department experience survey
Some patients who participate in the Health Quality Alberta’s emergency department experience survey may be contacted by the Health Quality Alberta to participate in an additional study that is testing a new questionnaire about emergency department outcomes. Click here for information about this study.

Currently, the Health Quality Alberta conducts patient experience surveys in the following emergency departments:

  • Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary
  • Chinook Regional Hospital, Lethbridge
  • Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary
  • Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Edmonton
  • Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, Medicine Hat
  • Misericordia Community Hospital, Edmonton
  • Northern Lights Regional Health, Fort McMurray
  • Peter Lougheed Centre, Calgary
  • Queen Elizabeth II, Grande Prairie
  • Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer
  • Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary
  • Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton
  • South Health Campus, Calgary
  • Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton
  • Sturgeon Community Hospital, St. Albert
  • University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton