Category(s):
Health
Status: Closed
Principal: Ted McDonald
Project Number: P0087
Year Approved: 2022
Year Completed: 2025
COVID-19 public health measures have played a central role in reducing the risk of severe illness and death, but they also created challenges in accessing other types of care. When cases increased across New Brunswick, many procedures were delayed and some people had difficulty obtaining medications. These disruptions reflected national and international trends that showed sharp declines in surgeries, diagnostic evaluations and routine health services during the early stages of the pandemic. Delays in treatment have been linked to worse health outcomes, higher mortality and increased health system costs, even for procedures that are usually considered low acuity. Reduced activity and mobility during long waits also affected quality of life for many patients.
Health care avoidance contributed to further risks. Across Canada, emergency department visits dropped sharply. While fewer injuries likely played a role, many people avoided medical settings because of concerns about contracting COVID-19. This pattern suggests that some individuals did not receive timely care for chronic or acute conditions.
Less is known about how barriers to care differed across groups. Factors such as region, socioeconomic status, household composition and newcomer status may have shaped how people experienced delays.
This project will compare health service use and health outcomes in New Brunswick before and during the pandemic. The goal is to understand impacts on different demographic and socioeconomic groups and to identify where future health needs and costs may be greater, especially for those who are more vulnerable.
