HHSP. The first program of its kind in Canada

A Ministry-funded Nurse Practitioner (NP) involved in the Healthy Heart Schools Program is required to collect OHIP numbers for students receiving assessments. The NP conducts blood pressure assessments and, when funding permits, reviews cholesterol screening results. Parents and students are contacted if follow-up care is recommended.

No. Participation in the Healthy Heart Schools Program is completely voluntary. However, we encourage students to take part, as the program provides valuable education and screening focused on heart health and disease prevention. Heart Niagara respects the wishes of both students and parents regarding participation.

Yes. Students and families are encouraged to complete only the booklet sections they are comfortable with before Heart Niagara’s school visit. During the assessment, students may choose which components they wish to participate in, including height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure measurements. Students are encouraged to participate only in the parts they feel comfortable with.

The consent allows Heart Niagara to use the information gathered for research. The parent or student can sign to participate in data gathering and analysis. When funding is available for cholesterol testing a parent signature is required for the finger prick blood test.

Completed questionnaires are collected by Heart Niagara staff at the end of the assessment and returned to the Heart Niagara office. The information is entered into a secure database, and all questionnaires are securely stored for seven years before being professionally shredded.

The information stored in the secure database is de-identified and exported meeting research ethics standards. This means that prior to any data being shared with researcher partners, all personally identifying information is removed.

The questionnaire collects information related to heart health as well as broader factors that can influence overall health, known as the social determinants of health. Information such as income, employment, and education helps provide a better understanding of the factors that may impact long-term health and wellness.

Family history is an important factor in understanding a person’s risk for heart disease. These clinical questions help support research and prevention efforts by identifying patterns and risk factors that may impact long-term heart health.