In order to examine the extent to which data are available for, and relevant to, rural health research, a list of existing data sources was compiled.

Many data sources maintained by Statistics Canada or CIHI were systematically searched with the objective of identifying the types and nature of health and related data available to rural health researchers. Knowledgeable individuals from different research centres, health planning agencies, and ministries of health were canvassed and consulted.

Data sources screened during the review process were included in this inventory if they provide:

• Readily available national data.
  

• Data that can be disaggregated into rural and non-rural geographies.
  

• Data that are relevant to a variety of rural health issues.
  

Those databases pertaining to health status, health determinants and health services utilization were further examined in terms of:

• The availability of key variables allowing directly or indirectly the classification of records by one or more definitions of rural.
  

• Their relevance to the rural context.
  

Appendix B lists a number of important databases that were included in the review process but were found not to contain geographic variables that fit any of the definitions of rural presented by du Plessis et al. (2002).

References
Du Plessis V, R Beshiri, RD Bollman and H Clemenson (2002). Definitions of "Rural". Agriculture and Rural Working Paper Series, Working Paper No. 61. Ottawa, Ontario: Statistics Canada, Agricultural Division. Available at: http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/21-601-MIE/21-601-MIE2002061.htm