Abstract
Background: Sugar-sweetened beverage taxation has been proposed as a public health policy to reduce consumption, and compared with other ethnic or racialized groups in Canada, off-reserve Indigenous populations consume sugar-sweetened beverages at higher frequencies and quantities. We sought to explore the acceptability and anticipated outcomes of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages among Indigenous adults residing in an inner-city Canadian neighbourhood.
Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted semistructured interviews (November 2019–August 2020) with urban Indigenous adults using purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using theoretical thematic analysis.
Results: All 20 participants (10 female, 8 male and 2 two-spirit) consumed sugar-sweetened beverages on a regular, daily basis at the time of the interview or at some point in their lives. Most participants were opposed to and concerned about the prospect of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation owing to 3 interconnected themes: government is not trustworthy, taxes are ineffective and lead to inequitable outcomes, and Indigenous self-determination is critical. Participants discussed government’s mismanagement of previous taxes and lack of prioritization of their community’s specific needs. Most participants anticipated that Indigenous people in their community would continue to consume sugar-sweetened beverages, but that a tax would result in fewer resources for other necessities, including foods deemed healthy.
Interpretation: Low support for the tax among urban Indigenous people is characterized by distrust regarding the tax, policy-makers and its perceived effectiveness. Findings underscore the importance of self-determination in informing health policies that are equitable and nonstigmatizing.
Sugar-sweetened beverage intake is a global public health concern because of its association with incident type 2 diabetes.1,2 As such, health authorities such as the World Health Organization, Diabetes Canada, and Heart and Stroke Foundation, among others, are urging governments to implement sugar-sweetened beverage taxation to reduce consumption. 3,4 In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador is the first, and so far only, province to implement an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages,5 though other provincial parties have included sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in their election campaigns or explored the policy, including in Manitoba.6–8
Urban Indigenous people represent a key interested group with regard to sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. Off-reserve Indigenous people consume sugar-sweetened beverages at a higher frequency and volume than other ethnic or racialized groups.9,10 Food insecurity and lower income are associated with greater consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.9,10 Given that Indigenous people are also disproportionately affected by food insecurity11 and poverty12 compared with non-Indigenous populations, these disparities likely contribute to higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among Indigenous people, though there are likely other factors that contribute to higher intake. Importantly, social, economic and health disparities among Indigenous people are attributable to historical, as well as contemporary, colonial policies.13 Government-led policies tend to have poor implementation and outcomes among Indigenous people because they are designed by non-Indigenous people, informed by associated ideologies and utilize a deficit lens.14 It is therefore critical to explore the acceptability of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation among Indigenous people.
Public acceptability is an important aspect of the implementation of population-level policies.15 Support among the target population is associated with higher effectiveness of health care measures in changing behaviour and benefiting overall health.16 Behaviour modification intended by a proposed tax in an urban setting may be challenging owing to the high prevalence of poverty among Indigenous people, lack of full-service grocery stores and abundance of convenience stores, which elevate the price of food significantly.12,17 Unintended effects of sugar-sweetened beverage tax policy may therefore exacerbate health inequities among individuals or communities who are not in a position to change behaviours as readily. For example, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages are regressive,18 meaning lower-income populations pay a higher proportion of their income, which could exacerbate existing economic disparities and food insecurity.
Health inequities experienced by Indigenous people are a direct result of settler colonialism, as reported in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada,13 and as such, a critical inquiry of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation should be conducted through a decolonizing lens.19 A decolonizing framework seeks to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and approaches to research, as well as recognize, decentre and dismantle oppressive colonial systems and policies. Specifically, we were interested in examining the main themes of settler colonialism, spatial structures, power structures and social narratives, as they relate to the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.20 Spatial structures are important when we consider where people purchase drinks (and associated costs), especially in urban settings where the abundant convenience stores are more expensive, and full-service grocery stores are farther removed. Power structures, in the form of law and policymaking, also bring about questions of who has the power to decide what we tax and what tax revenue is used for. Finally, given that policy-making is a socially constructed phenomena, we also sought to explore how social narratives inform perspectives of sugar-sweetened beverage purchasing, how the “problem” of sugar-sweetened beverage purchasing has been framed and constructed, and how these understandings may inform acceptability of taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages.
We sought to explore the acceptability and anticipated outcomes of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages among Indigenous adults residing in an inner-city Canadian neighbourhood.
Methods
This community-based participatory research study was conducted in partnership with the National Indigenous Diabetes Association (NIDA) and Fearless R2W, two Indigenous-led community organizations based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, focused on diabetes care and prevention, and child–parent welfare, respectively. In line with the 9 principles of community-based participatory research,21 we worked closely with community partners on formulating research objectives, developing research instruments, collecting and interpreting data, knowledge translation, publication and developing policy recommendations, ensuring that all partners equitably partake in decision-making, sharing of knowledge and responsibilities in all phases of the research. The research question was developed in response to widespread endorsement of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation by various health organizations and the need for Indigenous organizations to gather their own data to inform their position. The principal investigator developed separate research agreements with NIDA and Fearless R2W, outlining the shared values of the study; the study objectives; roles and responsibilities; funding, employment and training opportunities; knowledge dissemination; and ownership, control, access and possession of the data. Frequent meetings allowed us to adjust elements of the study as needed based on community needs and preferences, and pandemic-related contexts. The research process was informed by a decolonizing framework19 as described above. The complete study protocol is available in Appendix 1, available at www.cmajopen.ca/content/11/5/E922/suppl/DC1.
Study setting
Participants were recruited from the North End community area located within the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Treaty One territory. Winnipeg is home to the largest number of Indigenous people of any metropolitan area in Canada, with 92 810 residents, or 12.2% of total population, self-identifying as Indigenous (54% Métis, 44% First Nation).22 The North End community area has long included the largest proportion of Indigenous people, constituting 29% of the area’s total population. 23 The North End is the lowest-income neighbourhood cluster in the city of Winnipeg with considerable health and social disparities, including higher prevalence of diabetes, single-parent families and rates of unemployment.23,24 In addition to these inequities, the North End is characterized as a food desert, where full-service or chain grocery stores are located 500 m or farther from low-income households,25 though we acknowledge critiques of this concept as oversimplified.26
Study participants and recruitment
The study included self-identifying Indigenous people aged 18 years or older residing in the North End, and who speak English. Using purposive sampling, we aimed to recruit individuals who regularly consumed sugar-sweetened beverages, took care of dependents and experienced food insecurity to capture a diversity of relevant perspectives. We also aimed to recruit Elders with strong connection to the North End, as identified by the community research assistant (R.D.) and community partner (M.R.C.). Recruitment was led by a research assistant (R.D.) known to community residents who shares a similar background as a self-identifying Indigenous adult living in the North End. The research project was introduced to community members at a feast organized together with Fearless R2W at North End’s Indigenous Family Centre, a common space of gathering within the neighbourhood. At the feast, interested community members were invited to sign up for the study with the research assistant. The study was shared again at weekly community events at the Indigenous Family Centre. The research assistant also conducted recruitment through personal connections to ensure the inclusion of residents who may have been subject to various barriers of participation.
Because of unforeseen circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we used 2 different informed consent protocols before the commencement of each interview. For interviews conducted in person, participants provided both written and verbal consent. After the enforcement of COVID-19-related public health measures and approval from the research ethics board, we proceeded to conduct interviews over the telephone and collect informed consent over email and again verbally. As part of the informed consent process, we clarified that the research was being carried out in partnership with NIDA and Fearless R2W.
Data collection and analysis
We conducted semistructured interviews between November 2019 and August 2020, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. In-person interviews were conducted from November 2019 to early March 2020, at which time we switched to telephone interviews to comply with public health guidelines. The interviewer administered a demographic questionnaire immediately before the interview to describe participant characteristics, including age, gender, employment status, sugar-sweetened beverage intake and self-rated health. The interview guide is included in Appendix 1, and the demographic questionnaire is publicly available.27 In-person interviews were conducted at the University of Manitoba’s Inner City Social Work Campus, located centrally within the North End neighbourhood. Detailed postinterview notes were recorded and incorporated into analysis for situational context.
Interviews were coded in NVivo 12 Pro and analyzed following Braun and Clarke’s theoretical thematic approach,28 involving prior engagement with the literature. This type of analysis provides a rich, detailed account of select aspects of the data, rather than a description of the data set as a whole.28 In line with the theoretical thematic method, we approached analysis with prior engagement with the literature to relate findings to the theoretical framework and published knowledge.28 The first 7 interviews were actively and repeatedly reviewed to generate an initial list of codes. Preliminary analysis began concomitantly after interviews, during debriefing and reflection to capitalize on emerging themes. Once data collection was completed, we began to conduct active and repeated readings of the data to identify important patterns and themes.28 With further review of all transcripts, codes were refined, expanded or collapsed into categories, and eventually grouped into themes.
Analysis following the decolonization theoretical framework was conducted to explore participants’ discussion in relation to the 3 elements of settler colonialism in the context of proposed taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages. We assessed how power, spatial and social structures influence participants’ levels of trust in government and society, sense of justice and acceptability of government-led policies. Results were shared first with study partners and participants to obtain feedback, member check and refine themes. Study findings were also shared at a regularly scheduled, in-person community event in the North End organized by Fearless R2W and through a newsletter and infographic with NIDA.29,30 Discussions with the broader community further contributed to the data interpretation.
Positionality
We each approached this study holding certain assumptions and beliefs shaped by our unique background and experiences, as well as differing perspectives of a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Acknowledging our backgrounds and social position, as well as how they influenced approaches and decision-making, is an important aspect of conducting qualitative research. Owing to the interpretive nature of qualitative research, we actively made decisions and interpretations based on personal epistemologies, a concept known as “researcher as instrument.”31 As non-Indigenous people (M.K., N.R., L.T., A.S. and A.B.) conducting research with Indigenous partners (M.R.C., R.D. and J.L.) and participants, we engaged in ongoing reflection in relation to the research. By discussing our positionality, we reveal our personal histories and identity to others, acknowledge our motivations and, hopefully, foster accountability and trust.31 M.K., N.R., L.T., A.S. and A.B. all identify as White settler women, who have diverse personal and ancestral immigration histories, and diverse areas of academic expertise, including public health, nutrition, nursing, law and social sciences.
We must also acknowledge and reflect on participants’ potential assumptions regarding our personal and collective stance with regard to a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. During the first few interviews, participants inquired about our research team’s position regarding the proposed tax as non-Indigenous researchers from an academic, publicly funded institution, which caused us to reflect on how to mitigate or address these dynamics. Efforts were made to indicate that the study’s research team was partnered with local Indigenous organizations and not affiliated with the policy or health authorities who have endorsed or have the power to directly influence the course of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in any jurisdiction.
Ethics approval
Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board for the larger study HS21878 (H2018:234) and for secondary analysis of the data presented in this publication HS24317 (J2020:065).
Results
We interviewed 20 Indigenous adults, whose ages ranged from 20 to 65 years, with 10 self-identifying as female, 8 as male, and 2 participants identifying as two-spirit. Other demographic results are reported in Table 1. The first 6 interviews were conducted in person, and the remaining 14 interviews were completed over the telephone. All participants consumed sugar-sweetened beverages on a regular, daily basis at the time of the interview or at some point in their lives.
Using thematic analysis of the interviews, we identified an overall strong opposition to the proposed taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages. Participants’ unfavourable attitudes and limited acceptability of the policy stem from 3 interrelated themes: government is not trustworthy, taxes are ineffective and lead to inequitable outcomes, and Indigenous self-determination is critical. These themes are presented with exemplar quotations, using pseudonyms, within the text and in Table 2.
Government is not trustworthy
Participants expressed a general sense of low expectations and trust in the government, with their disappointment characterized by Gavin as “the norm.” Previous actions of government underscore participants’ concerns for the future implementation of any tax. Participants implied that governments have the power to do as they wish with no way of keeping them accountable.
Some participants were not supportive because they viewed a sugar-sweetened beverage tax as a “cash grab” and were concerned that the true motivation behind the price increase was to generate another stream of revenue disguised as a health initiative. Participants perceived the government to not be transparent in their spending, referring to previously implemented taxes. Previous public funds that were allocated to the community were perceived as token gestures that did not address the immediate and dire priorities of the North End residents. For instance, participants described that previous public investments were made in parks and art galleries or general city maintenance. This was juxtaposed against the participants’ main concerns for their community, including food insecurity, addiction, poverty and underserviced community resources. Participants expressed where they would want the revenue to go if given the choice, such as educational programs, community programs, child welfare and health care. However, even when discussing hypothetical causes to direct tax revenue toward, some participants were apprehensive of lofty contingency promises to Indigenous communities pinned on the tax because of previous experience.
Participants were also not supportive of the tax because of the decision-makers behind the proposed policy, whom they perceived to push similar agendas that do not take into account Indigenous-specific determinants and needs. These “do-gooders” were perceived as lacking an understanding of the realities facing Indigenous communities, as well as how to approach health and behavioural reforms effectively and equitably, which instead have led to “pilot projects” that have the intention to change behaviour but have not resulted in meaningful benefits. In discussing a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, participants referred to decision-makers as the “higher ups,” “privileged,” “powerful,” “elitist,” “virtuous,” “parental” and “condescending,” and indicated that they “don’t give a shit about you.” The decision-makers and people of higher socioeconomic status were considered by participants to belong to the same group of people.
The true benefactors of the proposed policy were perceived by some participants to be more privileged communities. One participant viewed the proposed tax as a “financial siphon,” which would strip North End residents of money to support priorities of more privileged groups or the government. Participants indicated that privileged communities would benefit in financial, social and health aspects because they already consume fewer sugar-sweetened beverages and are more likely to comply with the proposed policy, which will keep more money in their pockets, and reinforce their self-perception of virtuousness and healthfulness. Given that privileged people were perceived to benefit more, these ideas also contributed to the second theme that we identified — that taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages lead to inequitable outcomes.
Taxes are ineffective and lead to inequitable outcomes
The second theme is characterized by concerns regarding the efficacy and equity of the tax as a behavioural intervention. Based on their previous experiences, participants predicted that a sugar-sweetened beverage tax will not change behaviour, particularly for regular consumers, because it will not address the underlying determinants of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, including food insecurity, poverty, addiction and social aspects of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Indigenous people in the inner-city context. Many participants predicted that people will shop for substitutions, cheaper alternatives, or stockpile on sales or bulk options. Other participants believed the tax would not be effective because of the psychological and emotional aspects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, providing comfort, pleasure and a means to cope among residents of a neighbourhood who are often in “survival mode.”
Some participants raised concerns that the tax will likely lead to a negligible increase in price, which will not be substantial enough to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Regardless of the amount of the tax, it was largely perceived as taking much-needed money away from residents of the North End, while improving the more privileged neighbourhoods and groups who have “more healthy coping habits.” Amanda compared a sugar-sweetened beverage tax to the Sheriff of Nottingham, a villainous agent of the greedy state in English folklore, to “keep them extra poor.” Given residents’ already tight budgets, an increase in the price of sugar-sweetened beverages will further increase their financial burden, leaving less for other obligations and basic necessities, because sugar-sweetened beverages will continue to be a priority. Notably, one of the obligations that was anticipated to suffer as a result of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax would be the procurement of “healthy” food because sugar-sweetened beverages will continue to be prioritized. Groups identified as especially negatively affected by a sugar-sweetened beverage tax were “the little people,” those “on EIA [Employment and Income Assistance] with children,” the “working poor,” those “on pension,” those in “the North End,” “senior citizens who like to buy pop and have it in their home for their grandchildren or when people come over” and “Indigenous people.”
A couple of participants anticipated that to continue to afford sugar-sweetened beverages, people will go to greater lengths to earn more money, and the tax may even lead some to risky money-acquisition behaviours. A few participants also discussed how sugar-sweetened beverages are used as a form of harm reduction, or something people transition to after quitting the use of illicit substances. There was also concern a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could transform their only socially acceptable vice to an unaffordable taboo.
Several participants anticipated a sugar-sweetened beverage tax would also destabilize their or others’ sugar-sweetened beverage shopping routines and budgets, something relatively steady in the life of participants. By extension, a sugar-sweetened beverage tax will be another reminder of one’s financial situation and poverty, and having less than others.
Indigenous self-determination is critical
Indigenous input and self-determination were critical for participants in garnering any support for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax. Two participants pointed out that the governments introduced sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages into Indigenous diets and neighbourhoods initially, linking the current dietary disparities to colonialism. Louise described the situation, which would be exacerbated by a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, as leaving Indigenous people in the North End with “two bad choices,” presumably, drink sugar-sweetened beverages or nothing at all, and in essence continuing the existing colonial agenda designed to eradicate Indigenous people by making Indigenous people “do it to themselves” and “wiping [them]selves out.”
Participants expressed greater support for sugar-sweetened beverage taxation if the generated revenue was earmarked to initiatives that were important to them. In this regard, the tone of many interviews changed during this line of questioning. Many participants who were strongly opposed to the tax shifted their attitude when asked how they would like the revenue to be allocated in the scenario that the tax was in fact implemented. Although earmarking the tax to a worthy cause changed some participants’ attitudes, it did not change all participants’ minds. It was pointed out that hinging a benefit, especially a basic human right such as clean water or access to healthy food, on a tax that would financially burden the targeted population, was a concern.
The minority of participants who were supportive of the tax irrespective of where the revenue would be allocated did not consume sugar-sweetened beverages themselves or exhibited some cognitive dissonance. They described the tax as an educational tool and an effective behaviour modifier for a substance of health concern, despite acknowledging either its unfairness or ineffectiveness.
Interpretation
Drawing on their lived experiences with previously implemented taxes, participants’ low acceptability of the proposed sugar-sweetened beverage tax was rooted in the interrelated dispositions that government is not trustworthy, taxes are ineffective and lead to inequitable outcomes, and Indigenous self-determination is critical. Indigenous peoples’ distrust of the government is also a result of colonialism and associated paternalism and exploitation.32–34 Broadly, mistrust in government and public health care systems has heavily affected outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic and was associated with lower adherence to COVID-19-related distancing measures, vaccination, and overall higher infection and death rates.35 It is therefore critical for policy-makers and public health researchers to consider the indirect health impacts of government distrust with respect to sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, given the broader health risks associated with government distrust.36
This study also draws attention to the ineffective and punitive nature of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation for regular consumers of these beverages, particular Indigenous populations who have a higher prevalence of food insecurity and consume sugar-sweetened beverages in higher quantities than other populations.9–11 Participants predicted a sugar-sweetened beverage tax would leave less money for other necessary expenses and lead to risky acquisition behaviours. Participants’ predictions of how sugar-sweetened beverage taxation would influence future spending are supported by research in tobacco control, where lower-income individuals employed conservation strategies by spending less on food and delaying paying utilities.37 In this regard, higher provincial sales tax rates in Canada,38 grocery taxes in the United States39 and tobacco taxes40 are associated with greater likelihood of food insecurity. Food insecurity, in turn, is associated with higher health care costs, infectious disease, injuries and mortality. 11,41–43 Furthermore, increases in tobacco taxation were associated with increases in violent robberies for cash and tobacco in low-income communities in New Zealand.44 To our knowledge, these theoretical outcomes have not been considered in any simulations or evaluations of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation; as such, their omission may misrepresent the true impacts of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax on health equity. Furthermore, these outcomes further exacerbate the known predictors of sugar-sweetened beverage intake, namely food insecurity,45,46 trauma47,48 and discrimination.49
Participants’ perception of the tax being a paternalistic tool underscores the importance of engaging Indigenous self-determination strategies when developing new policies. Public health priorities and policies designed to affect Indigenous communities should be defined, designed and implemented with Indigenous people to ensure efficacious outcomes and minimize harmful unintended effects.14 However, policies are often poorly implemented owing to the fragmented nature of the government bodies, the continual undermining of Indigenous self-determination, and the lack of incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. As a colonial reflection of their power and privilege, policy-makers tend to frame Indigenous people as the problem, as “other,” which historically have led and presently lead to assimilatory measures. Rather than addressing the colonial policies that have led to, and maintain, higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake among Indigenous people,14 a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, informed by deficit-based narratives, acts to extract resources (i.e., money) from Indigenous people. Our findings, informed by a decolonizing lens, demonstrate that this behaviour-based approach, developed without prior, culturally safe engagement, may replicate, and indeed worsen, health inequities for Indigenous communities.
Limitations
This study has a number of notable strengths and limitations. Continuous collaboration and conversation with research partners, between community and student/staff research assistants, and the broader community as a form of member checking enhanced the rigour of the study. However, the study was limited by impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions. Community-based participatory research relies on relationship building and engagement, primarily via in-person interaction; similarly, qualitative interviews are often enhanced through face-to-face data collection.50 Team members were also themselves negatively affected by the pandemic in myriad ways, which influenced interactions. Whereas the research process was substantially altered, relationships established and data collection conducted before the start of the pandemic contributed to the high quality and trustworthiness of the findings. Finally, given the nature of qualitative research, findings presented in this paper are not representative of all urban Indigenous people or those experiencing food insecurity in Canada. Findings are likely to be more transferable to populations exhibiting similar demographic and neighbourhood characteristics, namely urban Indigenous adults, families experiencing food insecurity and individuals residing in inner-city neighbourhoods.
Conclusion
Participants were generally opposed to sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. On the basis of our findings and calls of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada13 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,51 Indigenous self-determination in policy-making is vital for the protection and advancement of Indigenous health in Canada. The findings have important implications for sugar-sweetened beverage policy development in Canada and globally. According to the participants of this study, who are members of the relevant community, it is likely, if a sugar-sweetened beverage tax were implemented, that the policy would have limited, if any, influence on the rates of type 2 diabetes for many urban Indigenous communities.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Kelsey Mann for her project coordination and Anne Waugh for editorial support. The authors also thank the study participants for sharing their knowledge and experiences.
Footnotes
Competing interests: None declared.
This article has been peer reviewed.
Contributors: Maria Kisselgoff was involved in data collection, completed formal analysis and prepared the original draft. Natalie Riediger was involved in conceptualization, methodology, data collection, funding acquisition, supervision, project administration, review and editing. Andrea Bombak was involved in conceptualization, methodology, and review and editing of the original draft. Lorna Turnbull and Annette Schultz were involved in methodology, supervision, and review and editing of the original draft. Jeff LaPlante, Michael Champagne and Riel Dubois were involved in conceptualization, methodology, analysis and interpretation, and review and editing of the original draft; Riel Dubois was also involved in data collection. All of the authors gave final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Funding: The study was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to Natalie Riediger (grant no. 156260). Natalie Riediger is funded by a CIHR Early Career Investigator Award (grant no. 155435). Maria Kisselgoff is the recipient of a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship and top-up funding from the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Graduate Studies. The funders had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data.
Data sharing: The data are not publicly available. For data access, permission must be granted by Fearless R2W, National Indigenous Diabetes Association and Dr. Natalie Riediger.
Supplemental information: For reviewer comments and the original submission of this manuscript, please see www.cmajopen.ca/content/11/5/E922/suppl/DC1.
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original publication is properly cited, the use is noncommercial (i.e., research or educational use), and no modifications or adaptations are made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
References
- © 2023 CMA Impact Inc. or its licensors