DCPNS Data Access

The Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia (DCPNS) recognizes the important role of evidence-based research and administrative planning in improving diabetes care and demonstrates its support for these activities by considering requests for access to diabetes-related health data contained in the DCPNS Registry.

The DCPNS Registry includes records for all new referrals to Nova Scotia Diabetes Centres from January 1, 1992 onward for paediatric cases (diagnosed before 19 years of age) and April 1, 1994 onward for adult cases (diagnosed at 19 years of age or older).  Core data include demographics, type of diabetes, date of diagnosis, treatment, and clinical (e.g., glycated hemoglobin, etc.) and self-care (e.g., self-monitoring of blood glucose, etc.) measures.

If you are interested in accessing DCPNS Registry data for research, quality improvement initiatives, or planning and management of the health system, please contact the DCPNS (info@dcpns.nshealth.ca) to initiate a preliminary discussion about the feasibility of the proposed project, availability of required data and level of anonymity, potential costs (if any), and the review process.

Thepersonal health information in the DCPNS Registry is entered by NSHA or IWK staff working at the province’s Diabetes Centres as well as through automated lab interfaces.  Because the DCPNS is not the primary data source of this information, this policy does not cover individuals requesting access to their own personal information.  Such requests are covered under the Nova Scotia Health Authority Privacy Statement (http://www.nshealth.ca/your-privacy-nova-scotia-health-authority) or the IWK Privacy and Confidentiality process (http://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/your-visit/patient-safety/privacy-and-confidentiality).