Author Interviews, CMAJ, Race/Ethnic Diversity / 23.03.2026
Canadian Black Adults Less Likely to Have Prescription Drug Coverage and More Likely to Skip Meds Due to Costs
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_72842" align="alignleft" width="200"] Bukola Salami, Ph.D.[/caption]
Bukola Salami, RN, BScN, MN, PhD, FCAN, FAAN (She/Her)
Full Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Black and Racialized Peoples Health
Department of Community Health Sciences
Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Black people experience disproportionately poor health outcomes, with access to healthcare recognized as a key determinant of health. Although prior research has examined factors influencing healthcare access among Black populations, there is limited evidence on medication access and use. This gap is particularly important in the context of emerging Pharmacare policy in Canada. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of cost-related prescription nonadherence among Black adults in Canada and to examine racial disparities in comparison to White adults, while accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and insurance-related factors as potential mediators.
Bukola Salami, Ph.D.[/caption]
Bukola Salami, RN, BScN, MN, PhD, FCAN, FAAN (She/Her)
Full Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Black and Racialized Peoples Health
Department of Community Health Sciences
Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Black people experience disproportionately poor health outcomes, with access to healthcare recognized as a key determinant of health. Although prior research has examined factors influencing healthcare access among Black populations, there is limited evidence on medication access and use. This gap is particularly important in the context of emerging Pharmacare policy in Canada. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of cost-related prescription nonadherence among Black adults in Canada and to examine racial disparities in comparison to White adults, while accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and insurance-related factors as potential mediators.
Dr. Vallerand[/caption]
Isabelle Vallerand, PhD
Epidemiologist, MD Student
Department of Community Health Sciences
Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: It is well known that patients with alopecia areata, a form of autoimmune hair loss, are at a higher risk of suffering from depression than the general population. But in practice, we often hear patients tell us that they believe their hair loss developed as a result of stress or problems with mental health – certainly the phrase “so stressed your hair is falling out” is something most people have heard of. Despite this, there has actually been very little research investigating the role that mental health may have on development of alopecia areata.
Interestingly, depression has recently been associated with increased systemic inflammatory markers, so there is biologic plausibility that depression could increase the risk of alopecia areata. Our group was interested in addressing this question, and used a large population-level health records database with up to 26 years of follow-up to study it. We ultimately found that not only does depression increase one’s risk of alopecia areata, but that it increases their risk by nearly 90% compared to people who have never had depression. We also found that using antidepressants can significantly decrease the risk of developing alopecia areata in patients with depression. So there appears to be an important link between mental health and development of hair loss from alopecia areata.