Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Ethnicity of Doctors

Question

A faculty member is trying to look at the trends in the number of doctors by ethnic origin and/or place of birth in Canada. I haven't found any profile or topic-based tabulations which will provide both sides of the issue and unfortunately, the PUMF doesn't break out doctors (physicians) from other occupations in health.

Have I overlooked something? Can anyone offer suggestions? Perhaps a custom tabulation could be done?

Answer

I found this table (97F0012XCB2001048) which provides visible minority by detailed occupation (SOC).
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?
Temporal=2001&PID=60932&APATH=7&GID=517770&METH=1&PTYPE=55496&THEME=46&FOCUS
=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=1676&FL=O&RL=0&FREE=0


And this one with the same variables only for NOC : (97F0012XCB2001050)
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?
Temporal=2001&PID=60937&APATH=7&GID=431515&METH=1&PTYPE=55496&THEME=46&FOCUS
=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=1625&FL=O&RL=0&FREE=0


If you are looking for place of birth, and the level of detail is too aggregated with the PUMF, I know you can custom order it. Of course, it would be subject to confidentiality suppressions, etc.

Merging 1991 Profiles

Question

I have the census 1991 enumeration profiles (short and long version) and the census tract 1991 short and long version profiles. I wanted to know if one can merge the enumeration short and long version by region code, fed and EA or if such a merge is even meaningful? Similarly, I would like to merge the CT census profile (short and long version as well) however I am not sure what the identifying variables are for such a merge....(by ct, rp, cma)?

Answer

The files could be merged on the Geography using SAS Software. The client should also consider that the 100% database suppression is based upon the total population while the 20% sample database suppression is based upon the non-institutional population.

Friday, July 15, 2005

NPHS 2002-2003 documentation

Question

I have a user looking for documentation pertaining to the 2002-2003 longitudinal National Population Health Survey study. Is there any way we can obtain this? Or does the user have to contact the RDCs directly?

Answer

Check here:

http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS
=3225&lang=en&db=IMDB&dbg=f&adm=8&dis=2#4

Thursday, July 14, 2005

University and College Academic Staff System - Part-time Staff

Question

I have a researcher looking for the University and College Academic Staff System - Part-time Staff (PTUCASS) data. Can this be made available through DLI?

Answer

As it turns out, the survey no longer collects part-time information -- all we have is full-time info! This is a recent change. We stopped collecting data on part-time faculty staff since it was not well reported and there was not much demand for such data. Eventually the title will change to reflect the difference.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Units of Measure for Trade Data

Question

A UBC researcher recently purchased some Statistics Canada trade data and now has a question about the measurements used. She reports that some of the commodities are measured in kilograms (KGM) and some in kilograms of known substance (KNS). What difference is there between the two (and a third, KSD, kilogram air dry)? Are they all equally kilograms?

I have looked at the customs tariff and related documentation, at multiple sources of trade statistics, and anywhere else I can think of, but can find nothing more than lists of abbreviations and their full names. Can the merchandise trade experts provide definitions for these terms?

Answer

Stats Can does not officially have any definitions of units of measure per se, but did confirm that it is based on the individual commodity.

An example that was provided will drive home this point I believe:

Code 2815200010 Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), solid (UOM = KG)
Code 2815200020 Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), in aqueous solution (UOM = KNS)

Commodities which are in liquid form often have UOM as KNS, while solids have UOM as KG. It is very dependant on the commodity, its composition, etc.

Our contact did mention that Canada Border Services have a publication defining all of the codes and some information on their state (solid/liquid) when applicable. You may wish to pursue that option as well.

In short - they are all kilograms, but different UOM are used based on the state of the product (liquid, solid, air dried).

Monday, July 4, 2005

Telecommuting

Question

We are looking for data on "telecommuting". Synonyms are teleworking, remote working or e-working. On Stat Can wbsite, I have found this article
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-015-XIE/studies/wes006.htm
using WES survey data. Researches in CANSIM have been unsuccessful. Any ideas?

Answer

The "Survey of Work Arrangements" (91 & 95) collected data on work at home.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Dli/Data/Ftp/was.htm

*the 1995 version is the most recent