The Wellness Institute Services Evaluation Research (WISER) Program is a longitudinal research program that started in January, 1998 at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The research was initiated with the cooperation of the Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Wellness Institute is a health promotion facility that opened in October, 1996. The Wellness Institute provides the community with services that promote health, prevent illness, disability, and restore wellness of body, mind and spirit. Services are available for both the very fit and for people recovering from illness and injury.

The primary goal of the WISER Program was to evaluate the extent to which health promotion programming and services (such as those offered by the Wellness Institute) foster behaviours that promote health and improve general health status. This multi-phase study also provides a chance to assess whether community health promotion programs help to change the use of the formal health care system and contribute to reducing health care costs.

The first two phases of the WISER Program were conducted in affiliation with the Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute at the University of Manitoba. The interdisciplinary research team was composed of researchers from the following faculties at the University of Manitoba:

• Faculty of Arts (Departments of Sociology and Psychology)
• Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
• Faculty of Medicine (Departments of Community Health Sciences and Family Medicine)
• Faculty of Nursing

as well as representatives from Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat and the Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks Hospital.

Funding for the first two phases of this longitudinal research program came from: the Winnipeg Foundation; the Max Bell Foundation; the Norlien Foundation; Manitoba Health; and the University of Manitoba.

The third and fourth phases of the WISER Program were conducted in affiliation with the Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba. The purpose of these phases was to collect long-term follow-up data related to changes over time in personal health practices and health status and to learn more about the factors that contribute to healthy, active aging.

For more information on the WISER Program, contact:

Alexander Segall, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

WISER Research Office
Centre on Aging
338 Isbister Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2

Phone: 204-474-9487
Fax: 204-474-7576

Contact us.