Patient Decision Guide
A self-assessment guide for patients and caregivers considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Use this page to understand whether HBOT may be relevant to your situation, then bring the conversation to your physician.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is appropriate when your medical condition appears on Health Canada's list of 14 recognised indications, which includes diabetic foot ulcers and other non-healing wounds, decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, delayed radiation injury, gas gangrene, necrotising soft-tissue infections, and several others. The decision to pursue HBOT is medical, not consumer: it should always be made in consultation with a physician familiar with your medical history. This page helps you understand whether HBOT may be relevant before that conversation.
Most people considering HBOT can self-assess in four short steps before booking a consultation.
STEP 1
Write down the specific medical condition or symptom you're considering HBOT for, in clinical terms (e.g. "diabetic foot ulcer that hasn't healed in 6 months" rather than "wound").
STEP 2
Compare your condition against the 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions. If it matches, your physician can refer you to a hospital HBOT programme.
STEP 3
Bring your notes plus the questions in the section below. Your physician will assess clinical fit, contraindications, and whether HBOT is the right next step in your care plan.
STEP 4
Once your physician confirms HBOT is appropriate, use our facility directory and provincial coverage guide to find the closest option and understand cost.
These are the indications for which HBOT has accepted clinical evidence and is publicly funded at hospital programmes across Canada with a physician referral. If your condition matches one of these, HBOT is a recognised treatment option. Click any condition to read the full clinical reference.
Source: Health Canada, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy · UHMS HBO Indications 15th Edition (2024) · canonical list mirrored from The Ottawa Hospital hyperbaric programme.
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) maintains a broader international evidence base. The following indication is UHMS-approved but not currently on Health Canada's 14-condition list. Coverage in Canada is variable; some hospital programmes will treat these cases on a case-by-case basis.
Adjunctive to neurosurgery and antibiotics for brain abscesses. UHMS-approved indication.
These indications have promising RCT evidence but are not yet recognised by Health Canada or fully endorsed by UHMS. Research is ongoing. Patients pursuing HBOT for these conditions typically self-pay at private clinics; coverage by provincial plans is rare. Discuss the current state of evidence with your physician before committing to a treatment course.
Browse our research database of 14,451 peer-reviewed HBOT studies to assess the evidence for any specific indication.
Some private clinics market HBOT for indications without supporting clinical evidence. We list these honestly because patient awareness matters. Pursuing HBOT for an unsupported indication carries cost, time, and opportunity cost without expected clinical benefit.
Indications without supporting evidence as of 2026:
If a clinic recommends HBOT for an indication on this list, ask for the specific peer-reviewed RCT evidence and the source. The absence of credible answers is itself an answer.
HBOT involves pressure changes that affect closed gas-filled spaces in the body, plus high-dose oxygen exposure. The following situations require physician judgment and may rule out HBOT entirely.
Absolute contraindication (HBOT must not proceed):
Relative contraindications (require physician assessment, may exclude HBOT depending on indication and severity):
Source: UHMS Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications, 15th Edition (2024); CUHMA Standards of Practice. This list is a general orientation and is not a substitute for individual physician assessment.
Bring these questions to the consultation. Each one helps clarify whether HBOT is the right next step for your specific situation.
Read the full clinical reference for each Health Canada-recognised indication.
Find your nearest hospital programme or private clinic across 9 provinces.
Understand what is publicly covered in your province (OHIP, MSP, AHCIP, MSI, RAMQ, others).
Browse 14,451 peer-reviewed HBOT studies, filterable by condition and study type.
This page is informational and is not medical advice. The decision to pursue hyperbaric oxygen therapy must be made in consultation with a physician familiar with your medical history. Canada Hyperbarics is an independent research project and has no commercial affiliation with any facility, manufacturer, or treatment provider listed on this site. See our editorial policy and data sources pages for methodology.