March 12, 2012
“Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) is often criticized for lacking rigour, providing a weak basis for generalization of its findings and, therefore, offering limited value for policy-makers. This Reader aims to address these concerns through supporting action to strengthen the quality of HPSR.
The Reader is primarily for researchers and research users, teachers and students, particularly those working in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It provides guidance on the defining features of HPSR and the critical steps in conducting research in this field. It showcases the diverse range of research strategies and methods encompassed by HPSR, and it
provides examples of good quality and innovative HPSR papers.
The production of the Reader was commissioned by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (the Alliance) and it will complement its other investments in methodology development and postgraduate training.”
Posted in READ Portal, Reports & Papers | Tagged with Health planning, Policy, Public health | No Comments
April 19, 2011
Public health interest and action on health determinants to reduce health inequities is reflected throughout public health’s history including major public health concepts and reports of recent decades (e.g., Ottawa Charter, Reports on Health of Canadians, population health approach, etc.). Explicit expectations for action on health determinants are increasingly embedded within defining parameters of practice such as core public health program and accreditation standards.
Despite public health’s more distant and recent history, public health action on broader health determinants is not widespread and may even be viewed as ‘new’. Either the application of foundational concepts was never universally institutionalized throughout public health or enough time has passed and pressures exerted upon the public health sector that they have been lost. Even within early adopter organizations, action on determinants of health is still at a relatively early stage of implementation versus having been institutionalized throughout. A number of pervasive challenges are barriers to more widespread action. These include: the lack of clarity regarding what public health should or could do; a limited evidence base; preoccupation with behaviour and lifestyle approaches; bureaucratic organizational characteristics; limitations in organizational capacity; the need for leadership; more effective communication; and supportive political environments.
There are also a number of opportunities for achieving success. First, there is the past experience of successively addressing major society-wide challenges (e.g., sanitarians, tobacco control). Increasing evidence to informaction will result from the Institute for Population and Public Health’s (IPPH-CIHR) strategic focus on health equity–related research. Several public health organizations are taking action on health determinants and will thereby add to existing knowledge (i.e., ‘learn by doing’). As evidenced by the interest in this environmental scan, there is considerable and widespread interest in action on health determinants within the public health community. There is also evidence of interest from many sectors across society.
Posted in READ Portal, Reports & Papers | Tagged with Canada, Policy, Public health | No Comments
January 31, 2011
Health Care in Canada is CIHI’s annual flagship report on the health care system and the health of Canadians. Since 2000, it has been a resource that tables fundamental issues facing the health care system. Addressing questions surrounding patient safety, wait times, health care spending and analyses on how the system has adapted over time to meet changing needs has made Health Care in Canada a key source for the public and policy-makers alike.
Posted in READ Portal, Reports & Papers | Tagged with Benchmarking, Canada, Forecasting, Funding, Indicators, Public health, Statistics & numerical data | 1 Comment
September 13, 2010
Learning lessons from previous pandemics is not merely an academic exercise. Our experiences from 1918 and other 20th-century pandemics helped us prepare for and respond to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. In addition to better understanding these earlier pandemics, we must continue to learn and apply lessons from our experience with the current H1N1 pandemic to improve our ability to respond to future pandemics. Any reflection on the first pandemics of the 20th and 21st centuries must begin with gratitude for the fruits of science and technology, many of which were unimaginable in 1918. We can now detect, prevent, and treat disease; clarify the dynamic circumstances of pandemics; and save lives.
Posted in READ Portal, Reports & Papers | Tagged with Public health | No Comments
September 3, 2010
A 2009 nationwide survey of health care workers in Greece (HCWs) investigated the intentions of HCWs to receive vaccinations for influenza A H1N1. The study found low acceptance rates among HCWs for vaccinations. This article recommends that public heath bodies make vacinations mandatory for HCW and that new strategies to change the perception of risk should be investigated.
Posted in Journal Articles, READ Portal | Tagged with Health human resources, Public health, Safety | No Comments
