News

Canadians voted overwhelmingly for change in Monday’s federal election.  The Liberal Platform included many initiatives that could have a positive impact on public health – a commitment to plain packaging for cigarettes,  reducing sodium, reinstating the long form census and various promises that would affect the social determinants of health (e.g. increased funding for affordable housing, day care, income supports, education).

If you haven’t had a chance to review the detailed platform, outlined below is an overview of those areas that relate to public health and other aspects that effect health.

Once the new Liberal government is sworn in November 4th, has tabled its first Speech from the Throne and budget, we’ll have a better sense of which aspects of its ambitious platform will be priorities.

We’ll continue to work with our national colleagues at CPHA and other non-profit groups to advocate for those areas of concern to members and keep you apprised of relevant developments.

Pegeen Walsh, Executive Director 

Ontario Public Health Association

Health Evidence™ is now recruiting individual public health professionals across Canada working in the areas of tobacco/alcohol use, sun safety, healthy eating, and physical activity for participation in a Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded study entitled Supporting awareness and uptake of cancer prevention knowledge in practice.

Situated at McMaster University, this project aims to build capacity among Canadian public health professionals to use research evidence in program planning decisions. Across 18 months, those choosing to participate will receive concise actionable messages based on high-quality systematic review evidence via: Twitter, webinars, and/or tailored email messages. Participants will be surveyed at baseline (Fall 2015) and follow-up (Spring 2017) to assess awareness and use of research evidence.

If you are interested in participating in this study, click here for more information and access to our online survey to begin your participation. http://goo.gl/oqCHXE

CPHA has shared with PHABC members and friends the Election toolkit they have prepared for the upcoming 2015 Election.  You can access it at: 2015 Election Toolkit

New video in NCCMT’s “Understanding Research Evidence” series!

The short videos in this series explain some important terms that you may encounter in research evidence. Our latest video uses hypothetical data on teen mental health as an example to illustrate how to calculate and use results reported as a Standardized Mean Difference.

Watch this video: 

View the series on the NCCMT website: http://www.nccmt.ca/resources/multimedia-eng.html

Critical Appraisal of Guidelines is a free, interactive and self-paced module designed for public health practitioners and decision-makers who are involved in the implementation of evidence in practice or program development.

Learn about the criteria used to critically appraise guidelines and how to apply those criteria to the guidelines you find.

Login or create your free account in the Learning Centre to begin the Critical Appraisal of Guidelines module now!  http://www.nccmt.ca/learningcentre/index.php