Taking account of context in population health intervention research: guidance for producers, users and funders of research

Population health intervention research (PHIR) seeks to develop and evaluate policies, programmes and other types of interventions that may affect population health and health equity. Such interventions are strongly influenced by context – taken to refer to any feature of the circumstances in which an intervention is conceived, developed, implemented and evaluated. Understanding how interventions relate to context is critical to understanding how they work; why they sometimes fail; whether they can be successfully adapted, scaled up or translated from one context to another; why their impacts vary; and how far effects observed in one context can be generalised to others. Concerns that context has been neglected in research to develop and evaluate population health interventions have been expressed for at least 20 years. Over this period, an increasingly comprehensive body of guidance has been developed to help with the design, conduct, reporting and appraisal of PHIR. References to context have become more frequent in recent years, as interest has grown in complex and upstream interventions, systems thinking and realist approaches to evaluation, but there remains a lack of systematic guidance for producers, users and funders of PHIR on how context should be taken into account. This document draws together recent thinking and practical experience of addressing context within PHIR. It provides a broad, working definition of context and explains why and how context is important to PHIR. It identifies the dimensions of context that are likely to shape how interventions are conceptualised, the impacts that they have and how they can be implemented, translated and scaled up. It suggests how context should be taken into account throughout the PHIR process, from priority setting and intervention development to the design and conduct of evaluations and reporting, synthesis and knowledge exchange. It concludes by summarising the key messages for producers, users and funders of PHIR and suggesting priorities for future research. The document is meant to be used alongside existing guidance for the development, evaluation and reporting of population health interventions. We expect the guidance to evolve over time, as practice changes in the light of the guidance and experience accumulates on useful approaches. The work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca) – Institute of Population and Public Health (CIHR-IPPH) and the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

Innovation and incentives : role of the research funder in knowledge translation and scaling science

Thesis (DMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Research and innovation are vital to global sustainable development and human prosperity. However, it is well documented that the creation of knowledge does not ensure its effective and ethical application. In fact, studies indicate that knowledge is converted into action in slow, haphazard, and inequitable ways. This dissertation casts new light on this challenge by investigating an understudied component of knowledge translation (KT), the role of the research funder. This dissertation applied a multi-stream study design and mixed-methods data collection and analysis strategy. The research used an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach which facilitated a focused and dynamic investigation, at the same time promoting relevance and uptake with the intended research-user, research funders. Stream one, Funders’ KT, initiates the dissertation using a single funder case study to construct a KT-focused evaluation protocol, and an international empirical scan of 26 health research funding agencies resulting in a state-of-the-art overview of how funders support KT. An unexpected and significant finding was the lack of empirical evidence guiding funders’ KT support. From this result, research streams two and three were born. Stream two, Scaling Science, investigates facilitators of research impact using a large multi-project review and in-depth case studies. Results include a typology of pathways to scale and four guiding principles for scaling impact. These innovations are converted into an action-oriented tool that will help researchers build evidenced practices into their research. Stream three, Research Quality Plus (RQ+), describes a novel evaluation framework for assessing research quality with KT in mind. The RQ+ approach is implemented in seven funder-based evaluations and the aggregate evaluation results are synthesized via meta-analysis. Results demonstrate that KT and scientific rigour can be pursued, accomplished, and assessed as equally valued dimensions of research quality. The validation of the RQ+ approach showcases a fresh and practical framework for funders and other science systems actors interested in KT and scaling science. Overall, the results of this dissertation fill a critical knowledge gap related to the role of the funder in research translation and impact. In turn, they demonstrate original and significant contributions to global academic knowledge and understanding of KT theory and practice. To convert this knowledge into action, practical guidance is developed, elaborated, and validated.ISISHWANKATHELO SESIXHOSA : Uphando neenguqu ezingobuchule zibalulekile kuphuhliso oluluqilima lwehlabathi jikelele nakwimpumelelo yabantu. Noko kunjalo, kushicilelwe ngokuthe gca ukuba ukudalwa kolwazi akuqinisekisi ukusebenza kwalo okukuko nokusetyenziswa kwalo kakuhle. Enyanisweni, izenzo zophononongo ziye zabonakalisa ukuba ulwazi luguqulwa ukuze lube ziintshukumo ngeendlela ezicothayo, ezingenacwangco nezingenabulungisa. Esi sincoko sakhela lo mngeni umkhanyo omtsha, ngokuphanda ngokungqalileyo inxalenye yoguqulo lolwazi (KT) esele iphononongwe kancinci, eyindima yomxhasi-ngezimali wophando. Esi sincoko sisebenzise uyilo lophononongo oluneenkalo eziliqela neqhinga lokuqokelela nokuhlalutya iinkcukacha elingengxubevange yemigaqo. Uphando luye lwaqhutywa ngokusebenzisa uGuqulo loLwazi ngokuHlangeneyo, -Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT), ukuxhasa imfaneleko nosetyenziso ngumsebenzisi wophando ekujoliswe kuye: abaxhasi-ngezimali bophando. Uyilo lophononongo lwe-IKT oluneenkalo eziliqela luye lwabangela uphando olungqalileyo noluguquguquka lula. Inkalo yokuqala, yabaxhasi-ngezimali yoGuqulo loLwazi, i-Funders’ KT, iqalisa esi sincoko ngokusebenzisa isishwankathelo nesikena esijoliswe kwimeko yehlabathi jikelele see-arhente zabaxhasi-ngezimali ezingama-26. Isiphumo ibe luphengululo lodidi oluphezulu lwendlela abaxhasi-ngezimali abaxhasa ngayo i-KT (uGuqulo loLwazi). Okuthe kwafunyaniswa obekungalindelekanga nokubalulekileyo kukunqongophala kobungqina obuphathekayo obukhokela inkxaso yabaxhasi-ngezimali ngokujoliswe kwi-KT. Kweso siphumo, kuye kwavela inkalo yophando yesibini neyesithathu. Inkalo yesibini, Inzululwazi yokuKala, i-Scaling Science, iphanda abachopheli beziphumo zophando ngokusebenzisa uphengululo lweeprojekthi eziliqela nezishwankathelo zophononongo ngokunzulu. Iziphumo ziquka uludwe lwemizila yokukala neenqobo ezine ezikhokelayo kwiziphumo zokalo. Konke oku kuguqulwa ukuze kube sisixhobo esisekelezwe kwiintshukumo. Inkalo yesithathu, umGangatho woPhando onoChatha, i-Research Quality Plus (RQ+), uchaza izikhokelo zovavanyo ezitsha nezingaqhelekanga zokuhlola umgangatho wophando kuthathelwa i-KT ingqalelo. Indlela ye-RQ+ imiselwa ngeemvavanyo ezisixhenxe ezisekelwe kubaxhasi-ngezimali ize iqinisekiswe ngohlalutyo lweziphumo eziliqela (meta-analysis). Usetyenziso lwe-RQ+, nokushicilelwa kwalo kwirekhodi yemfundo neyomsebenzi, zibalula imeko entsha nengaqhelekanga yokucingwa kwakhona kovavanyo lophando. Iziphumo zesi sincoko ziphuhlisa isiseko solwazi lwendlela abaxhasi-ngezimali abanokuxhasa ngayo i-KT, zize zivule imizila emitsha yemisebenzi namaphepha-nkqubo elungiselelwe abaxhasi-ngezimali nangaphezulu. Izindululo ziyondlalwa ngokufanelekileyo.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Navorsing en innovasie is noodsaaklik vir wêreldwye volhoubare ontwikkeling en menslike vooruitgang. Nietemin is dit bekend dat die skepping van kennis geen waarborg is dat dit doeltreffend en eties toegepas sal word nie. Trouens, studies dui daarop dat kennis betreklik stadig, lukraak en ongelyk in aksie omgeskakel word. Hierdie verhandeling werp nuwe lig op hierdie uitdaging deur die rol van die navorsingsfinansier, ’n weinig bestudeerde komponent van kennistoepassing (“knowledge translation”, of “KT”), van nader te bekyk. Die verhandeling gebruik ’n multistroomstudieontwerp en ’n gemengdemetodestrategie vir datainsameling en -ontleding. Die navorsing is met behulp van ’n geïntegreerde kennistoepassings- (“IKT”- )benadering onderneem om relevansie en benutting onder die beoogde eindgebruikers, synde navorsingsfinansiers, aan te moedig. Die IKT-multistroomontwerp het ’n toegespitste en dinamiese ondersoek tot gevolg gehad. Die verhandeling open met die eerste stroom, Funders’ KT, wat ’n gevallestudie en ’n internasionale empiriese verkenning van 26 finansieringsagentskappe behels. Die resultaat is ’n aktuele oorsig van hoe finansiers KT ondersteun. ’n Onverwagte en beduidende bevinding was die gebrek aan empiriese bewyse om as grondslag vir finansiers se KT-ondersteuning te dien. Uit hierdie resultaat is die tweede en derde navorsingstrome geskep. Die tweede stroom, Scaling Science, bestudeer die fasiliteerders van navorsingsimpak met behulp van ’n multiprojekoorsig en dieptegevallestudies. Resultate sluit ’n tipologie van skaleringsroetes en vier rigsnoere vir skaleringsimpak in. Dít word dan in ’n aksiegerigte instrument omskep. Die derde stroom, Research Quality Plus (RQ+), beskryf ’n innoverende evalueringsraamwerk om navorsingsgehalte met KT in gedagte te beoordeel. Die RQ+-benadering word in sewe finansiergebaseerde evaluerings geïmplementeer en deur middel van meta-ontleding gestaaf. Die RQ+-toepassing, en die beskrywing daarvan in die akademiese en praktykrekord, bied ’n vindingryke metode om nuut oor navorsingsevaluering te dink. Die bevindinge van die verhandeling bied ’n kundigheidsbasis vir hoe finansiers KT kan ondersteun, en skep nuwe praktyk- en beleidsroetes vir navorsingsfinansiers én ander rolspelers. Aanbevelings word dienooreenkomstig aangebied.Doctora

Understanding Views of Evidence in Public Health Practice and Decision Making in Ontario

Background: Perceptions of evidence by public health managers, practitioners and policy makers is one of the key determinants of evidence uptake. Therefore, understanding views of evidence in both practice and policy decision making is important to bridge the evidence-practice and policy gap in public health. Objectives & Methods: Two studies are presented in this thesis. The first is a systematic review synthesizing studies exploring the use of research evidence in public health decision making between 2010-2016. The second study is a qualitative descriptive study examining understandings about evidence in Ontario public health units by comparing perspectives from managers and frontline staff across six geographically-diverse units. Main Findings: Drawing from both studies, “evidence” is broadly defined in the public health setting. The organization is an important target for interventions or infrastructure to support the use of evidence. However, managers and staff have different perceptions of evidence use. Training on how to use evidence continues to be an important enabler. Conclusion: Findings from these studies provide insight into how use of evidence can be promoted within both public health policy and practice context

Interaction and linkage in the Canadian tobacco control community: Implications for the research process

Study Purpose: This research aimed to: (1) understand interactions between researchers and policy-makers in the Canadian tobacco control research community and, (2) explore the relationship between interaction and alignment of research and policy within tobacco control. Methods/Analyses: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted by phone or in-person with a purposeful sample of Canadian policy-makers at the provincial and federal-levels (n=10) and tobacco control researchers (n=8). A grounded theory methodology was used to guide interview conduct and analyses. Sampling of policy-makers was based on leadership roles for tobacco control in their respective jurisdictions and nominations. Sampling for researchers was based on nominations. Interviews were audio-recorded with permission and transcribed. Transcripts were shared with participants for verification. Results: The tobacco control context in Canada represents a mature field with a historically active policy agenda and an increasingly well-established research community. Through the analysis, nine data-driven categories emerged related to interactions between researchers and research users. The data were further examined to understand possible relationships between interaction and alignment. The nine major categories related to: (1) “two communities”, including the nature of policy and the differential timeframes of research and policy; (2) structures to support interaction, including within or cross-provincial and/or national facilitative mechanisms for interaction between researchers and research users to occur; (3) relationship building between researchers and research users, including the deliberate nature of building and reinforcing relationships over time; (4) interaction in the research process by research users; (5) interaction in the policy process by researchers; (6) independence and credibility of researchers; (7) incentives and barriers to interactions; (8) relevance and timeliness of evidence relative to decision-making needs, and; (9) alignment, including the extent to which research and policy share priorities and objectives. Significance: Results provide insight into the researcher and research user relationships in the Canadian tobacco control community. This study extends existing conceptual work in the area of knowledge exchange particularly from a public health perspective and has implications for other aspects of chronic disease prevention

Graduate Program Practices at Western University

Based on interviews with graduate chairs and faculty, the guide catalogues practices in graduate education, from recruitment through coursework, comprehensive exams, thesis proposals, to placement and tracking.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/tsc-purple-guides/1001/thumbnail.jp

Geneva Health Forum 2020 Poster Book

From 16 to 18 November 2020, the eighth edition of the Geneva Health Forum, which took place in the difficult context of the Covid 19 pandemic, hosted 165 posters. The present collection offers through 65 posters a wide range of topics discussed