February 2013 · Issue 19
In this issue:
- Introducing our new weekly news digest: Changing the way we communicate
- How ready is your community for policy change?
- New in Registry of Methods and Tools
- New from Public Health+
- Upcoming Events
- Job Postings
Introducing our new weekly news digest: Changing the way we communicate
We are pleased to introduce the NCCMT Weekly Round-up – a new way for us to regularly communicate with our users.
Until now, we regularly sent out a number of specialized messages, in addition to our newsletter, to certain self-selected individuals within our distribution list. For example, most NCCMT users received our bi-monthly newsletter. Some people also asked to be notified when new resources were added to our Registry of Methods and Tools. Still others signed up to receive weekly alerts from Public Health+. In addition, members of our DialoguePH network were sent brief action-oriented weekly messages. We believe that all this information is relevant and useful to our entire user group and will help us strengthen public health in Canada. That’s why we have combined our communications into one weekly news digest that is offered to all our users so you won’t miss anything.
This may mean that you hear from us more often, but our goal is to be brief, timely and relevant.
Here’s what you’ll find in NCCMT’s Weekly Round-up:
- brief action-oriented weekly messages
- new products/services available from our centre
- new resources added to the Registry of Methods and Tools
- new abstracts added to Public Health+
- professional development opportunities
- updates from our partner organizations
We’re confident that this new weekly digest will help you stay up to date with the latest high quality information related to knowledge translation in public health.
Your opinion is important to us.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this new online publication. If you have comments, questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing what you think.
How ready is your community for policy change?
Mark your calendar!
Spotlight Webinar on the Policy Readiness Tool from the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health
Date: March 19, 2013 (1 h – 14 h 30, EST)
Presenters: Dr. Candace Nykiforuk & Shandy Reed
The Policy Readiness Tool: Understanding a Municipality's Readiness for Policy Change and Strategies for Taking Action supports policy change at the municipal level. Developed by the School of Public Health, University of Alberta, the Policy Readiness Tool assesses a municipality's level of readiness for policy change and identifies strategies to support municipalities in policy initiatives specific to their level of readiness.
Have you used this tool and found it to be useful?
Contact Sunita Chera (cheras@mcmaster.ca) if you are interested in sharing your story during our March 19, 2013 webinar.
New in Registry of Methods and Tools
Assessing generalizability (external validity) of evidence to practice
http://www.nccmt.ca/registry/view/eng/157.html
New from Public Health+
Challenges in synthesizing and interpreting the evidence from a systematic review of multifactorial interventions to prevent functional decline in older adults.
A systematic review of multifactorial assessment and management interventions to prevent functional decline in older adults was undertaken for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It was not possible to determine net benefit because of heterogeneity of studies, including how older adults were selected and their risk of functional decline; the broad spectrum and multifactorial nature of interventions evaluated; the suboptimal and inconsistent use of outcomes measured; and the inconsistent and inadequate reporting of data that might allow comparison of populations, interventions, and outcomes between studies. This review process illustrated the complexities encountered when synthesizing and interpreting the evidence in geriatric research and methods of reviewing complex interventions and multiple interrelated health outcomes. This article summarizes the review findings, focusing on methodological challenges, and offers suggestions to researchers on the design, reporting, and analysis of trials that would help address these challenges and allow for better interpretation of evidence in the future.
The full text may be available from PubMed
Upcoming Events
Evidence-Informed Decision Making Workshop
One-week intensive course at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
May 6, 2013 to May 10, 2013
- Advance your skills in critical appraisal of research literature
- Learn strategies for implementing evidence-informed decisions
- Small and large group sessions led by faculty at McMaster
- Tutorial groups for public health professionals, as well as nurses, advanced practice nurses, administrators, managers, and policy makers who wish to use evidence-informed decision making in their various disciplines.
To view additional details and register for the workshop visit CCEBN at: www.ccebn.ca.
For more information, contact Jennifer Yost at ccebn@mcmaster.ca.
Job Postings
Knowledge Broker with NCCMT
This position is responsible for working with public health professionals to develop workshop content, online learning module content, webinar development and implementation, and relationship and network development with public health decision makers and practitioners.
Two positions: one permanent full-time, one maternity leave
Please visit McMaster University Human Resources for details. Two positions: Permanent full time, Limited term full time
