A practical, online tool to help you make program planning decisions and policy choices based on a sound process using the best available evidence. This tool takes advantage of recent advances in information technology and greater access to multiple sources of information online to help practitioners plan more effectively. Development of the tool was executed by The Health Communication Unit (THCU), supported by the NCCMT, and jointly promoted by THCU, NCCMT and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Best Practices Initiative.

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An online database of current academic articles designed especially for public health decision-makers and managers who are too busy to sift through all the available evidence. Every article from over 140 medical and allied health academic journals is critically appraised. Only those articles deemed by clinicians to be methodologically sound, relevant and newsworthy are posted. Articles are updated weekly and a searchable archive is kept on the NCCMT website. The service comes to NCCMT via the McMaster Health Knowledge Refinery.

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The purpose of this document is to identify priorities for public health research in Canada.

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The Registry is a searchable online collection of quality assessed, evidence-informed methods (processes) and tools (instruments) for knowledge translation in public health.

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What is lost when stages of the traditional systematic review process are shortened? This fact sheet discusses various methods used to create rapid reviews, outlines the strengths and limitations of rapid reviews, and makes recommendations for their future application.

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Randomized controlled trials provide rigorous results for effectiveness questions, yet may not be the best or even a possible study design for all questions. This resource discusses the implications of considering the best available evidence, including evidence from studies without control groups.

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Fact Sheet

This article provides background about the development and user-testing of the Online Health Program Planner and describes how it can be used as part of a regular planning cycle to help plan programs, access the best available evidence and support partnership and collaboration among community groups.

Reproduced with permission of the Canadian Public Health Association

(Ciliska D, Clark K, Hershfield L, Jetha N, Mackintosh J, Finkle D. Using an Online Health Program Planner: What’s in it for you? Ottawa, ON: Canadian Public Health Association, 2009; 8 pp.)

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