This category describes the Core Competencies needed to collect, assess, analyze and apply information (including data, facts, concepts and theories). These competencies are required to make evidence-based decisions, prepare budgets and reports, conduct investigations and make recommendations for policy and program development.
Competencies:
- Recognize that a health concern or issue exists.
- Identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including community assets and resources.
- Collect, store, retrieve and use accurate and appropriate information on public health issues.
- Analyze information to determine appropriate implications, uses, gaps and limitations.
- Determine the meaning of information, considering the current ethical, political, scientific, socio-cultural and economic contexts.
- Recommend specific actions based on the analysis of information.
Recognize that a Health Concern or Issue Exists
- CPHI’s Education listing There are a number of self-study modules that can be accessed (by clicking on the title of the module within the document), from healthy weights to mental health. Canadian Population Health Initiative at the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
- Canadian Best Practices Portal (CBPP) – Policy Issues This website provides links to key policy documents, provincial/territorial and federal legislation and standards in public health, policy resources, and listservs/newsletters. Public Health Agency of Canada.
- Canadian Best Practices Portal (CBPP) – Public Health Topics This website links readers to information on various public health topics that are common across multiple Canadian health departments. Public Health Agency of Canada.
- Canadian Best Practices Portal (CBPP) – Resources This website links to Canadian evidence-informed decision-making tools and information, Canadian and international health indicators, and Canadian tools and information on planning programs in public health. Public Health Agency of Canada.
Identify Relevant and Appropriate Sources of Information, Including Community Assets and Resources
- Community Development Strategies Online Module This online module on community development strategies includes a section on community asset mapping. Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition.
- Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol This protocol outlines the standards and requirements for health boards in population health assessment and surveillance. Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
Collect, Store, Retrieve and Use Accurate and Appropriate Information on Public Health Issues
- Disease Surveillance On-Line This website provides information on using Notifiable Diseases On-Line, as well as provides links to maps and charts. Public Health Agency of Canada.
- Health Analyst’s Toolkit This toolkit has two sections: knowledge and data. The knowledge section covers topics such as classification systems and standardization. The data section outlines common data sources in Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
- Panorama (Pan-Canadian Public Health Communicable Disease Surveillance and Management Project) This report outlines the Panorama system for communicable disease, including benefits of the system and data management. IBM (2009).
- Survey Methods and Practices This manual provides details on collecting data via surveys, including questionnaire design, sampling, and analysis. Statistics Canada.
Analyze Information to Determine Appropriate Implications, Uses, Gaps and Limitations and Determine the Meaning of Information, Considering the Ethical, Political, Scientific, Socio-Cultural and Economic Contexts
- Online Learning Modules These online learning modules will help you to apply evidence-informed decision-making in public health interventions, to critically appraise intervention studies, and to understand quantitative research designs. National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools.
- Can I Use this Evidence in My Program Decision? Assessing Applicability and Transferability of Evidence This tool assists public health practitioners in assessing whether evidence is applicable and transferable for their needs. National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools.
Recommend Specific Actions Based on the Analysis of Information
- Briefing Note. Decisions, Rationale and Key Findings Summary This is a word document template to help organize and write a briefing note based on evidence and information gathered. Health Evidence.
- Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation (CHANGE) – Building a foundation of knowledge to prioritize community needs This is a tool to help develop a community action plan. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.