Team Meeting October 17, 2012
The day began with a brief overview of the project by Bernie Pauly, broadly outlining each of the four research Studies. This was followed by a panel discussion on Study 3, facilitated by Tannis Cheadle and Lesley Dyck, in which Tannis Cheadle described the Health Equity Indicators Project undertaken by PHSA. Lesley Dyck discussed the NCCDH’s work nationally and specifically their work with NCCHPP in delivering a document that pulls together a variety of tools and approaches adopted by the health sector and of use to the Health Authorities. Victoria Lee commented on Fraser Health’s development of a health equity assessment toolkit, their efforts towards education and training, and efforts to engage their organization through various communication strategies, such as focus groups. Connie Zeisser gave a brief synopsis of the Study 3 health equity tool inventory that has been compiled, and a discussion ensued around its composition and value as a searchable matrix, as well as its potential uses for Health Authorities. The next step is to write up the inventory and proceed with evaluations of the tools for practical utility and theoretical relevance. A discussion of concept mapping addressed the practicalities of it how this research will be carried out within the health authorities. ELPH researchers will develop a timeline for data collection in all the CPHFRI projects for circulation to health authority partners.
ELPH 1 Health Equity as a Priority
The Study One portion of the day continued with presentations by the representatives from the Health Authorities addressing the uptake of health equity priorities in their respective organizations. Jennifer Scarr outlined the work being done at VCH, and the use of indicators in their Balanced Scorecard as measures to raise awareness with senior executives. Trevor Corneil discussed Interior Health’s efforts to bring the “upstream downstream”, such as the Medical Health Equity Initiative, wherein stakeholders are engaged and health equity priorities are identified. He explained that IH hopes to provide an accurate picture of health inequity throughout their region, utilizing tools such as a health inequity score card to improve health outcomes. Jim Campbell from Northern Health identified several streams in his organization including the development of position papers with a focus on the determinants of health, in the hopes of aligning the documents with population needs in the context of the NH Strategic Plan. He described other public health initiatives, including a community grants program, men’s health promotion and local interventions involving private sector partnerships. Peggy Strass then spoke to VIHA’s application of an Equity Lens in programs, and described the promotion of health equity through the various services VIHA provides such as Her Way Home. She discussed the establishment of three community health networks, and how communities are helping to define their own priorities based on geography and culture.
The next discussion focused on interview participant recruitment for Study 1. Instead of interviews, we may do focus groups with groups that already meet regularly. It was agreed that senior executives would be targeted initially, and that recruitment would not be restricted to those already promoting health equity. Corrine Lowen, research assistant on Study 1, will be in touch with health authority partners to arrange interviews.
ELPH 2 Social Network Analysis
The Study Two discussion commenced with a presentation on Social Network Analysis by Marjorie MacDonald. Advanced training in this methodology was offered to the group, in the hopes of building team SNA capacity. The training will be Dec 6th and 7th, please contact elph@uvic.ca for more information. As this SNA research will map intersectoral collaborations and show changes over time, it is hoped that it will result in practical ideas for partnering and promoting health equity that can be shared with the HA partners. It was agreed that it will be important to factor in context to understand the data gathered.
Knowledge Translation and Exchange
After describing the KTE component of the project, Warren O’Briain facilitated a discussion wherein the importance of input from team members was underscored. Noted actions on this front included a survey which will be used to better understand the roles and responsibilities team members would like in ELPH KT activities. It was observed that not only was the dissemination of knowledge generated important, but also the building of capacity to champion this knowledge and affect change. The need to infuse public health ethics into the knowledge translation plan was suggested. The importance of 10 Year MH Plan KTE events to the project was also underscored, as well as other Ministry of Health initiatives. This was followed by a discussion of proposed Policy Research Internships, and it was agreed that a 3 month term for these would be appropriate. Masters of Public Health students were identified as good candidates, and as Bernie Pauly identified, their work must be grounded in health equity and be strategic in the sense of extending ELPH work within the Health Authorities.