Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) is one of six National Collaborating Centres established by the Public Health Agency of Canada to promote evidence-informed public health decision-making. The NCCMT will focus on the identification, evaluation, development and dissemination of KSTE (knowledge synthesis, translation and exchange) methods and tools. Prior to the establishment of the NCCMT (November 2006) an environmental scan was conducted to support the identification and setting of work priorities for the Centre.
Objectives: The objectives of the scan included: 1. Identify and define what public health methods and tools mean to the target users. 2. Identify the existing methods and tools. 3. Identify methods and tools that are needed but not yet available (i.e., the gaps). 4. Identify and prioritize the activities for the initial workplan of the NCCMT. 5. Identify 'experts' across Canada to assist with the establishment of the network and the NCCMT Advisory Board.
Methods: The environmental scan included four components: a review of published and grey literature; key informant interviews; an environmental scan survey; and, a series of three surveys using a modified Delphi technique to reach a consensus on the priority activities for the NCCMT.
Results: The environmental scan identified the following top five work activities for the NCCMT: 1. Create a support structure for sharing of information across health units, agencies, and institutions; 2. Strengthen leadership to support the use of evidence in practice and policy; 3. Create user-friendly summary statements from systematic reviews; 4. Create an online resource (the 'go to place') of evidence for public health practice; 5. Integrate front line practitioners with the NCCMT from its inception.
Conclusions: The environmental scan results and a series of subsequent consultations have provided useful guidance for the short and long-term strategic planning of the NCCMT. Networking and collaborating with national and international organizations such as The Cochrane Collaboration is one of the primary functions of the NCCMT.
Objectives: The objectives of the scan included: 1. Identify and define what public health methods and tools mean to the target users. 2. Identify the existing methods and tools. 3. Identify methods and tools that are needed but not yet available (i.e., the gaps). 4. Identify and prioritize the activities for the initial workplan of the NCCMT. 5. Identify 'experts' across Canada to assist with the establishment of the network and the NCCMT Advisory Board.
Methods: The environmental scan included four components: a review of published and grey literature; key informant interviews; an environmental scan survey; and, a series of three surveys using a modified Delphi technique to reach a consensus on the priority activities for the NCCMT.
Results: The environmental scan identified the following top five work activities for the NCCMT: 1. Create a support structure for sharing of information across health units, agencies, and institutions; 2. Strengthen leadership to support the use of evidence in practice and policy; 3. Create user-friendly summary statements from systematic reviews; 4. Create an online resource (the 'go to place') of evidence for public health practice; 5. Integrate front line practitioners with the NCCMT from its inception.
Conclusions: The environmental scan results and a series of subsequent consultations have provided useful guidance for the short and long-term strategic planning of the NCCMT. Networking and collaborating with national and international organizations such as The Cochrane Collaboration is one of the primary functions of the NCCMT.