Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: A 1-day workshop intended to be a practical session for public health professionals representative from across Canada sought to enhance the translation of research evidence and develop evidence-informed work plans for preventing childhood obesity.
Objectives: To describe participants’ knowledge and their readiness to progress with an evidence-informed plan of prevention.
Methods: 95 public health professionals involved in direct service provision or program development and implementation at a local or regional level participated in the January 2013 workshop. Included were presentations on knowledge translation, an overview of evidence from systematic reviews, an example of a public health department applying the principles to inform policy, and another health region’s experience of using evidence to address health inequalities. Participants engaged in small group discussions and commenced development on work plans. Polling with wireless ‘clickers’ assessed participant’s knowledge, views and their readiness to progress with evidence-based work plans. Polling was undertaken throughout the day.
Results: 89 persons participated in the polling, although decreased at the end of the day. 72% of participants came to identify what works to address childhood obesity. 35% of participants reported that they had not previously heard of PICO for answerable questions. Participants reported increased confidence in identifying an evidence-based program or service: 71% ‘some confidence’ and 23% ‘fully confident’. When asked to what extent they were leaving with a plan for moving forward: 39% ‘some extent’ and 42% ‘good extent’/‘confident’. The participants reported clickers helped them feel more engaged and recommended future use.
Conclusions: A national workshop with evidence presentations and small group discussions was able to increase participant’s knowledge and confidence in planning evidence-based workplans for obesity prevention in children. Interactive voting enabled active participation and real-time assessment. There is further need and opportunity to engage and support decisions makers in translating evidence to practice.
Objectives: To describe participants’ knowledge and their readiness to progress with an evidence-informed plan of prevention.
Methods: 95 public health professionals involved in direct service provision or program development and implementation at a local or regional level participated in the January 2013 workshop. Included were presentations on knowledge translation, an overview of evidence from systematic reviews, an example of a public health department applying the principles to inform policy, and another health region’s experience of using evidence to address health inequalities. Participants engaged in small group discussions and commenced development on work plans. Polling with wireless ‘clickers’ assessed participant’s knowledge, views and their readiness to progress with evidence-based work plans. Polling was undertaken throughout the day.
Results: 89 persons participated in the polling, although decreased at the end of the day. 72% of participants came to identify what works to address childhood obesity. 35% of participants reported that they had not previously heard of PICO for answerable questions. Participants reported increased confidence in identifying an evidence-based program or service: 71% ‘some confidence’ and 23% ‘fully confident’. When asked to what extent they were leaving with a plan for moving forward: 39% ‘some extent’ and 42% ‘good extent’/‘confident’. The participants reported clickers helped them feel more engaged and recommended future use.
Conclusions: A national workshop with evidence presentations and small group discussions was able to increase participant’s knowledge and confidence in planning evidence-based workplans for obesity prevention in children. Interactive voting enabled active participation and real-time assessment. There is further need and opportunity to engage and support decisions makers in translating evidence to practice.