Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) champions the use of evidence in public health practice, programs, and policy decision making. The NCCMT utilizes several communications channels to support public health professionals and organizations use of evidence in practice, and to spread awareness of the importance of evidence-informed public health. We share resources, highlight current evidence and offer training and mentorship opportunities through our Centre or partner organizations.
Objectives: To disseminate knowledge on what works in public health directly to those who use it. We aim to support efficient and effective use of various types of evidence in practice to create positive change in public health in Canada and worldwide.
Methods: The NCCMT uses several key communications channels to reach diverse audiences globally, both online and in-person. Our online communications channels include: a monthly newsletter (the Round-Up); social media platforms including YouTube, SlideShare, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn; monthly webinars; quarterly external promotion blasts where we ask external organizations to promote our new products; and a monthly evidence service to share new systematic reviews added to Health Evidence™. We also have exhibitor booths at select conferences to connect in-person with our target audience.
Results: These methods of communication allow us to reach a wide audience to share resources and knowledge. For example, our monthly newsletter reaches over 15,000 subscribers each month. External promotion e-blasts connect with over 85 Canadian organizations who actively promote new NCCMT products and events within their networks. This lets us to extend our reach to new audiences who may not subscribe to our newsletter or be familiar with NCCMT. Regularly scheduled webinars are centred on new or existing products and resources for evidence-informed decision making. For example, we host the Online Journal Club where attendees get practical and hands-on training in critical appraisal. From April 2019 to February 2020, the average number of attendees was 57, our highest webinar attendance was 136 attendees. These various communications channels also help us to build partnerships with other organizations and individuals.
Conclusions: The NCCMT has multiple methods for reaching our audience of public health professionals and organizations. Together, these methods of communication are a comprehensive strategy for disseminating and sharing resources and knowledge to promote and create change in using evidence in practice. The multiple communications channels not only helps with dissemination but is also a useful tool in building partnerships.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: While patients or healthcare consumers were not involved in the development of our communications channels, they may find useful information through our communications channels especially through our partnerships with other organizations.
Objectives: To disseminate knowledge on what works in public health directly to those who use it. We aim to support efficient and effective use of various types of evidence in practice to create positive change in public health in Canada and worldwide.
Methods: The NCCMT uses several key communications channels to reach diverse audiences globally, both online and in-person. Our online communications channels include: a monthly newsletter (the Round-Up); social media platforms including YouTube, SlideShare, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn; monthly webinars; quarterly external promotion blasts where we ask external organizations to promote our new products; and a monthly evidence service to share new systematic reviews added to Health Evidence™. We also have exhibitor booths at select conferences to connect in-person with our target audience.
Results: These methods of communication allow us to reach a wide audience to share resources and knowledge. For example, our monthly newsletter reaches over 15,000 subscribers each month. External promotion e-blasts connect with over 85 Canadian organizations who actively promote new NCCMT products and events within their networks. This lets us to extend our reach to new audiences who may not subscribe to our newsletter or be familiar with NCCMT. Regularly scheduled webinars are centred on new or existing products and resources for evidence-informed decision making. For example, we host the Online Journal Club where attendees get practical and hands-on training in critical appraisal. From April 2019 to February 2020, the average number of attendees was 57, our highest webinar attendance was 136 attendees. These various communications channels also help us to build partnerships with other organizations and individuals.
Conclusions: The NCCMT has multiple methods for reaching our audience of public health professionals and organizations. Together, these methods of communication are a comprehensive strategy for disseminating and sharing resources and knowledge to promote and create change in using evidence in practice. The multiple communications channels not only helps with dissemination but is also a useful tool in building partnerships.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: While patients or healthcare consumers were not involved in the development of our communications channels, they may find useful information through our communications channels especially through our partnerships with other organizations.