Public Health Online

 

Need a brainshift; need to visualize new means of working.

tipping point needed; increasing social use.

 

Potential benefits include time and costs savings, universal access to information, democratic analysis and synthesis - have an online workspace, acceleration of knowledge cycle.

 

Online Initiatives

 

  • Health Promotion
    Clearinghouse
  • PHAC Skills &
    Competencies
  • Global Skills &
    Competencies
  • HPO Promotion
    Competencies

Health Promotion Clearinghouse

funded by HPP (ITS cooperative; $3900, plus $600 server space yearly)

steering committee with a number of partners

Heather Christian uses it.

started in June 2007; picked pilot groups that would champion it well. Need senior lead people to set the ball in motion - it's going on the network; don't send it by email anymore!

designed to increase people's networking capabilities and build online communities.

not website - web application

forums - anyone can post

blogs, photos, downloads

files and download areas. People love to share good information.

very very interactive

knowledge management tool

personal/online support and training

many different groups

public and private spaces

PHAC Skills Online

Need to re-examine and strengthen public health system and train competent PH workforce (Naylor report)

needed to develop core competencies: 36 statements in 7 categories. Continuing education as things are continually evolving.

Canada has much remote geographic areas.

series of 8 week modules for PH practitioners, taking 25-35 hours.

national teams (~15) of interprofessional learners

relevant, timely, and practical Canadian content

easily accessible and free with own hardware/software

help desk for technical support, with trained facilitators for content support

pre- and post-tests, along with self-assessments, with instant feedback for each module

assignments handed into facilitator, who provide feedback

discussion forums to share ideas across the country

external links that can be used in day-to-day practice, though everything you need to complete the module is contained within the module

interviews with PH practitioners from across the country

content mapped to Core Competencies

 

most (~45% PHNs); others include environmental health officers, others; MDs are less than 5%

 

Findings - enhanced appreciation for breadth of work within public health. More confidence leads to more involvement

PHAC Skills and Core Competencies

They're developing a primer for use in health professions training programs

 

 

Online PH Professional International Training Program

PHAC is sharing their skills and competencies with countries in the Carribean; three introductory courses are what's being offered.

Since 2007, 40 people have gone through; high waiting lists. participants are selected by MoH, in consultation with PAHO. Over half were given some or all time off to work on the module, but perhaps one third did not have the support of their supervisors.

 

Some countries are using this opportunity to strengthen certain HR sectors, ie program officers.

 

completion rates are about 75%, similar to Canadian statistics

program officers are highly represented among participants

98% of participants access the internet from home; 75% visit modules at least 3x weekly. Over half of users experienced technical challenges, mostly due to internet access.

 

They use Canadian facilitators with international learners.

Facilitator's thoughts: it can be difficult to get online conversation going. Also, perhaps some expectation to be taught, rather than facilitated. Sticking to timelines can also be difficult.

 

PHAC wants to shift responsibility to local agencies

hilary_robinson@pnac-aspc.gc.ca

Health Promotion Competencies (Ontario)

www.hpoph.org - blog online

wrote some reports on roles and networks of health promoters

Discipline-specific

Auz have done a lot of work in this.

8 domains, 30 competencies - similar to PHAC

designed for training programs, continuing education, and to expand knowledge of what health promotion is all about.

competencies are advisory and voluntary, reflecting range of health promotion practice

move towards national involvement

marco.ghassemi@peelregion.ca

 

 

technology is not as simple as people think; people need help with basic skills - signing in, posting, mistrust, security.

People often use email instead of the network.