Evidence based practice in population health: a regional survey to inform workforce development and organisational change

Adily, Armita; Ward, Jeanette

doi:10.1136/jech.2003.012278

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…One notable exception is a needs assessments of population health staff conducted in New South Wales, Australia [42,43]. Their studies identified needs for technical support, training, and skills development, particularly among practitioners without master's degrees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey tool for measuring evidence-based decision making capacity in public health agencies

Jacobs

Clayton

Dove

et al. 2012

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundWhile increasing attention is placed on using evidence-based decision making (EBDM) to improve public health, there is little research assessing the current EBDM capacity of the public health workforce. Public health agencies serve a wide range of populations with varying levels of resources. Our survey tool allows an individual agency to collect data that reflects its unique workforce.MethodsHealth department leaders and academic researchers collaboratively developed and conducted cross-sectional surveys in Kansas and Mississippi (USA) to assess EBDM capacity. Surveys were delivered to state- and local-level practitioners and community partners working in chronic disease control and prevention. The core component of the surveys was adopted from a previously tested instrument and measured gaps (importance versus availability) in competencies for EBDM in chronic disease. Other survey questions addressed expectations and incentives for using EBDM, self-efficacy in three EBDM skills, and estimates of EBDM within the agency.ResultsIn both states, participants identified communication with policymakers, use of economic evaluation, and translation of research to practice as top competency gaps. Self-efficacy in developing evidence-based chronic disease control programs was lower than in finding or using data. Public health practitioners estimated that approximately two-thirds of programs in their agency were evidence-based. Mississippi participants indicated that health department leaders' expectations for the use of EBDM was approximately twice that of co-workers' expectations and that the use of EBDM could be increased with training and leadership prioritization.ConclusionsThe assessment of EBDM capacity in Kansas and Mississippi built upon previous nationwide findings to identify top gaps in core competencies for EBDM in chronic disease and to estimate a percentage of programs in U.S. health departments that are evidence-based. The survey can serve as a valuable tool for other health departments and non-governmental organizations to assess EBDM capacity within their own workforce and to assist in the identification of approaches that will enhance the uptake of EBDM processes in public health programming and policymaking. Localized survey findings can provide direction for focusing workforce training programs and can indicate the types of incentives and policies that could affect the culture of EBDM in the workplace.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey tool for measuring evidence-based decision making capacity in public health agencies

Jacobs

Clayton

Dove

et al. 2012

BMC Health Serv Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Both quantitative [8][9] and qualitative 10 results of a needs assessment were used to plan a response to develop workforce capacity for EBP in a population health workforce. A capacity building framework 12 was useful in developing a range of strategies to build capacity for EBP (Box 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[8][9][10] The working group continued to use the definition of evidence-based practice as used in the needs assessment and adapted from Sackett et al, 11 specifically "evidence-based practice (EBP) means the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about population health strategies". The EBP working group then selected a capacity building framework from NSW Health for its deliberations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More than half (55%) of DPH staff indicated a self-assessed need to increase their own capacity in EBP. 8 A majority of staff (80%) also agreed that EBP would improve the effectiveness of their work. 9 Furthermore, participants in the qualitative study recognised that the needs assessment had both increased awareness about EBP and legitimised this agenda for strategic development.…”

Section: What Are the Implications For Practitioners?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The larger SSWAHS continues to support EBP in population health. 6,7 In 2002 a needs assessment was conducted in SWSAHS to examine capacity for EBP among all non-administrative staff within the Division of Population Health, using quantitative 8,9 and qualitative 10 methods of enquiry. More than half (55%) of DPH staff indicated a self-assessed need to increase their own capacity in EBP.…”

Section: What Are the Implications For Practitioners?mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Promoting evidence-based practice in population health at the local level: a case study in workforce capacity development

Maxwell¹,

Adily²,

Ward³

2007

Aust. Health Review

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This paper describes a service-based initiative to enhance capacity for evidence-based practice (EBP) in the South Western Sydney Area Health Service Division of Population Health. A working group planned an organisational response to a customised EBP needs assessment using the New South Wales Department of Health's framework for capacity building focussing on five key action areas; organisational development, workforce development, resource allocation, leadership and partnerships. Innovative strategies to promote EBP were developed and implemented and on-site training programs that targeted specific groups of staff were conducted. Because there was commitment and leadership from senior staff for the initiative, a comprehensive approach to building capacity for EBP in population health was possible. Evidence of impact needs to be

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Using alternative statistical formats for presenting risks and risk reductions

Akl

Oxman

Herrin

et al. 2011

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

203

192

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Natural frequencies are probably better understood than probabilities. Relative risk reduction (RRR), compared with absolute risk reduction (ARR) and number needed to treat (NNT), may be perceived to be larger and is more likely to be persuasive. However, it is uncertain whether presenting RRR is likely to help people make decisions most consistent with their own values and, in fact, it could lead to misinterpretation. More research is needed to further explore this question.

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Evidence based practice in population health: a regional survey to inform workforce development and organisational change

Cited by 12 publications

References 17 publications

A survey tool for measuring evidence-based decision making capacity in public health agencies

A survey tool for measuring evidence-based decision making capacity in public health agencies

Promoting evidence-based practice in population health at the local level: a case study in workforce capacity development

Using alternative statistical formats for presenting risks and risk reductions

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