Evidence-based policy making: for more informed decisions
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
It is now apparent that public policies are incontestably a lever for improving population health and well-being. What types of evidence should be used to support the adoption of healthy public policies? Some believe that evidence should be drawn from scientific experimentation, in accordance with an Evidence-Based Medicine approach; while others, adhering to the social sciences, emphasize the importance of contextual evidence and expert opinion.
The first point of view sometimes appears limited when applied to the very complex public policy sector. There are advantages to opting for a broader vision of science, combining reviews of rigorous scientific studies, both quantitative and qualitative, with other sources of information. Grey literature and experiential and tacit knowledge can yield information of significance to decision makers. This thematic day will allow participants, be they students, researchers, decision makers or public health professionals, to evaluate the relevance of various types of evidence and to reflect on the manner in which they are addressed and used to inform policy decisions.
10 AM to 10:10 AM
Word of welcome
Pierre Bergeron, M.D., Ph.D., Scientific Director, Direction des systèmes de soins et des politiques publique, Institut national de santé publique du Québec
Conference animator: Michel O’Neill, Ph.D., Director of the doctoral program in community health and Full Professor of the sociology of health, community health and health promotion, Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université Laval
10:10 AM to 10:45 AM
What constitutes proof? An ethical perspective on evidence.
Daniel Weinstock, Ph.D., Director, Centre de recherche en éthique, Université de Montréal.
10:45 AM to 12 PM
Evidence, which types and why?
Objectives:
• Identifying the different types of evidence that can guide policy decisions and the assessment of their relevance.
• Clarifying the issues related to the use of evidence.
* Each individual presentation will last 25 minutes and will be followed by a 25-minute discussion period with participants
- Conceptualizing and classifying evidence
Susan Law, Vice-President, Research and Evaluation
Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
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- Evidence and Healthy Public Policy : Insights from Health and Political Sciences
Patrick Fafard, Phd., Assistant Professor. Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. University of Ottawa.
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LUNCH 12 PM TO 1:30 PM
1:30 PM to 3 PM
Reviewing evidence, the usefulness and limits of various approaches
Objectives:
• Comparing some of the information sources that can be used to guide decision making.
• Identifying the central theoretical concepts associated with these information sources.
* Each 20-minute presentation will be followed by a 5-minute discussion period and a final 15-minute period for addressing questions to the three presenters.
-Systematic knowledge reviews
Donna Ciliska, B.Sc.N., M.Sc.N., Ph.D., Professor, School of Nursing, McMaster University and Scientific Director, National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools
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- Realistic knowledge reviews
Sanjeev Sridharan, Ph.D., Head of the Evaluation Program and Senior Research Fellow at the Research Unit in Health, Behaviour and Change, University of Edinburgh
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- Deliberative processes
François-Pierre Gauvin, M.Sc., Health Research Methodology, McMaster University
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3 PM to 3:30 PM
Pause/Tour of poster communications and presenters
3:30 PM to 4:20 PM
Recent examples of the use of evidence within the context of policy decision making
· With reference to a specific case, evaluating the strengths and limitations of using evidence to support policy decisions.
*Each case study will last 25 minutes.
An applied case at the provincial level: The use of cell phones while driving
- Étienne Blais, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, École de criminologie, Université de Montréal and Research Associate at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec
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- Jean-Marie DeKoninck, Ph.D. Professor, Département de mathématiques et de statistique, Université Laval and Chair of the Table de la sécurité routière
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An applied case at the regional level: Traffic calming in Montreal
- Patrick Morency, M.D., M.Sc., FRCP, Medical Specialist in community health, Montréal health and social services agency/ public health branch
- Louis Drouin, M.D., Medical Specialist, Head of urban environment and health, Montréal health and social services agency/ public health branch
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4:20 PM to 4:30 PM
Response and case analyses
Jean Turgeon, Ph.D., Professor, École nationale d’administration publique du Québec and Co-director of the Groupe d’étude sur les politiques publiques et la santé
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4:30 PM to 4:55 PM
Discussion with participants
4:55 PM to 5 PM
Conclusion of the thematic day
Scientific Committee:
Head: Marie-Christine Hogue, Research Officer, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy
Geneviève Lapointe, Head of the Équipe Politiques publiques, Institut national de santé publique
Gérald Baril, Scientific Advisor on living habits, Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
Isabelle Veillette, Executive Counsellor, Direction générale adjointe à la mission universitaire, Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Vieille-Capitale.
Louis Drouin, Medical Specialist, Head of urban environment and health, Montréal health and social services agency, public health branch
François-Pierre Gauvin, Doctoral Candidate – Health Research Methodology, McMaster University
François Benoit, Lead, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy
Marianne Jacques, Network Development Officer, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy