HOW CAN WE IMPROVE SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM DELIVERY THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED RAPID LITERATURE REVIEWS?
Project Description:
Community organizations and government departments alike are often hard-pressed to deliver evidence-based research to support their program planning. In the rapidly changing context of COVID-19, access to reliable and fast research for a variety of health-related questions is more important than ever. Identifying the best evidence to inform program development is an urgent priority that requires multi-sectoral collaboration to ensure the bet result.
COVID-19 has uprooted the way in which many social and health services/programs are offered in the community; therefore, such organizations may need help with identifying the best evidence to inform decision-making for program planning.
Masters of Public Health students at McMaster University enrolled in the Leadership and Applied Public Health course, are ready and able to conduct approximately 8-10 rapid reviews of literature for your department or organization. Students will be working in groups of 3-4 and will be able to provide consolidated and actionable reports to inform best practices for program development in your area. Working with the staff member, students and faculty will narrow down a series of 4-5 questions that will help to guide the rapid review. Students typically produce 10 page reports but are open to other mediums that will best support the goals of the organization. To see an example of a previous CityLAB project developed by students in this course, check out “Driving Towards Better Health” https://www.citylabhamilton.com/fall-2019-projects-2/2019/11/27/driving-towards-better-health
Faculty: Emma Apatu, McMaster University
Course Code: Leadership & Applied Public Health, Master of Public Health Program/Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact
Deliverables: Secondary Research (i.e. review of literature and finding information from books and online).
Project Start Date/Availability: Fall semester 2020 (September - December)
Location: City-Wide
City Strategy Priority: Community Engagement and Participation, Economic Prosperity and Growth, Healthy and Safe Communities, Clean and Green, Build Environment and Infrastructure, Culture and Diversity and Our People and Performance.