Digital Commons Network^™

Getting To The Root Of The Problem: Health Promotion Strategies To Address The Social Determinants Of Health, Dana Gore, Anita Kothari

Anita Kothari

Although extensive research shows that the social determinants of health influence the distribution and course of chronic diseases, there is little programming in public health that addresses the social determinants as a disease prevention strategy. This paper discusses different types of health promotion initiatives and differentiates them based on whether they attempt to impact intermediate (environmental) determinants of health or structural determinants of health. We argue for the importance of programming targeted at the structural determinants as opposed to programming targeted solely at the immediate environment. Specifically, the former has more potential to create significant improvements in health, contribute to …

Enacting Accountability: Networked Governance, Canadian Ngos And The Fctc, Raphael Lencucha, Anita Kothari, Ronald Labonte

Anita Kothari

Accountability is a pressing challenge within the present system of international lawmaking. Scholars continue to examine the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to encourage the accountability of governments during this process. The negotiation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) provides an important context to examine accountability as it is and was inherently influenced by corporate interests and government economics, and involved extensive NGO participation. We conducted in depth interviews and document analysis to examine the role of Canadian NGO representatives in the negotiation of the FCTC. We highlight two sets of findings about Canadian …

Public Health Decision Makers’ Informational Needs And Preferences For Receiving Research Evidence, Maureen Dobbins, Susan Jack, Helen Thomas, Anita Kothari

Anita Kothari

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify decision-makers’ preferences for the transfer and exchange of research knowledge. This article is focused on how the participants define evidence-based decision-making and their preferences for receiving research evidence to integrate into the decision-making process.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 Ontario public health decision-makers from six Ontario public health units in this fundamental qualitative descriptive study. The sample included nine program managers, six directors, and one Medical Officer of Health. Participants were asked to define the term evidence-based decision-making and identify preferred research dissemination strategies. The …

“Interaction” And Research Utilisation In Health Policies And Programs: Does It Work?, Anita Kothari, Stephen Birch, Cathy Charles

Anita Kothari

The objective of this study was to assess if interaction between users and producers of research is associated with a greater level of adoption of research findings in the design and delivery of health care programs. Responses to the dissemination of a research report on breast cancer prevention were compared between two groups of public health units in Ontario, Canada. Although all public health units received the report, only a subset of units was involved in the development of the report, while others were not. Research utilisation was conceptualized in terms of stages, including reading the report, information processing, and …