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Applied Public Health Research

Applied public health research (APHR) is essential to ensuring that we better understand our client populations and the environments in which they are embedded, the public health issues affecting them, and the best ways of addressing these public health issues. Applied public health research involves the scientific examination of one or more specific research questions related to assessing the impact or role of public health interventions, programs or policy. Formulation of specific research questions, identifying and utilizing relevant data sources, along with application of appropriate methodology in a real-world setting, and translating results back into public health practice are critical components of applied public health research.

The population and public health (PPH) program of the WRHA is continuing to support APHR as a key priority. In addition to major research collaborations and initiatives, a logic model for APHR has been developed, and key individuals identified to focus implementation of this strategic direction.  

Major Initiatives

Infectious Conditions & Immunization

  • Enhancing immunization coverage of equity-impacted children
  • Epidemiological mapping of vulnerable populations
  • Evaluating effectiveness of condom promotion campaign
  • Evaluating effectiveness of social media outreach in response to infectious syphilis
  • Understanding heterogeneity in trends of bacterial sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis
  • Mathematical modelling of infectious syphilis among men who have sex with men in Winnipeg
  • Understanding invasive pneumococcal disease in Winnipeg
  • Dignity in tuberculosis care

Prenatal and Early Childhood

  • Breastfeeding experiences of low income women
  • Enhancing prenatal care for inner-city women
  • Understanding infant nutrition and breastfeeding

Healthy Built Environments, Health Equity, Healthy Public Policy and Chronic Conditions.

  • Redefinition of public health nursing practice model in Manitoba
  • Public health nursing practice and newcomers
  • Implementation and knowledge translation of approaches to health equity
  • Understanding food skills in schools
  • Obesity prevention
  • Active transportation in the WRHA
  • Physical literacy in children
  • Assessing perceptions of and experiences of LGBTQ healthcare professionals

Conferences Presented

  • Canadian Public Health Association
  • Community Health Nurses of Canada
  • Canadian Association for HIV Research
  • European Public Health Conference
  • Manitoba Health Ethics Forum

Major Partners

  • University of Manitoba
  • University of Toronto
  • Centre for Global Public Health
  • City of Winnipeg
  • Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
  • Health in Common
  • Klinic Community Health Centre
  • Food Matters Manitoba

Strategic Plan & Logic Model

Publications/Reports

  • Cusack, C., Dimond, G., & Zidona, J. 2016. Promoting the health of newcomer mothers to Manitoba. In A. R. Vollman, E. T. Anderson, & J. McFarlane (Eds.), Canadian community as partner: Theory & multidisciplinary practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health. In Press
  • Ross C, Shaw SY, Marshall S, Stephen S, Bailey K, Cole R, Wylie JL, Bullard J, Van Caeseele P, Reimer J, Plourde P. 2016. Impact of a social media campaign targeting men who have sex with men during an outbreak of syphilis in Winnipeg, Canada. Canadian Communicable Disease Report.
  • Deng X, Peirano G, Schillberg E, Mazzulli, Gray-Owen SD, Wylie JL, Robinson DA, Mahmud SM, Pillai DR. 2016. Whole-genome sequencing reveals the origin and rapid evolution of an emerging outbreak strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae 12F. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
  • Shaw SY, Ross CP, Nowicki DL, Marshall S, Stephen S, Davies C, Riddell J, Bailey K, Elliott LJ, Reimer JN, Plourde PJ. 2016. Infectious syphilis in women: what’s old is new again? International Journal of STD and AIDS.
  • Shaw SY, Nowicki DL, Schillberg E, Green CG, Ross CP, Reimer JN, Plourde PJ, Elliott LJ. 2016. Epidemiology of incident chlamydia and gonorrhea infections and population attributable fractions associated with living in the inner-core of Winnipeg, Canada. International Journal of STD and AIDS.
  • Bergen-Cico D, Lapple A. 2015. Examination of safe crack use kit distribution from a public health perspective. World Medical & Health Policy.
    • Link to abstract: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wmh3.169/abstract?hootPostID=e7 d18edef2174cedd0b9b2e1de75b92d
  • Marshall SG. 2015. Canadian drug policy and reproduction of Indigenous inequalities. International Indigenous Policy Journal.
  • Link to publication: http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1200&context=iipj
  • Heaman MI, Sword W, Elliott L, Moffatt M, Helewa ME, Morris H, Tjaden L, Gregory P, Cook C. 2015. Perceptions of barriers, facilitators and motivators related to use of prenatal care: a qualitative descriptive study of inner-city Women in Winnipeg, Canada. SAGE Open Medicine.
  • Link to publication: http://smo.sagepub.com/content/3/2050312115621314.full.pdf+html
  • Heaman MI, Sword W, Elliott L, Moffatt M, Helewa ME, Morris H, Gregory P, Tjaden L, Cook C. 2015. Barriers and facilitators related to use of prenatal care by inner-city women: perceptions of health care providers. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

Presentations

  • Lopez C, Eaglesham J. Impact of eliciting dimensions on outcomes of patients with tuberculosis and their healthcare providers: “The Dignity Project”. Manitoba Provincial Health Ethics Network Health Ethics Forum. March 2, 2016.
  • Moffatt H, Harlos S, Tjaden L, Soren S. Facilitating dialogue to promote health equity: A workshop about workshops. Canadian Public Health Association Conference, 2015.
  • Harlos S, Thompson L, Becker M, Green C, Elliott L, Moffatt H. Looking at Patient Flow Through a Health Equity Lens. Canadian Public Health Association Conference, 2015.
  • Cohen BE, Arnold T, Moffatt H. Organizational Capacity to Promote Public Health Equity Action: Are MPH Graduates Prepared? Canadian Public Health Association Conference, 2015.  
  • Tjaden L, Moffatt H, Elliott L, Harlos S, Sorin L. Health for all: promoting health equity across a regional health authority. European Public Health Conference, 2015.
  • Heaman MI, Tjaden L, Chang ZM. Qualitative evaluation: partners in inner-city integrated prenatal care project in Winnipeg, Canada. European Public Health Conference, 2015.
  • Prowse, S. Physical Illiteracy and other Barriers to Active Participation. Moving it Forward Physical Literacy Conference, 2015.
  • Graham, S. Supporting Healthy and Active Design. Manitoba Planner’s Conference, 2014.
  • Prowse, S. Healthy Canada by Design: Impact of School Site Selection, Design, and Usage Agreements on Active Transportation and Active Recreation. Global Summit on Physical Activity of Children, 2014.

Documents and Links

Partners in Inner-City Prenatal Care project

Mental Health Promotion

STRIVE Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness project

Public Health Nursing Professional Practice Model

    Public Health Nursing Standards

    Media Releases

    Partners in Inner City Prenatal Care (Feb 2013)

    Condom Use Campaign media release (Oct 2012)