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

Strategic Plan & Logic Model

Applied Public Health 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.
- Link to publication: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/16vol42/dr-rm42-2/assets/pdf/16vol42_2-ar-04-eng.pdf
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.
- Link to abstract: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/02/07/cid.ciw050.short
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.
- Link to abstract: http://std.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/01/12/0956462415627397.abstract
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.
- Link to abstract: http://std.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/10/23/0956462415614168.abstract
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.

Link to publication: http://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-015-0431-5
Schillberg E, Isaac M, Deng X, Peirano G, Wylie JL, Van Caeseele P, Pillai DR, Sinnock H, Mahmud SM. 2014. Outbreak of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype12F among a marginalized inner-city population in Winnipeg, Canada, 2009-2011. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Link to article: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/5/651.full.pdf+html?sid=ec1f525c-2736-40bf-84cd-cf14304211fc

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.
- Link to abstract: http://www.mb-phen.ca/files/Session2C.pdf
Moffatt H, Harlos S, Tjaden L, Soren S. Facilitating dialogue to promote health equity: A workshop about workshops. Canadian Public Health Association Conference, 2015.
- Link to presentation: http://resources.cpha.ca/CPHA/Conf/Data/2015/A15-626e.pdf
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.
- Link to presentation: http://resources.cpha.ca/CPHA/Conf/Data/2015/A15-519e.pdf
Cohen BE, Arnold T, Moffatt H. Organizational Capacity to Promote Public Health Equity Action: Are MPH Graduates Prepared? Canadian Public Health Association Conference, 2015.

Link to presentation: http://resources.cpha.ca/CPHA/Conf/Data/2015/A15-618e.pdf
Moffatt H, Harlos S, Tjaden L, Soren S. Facilitating change to promote health equity: A workshop about workshops. Community Health Nurses of Canada Conference, 2015.
- Link to presentation: https://www.chnc.ca/documents/505.pdf
Mutch L, Chang ZM. Partners in inner-city integrated prenatal care (PIIPC): a social marketing initiative to increase awareness of the importance of prenatal care and where to access care among Winnipeg’s inner-city women. Community Health Nurses of Canada Conference, 2015.
- Link to presentation: https://www.chnc.ca/documents/601A.pdf

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.
- Link to abstract: http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/eurpub/25/suppl_3/ckv176.143.full.pdf
Heaman MI, Tjaden L, Chang ZM. Qualitative evaluation: partners in inner-city integrated prenatal care project in Winnipeg, Canada. European Public Health Conference, 2015.
- Link to abstract: http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/eurpub/25/suppl_3/ckv171.031.full.pdf
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.