Rachel Jl Prowse1,2, Sarah A Richmond1,3, Sarah Carsley1,3, Heather Manson1,2,4, Brent Moloughney1,2. 1. Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ONM5G 1V2, Canada. 2. Clinical Public Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 3. Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of TorontoToronto, ON,Canada. 4. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess public health nutrition practice within the public health system in Ontario, Canada to identify provincial-wide needs for scientific and technical support. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to identify activities, strengths, challenges and opportunities in public health nutrition practice using semi-structured key informant interviews (n 21) and focus groups (n 10). Recorded notes were analysed concurrently with data generation using content analysis. System needs were prioritised through a survey. SETTING: Public health units. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-nine practitioners, managers, directors, medical officers of health, researchers and other stakeholders were purposively recruited through snowball and extreme case sampling. RESULTS: Five themes were generated: (i) current public health nutrition practice was broad, complex, in transition and collaborative; (ii) data/evidence/research relevant to public health needs were insufficiently available and accessible; (iii) the amount and specificity of guidance/leadership was perceived to be mismatched with strong evidence that diet is a risk factor for poor health; (iv) resources/capacity were varied but insufficient and (v) understanding of nutrition expertise in public health among colleagues, leadership and other organisations can be improved. Top ranked needs were increased understanding, visibility and prioritisation of healthy eating and food environments; improved access to data and evidence; improved collaboration and coordination; and increased alignment of activities and goals. CONCLUSIONS: Collective capacity in the public health nutrition can be improved through strategic system-wide capacity-building interventions. Research is needed to explore how improvements in data, evidence and local contexts can bridge research and practice to effectively and efficiently improve population diets and health.
OBJECTIVE: To assess public health nutrition practice within the public health system in Ontario, Canada to identify provincial-wide needs for scientific and technical support. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to identify activities, strengths, challenges and opportunities in public health nutrition practice using semi-structured key informant interviews (n 21) and focus groups (n 10). Recorded notes were analysed concurrently with data generation using content analysis. System needs were prioritised through a survey. SETTING: Public health units. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-nine practitioners, managers, directors, medical officers of health, researchers and other stakeholders were purposively recruited through snowball and extreme case sampling. RESULTS: Five themes were generated: (i) current public health nutrition practice was broad, complex, in transition and collaborative; (ii) data/evidence/research relevant to public health needs were insufficiently available and accessible; (iii) the amount and specificity of guidance/leadership was perceived to be mismatched with strong evidence that diet is a risk factor for poor health; (iv) resources/capacity were varied but insufficient and (v) understanding of nutrition expertise in public health among colleagues, leadership and other organisations can be improved. Top ranked needs were increased understanding, visibility and prioritisation of healthy eating and food environments; improved access to data and evidence; improved collaboration and coordination; and increased alignment of activities and goals. CONCLUSIONS: Collective capacity in the public health nutrition can be improved through strategic system-wide capacity-building interventions. Research is needed to explore how improvements in data, evidence and local contexts can bridge research and practice to effectively and efficiently improve population diets and health.
Entities:
Keywords:
Capacity building; Practice; Practice-based evidence; Public health nutrition; Situational assessment
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