It is now clear that public policies are a lever for improving population health and well-being. What types of evidence should be used to support the adoption of healthy public policies? Some believe that evidence should be drawn from scientific experimentation, in accordance with an Evidence-Based Medicine approach; while others, adhering to the social sciences, emphasize the importance of contextual evidence and expert opinion.

The first point of view sometimes appears limited when applied to the very complex public policy sector. There are advantages to opting for a broader vision of science, combining reviews of rigorous scientific studies, both quantitative and qualitative, with other sources of information. Grey literature and experiential and tacit knowledge can yield information of significance to decision makers. This thematic day will allow participants, be they students, researchers, decision makers or public health professionals, to evaluate the relevance of various types of evidence and to reflect on the manner in which they are addressed and used to inform policy decisions.

10 AM to 10:10 AM
Word of welcome

Pierre Bergeron, M.D., Ph.D., Scientific Director, Direction des systèmes de soins et des politiques publique, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

Conference animator: Michel O'Neill, Ph.D., Director of the doctoral program in community health and Full Professor of the sociology of health, community health and health promotion, Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université Laval

10:10 AM to 10:45 AM
What constitutes proof? An ethical perspective on evidence.

(No PowerPoint is available for this presentation.)
Daniel Weinstock, Ph.D., Director, Centre de recherche en éthique, Université de Montréal.

10:45 AM to 12 PM
Evidence, which types and why?

Objectives:

• Identifying the different types of evidence that can guide policy decisions and the assessment of their relevance.

• Clarifying the issues related to the use of evidence.

Conceptualizing and classifying evidence

Evidence Reconsidered for Health System Guidance  244 K Susan Law, Vice-President, Research and Evaluation, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
Evidence and Healthy Public Policy  256 K Patrick Fafard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa.

LUNCH 12 PM TO 1:30 PM

1:30 PM to 3 PM
Reviewing evidence, the usefulness and limits of various approaches

Objectives:

• Comparing some of the information sources that can be used to guide decision making.

• Identifying the central theoretical concepts associated with these information sources.

Systematic knowledge reviews

Reviewing Evidence – the usefulness and limits of various approaches : Systematic Reviews   1.02 Mb Donna Ciliska, B.Sc.N., M.Sc.N., Ph.D., Professor, School of Nursing, McMaster University and Scientific Director, National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools

Realistic knowledge reviews

A brief introduction to Realist Synthesis   620 K Sanjeev Sridharan, Ph.D., Head of the Evaluation Program and Senior Research Fellow at the Research Unit in Health, Behaviour and Change, University of Edinburgh

Deliberative processes

Deliberative Processes and decision-making in zones of chaos and complexity   246 K François-Pierre Gauvin, M.Sc., Health Research Methodology, McMaster University

3:30 PM to 4:20 PM
Recent examples of the use of evidence within the context of policy decision making

· With reference to a specific case, evaluating the strengths and limitations of using evidence to support policy decisions.

An applied case at the provincial level: The use of cell phones while driving

Public health advisory on the effects of cell phone use while driving  227 K Étienne Blais, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, École de criminologie, Université de Montréal and Research Associate at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec
Cell Phone Use While Driving  126 K Jean-Marie DeKoninck, Ph.D. Professor, Département de mathématiques et de statistique, Université Laval and Chair of the Table de la sécurité routière

An applied case at the regional level: Traffic calming in Montreal

Traffic Calming: Evidence for Action 4.6 Mb Patrick Morency, M.D., M.Sc., FRCP, Medical Specialist in community health, Montréal health and social services agency/ public health branch Louis Drouin, M.D., Medical Specialist, Head of urban environment and health, Montréal health and social services agency/ public health branch

4:20 PM to 4:30 PM
Response and case analyses

Evidence-based policies for more informed decision-making  301 K Jean Turgeon, Ph.D., Professor, École nationale d'administration publique du Québec and Co-director of the Groupe d'étude sur les politiques publiques et la santé

4:55 PM to 5 PM
Conclusion of the thematic day

Scientific Committee:

Head: Marie-Christine Hogue, Research Officer, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy

Geneviève Lapointe, Head of the Équipe Politiques publiques, Institut national de santé publique

Gérald Baril, Scientific Advisor on living habits, Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

Isabelle Veillette, Executive Counsellor, Direction générale adjointe à la mission universitaire, Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Vieille-Capitale.

Louis Drouin, Medical Specialist, Head of urban environment and health, Montréal health and social services agency, public health branch

François-Pierre Gauvin, Doctoral Candidate, Health Research Methodology, McMaster University

François Benoit, Lead, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy

Marianne Jacques, Network Development Officer, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy