Want to better understand how the health and social systems work and how you can better advocate for changes that would improve these systems for you and your family? Enhance your knowledge with one of our free courses for citizens:
Finding and using research evidence: A guide for citizens
In this free online course, you’ll be provided with solutions to overcome the most commonly cited frustrations people have when trying to access research evidence. Prepared by the McMaster Health Forum with support from the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the course is now available online as a set of eight videos:
Here are helpful resources that are drawn on in the course:
- Definitions for word and phrases used in the modules
- How to make sure health information is trustworthy
- Links to online sources mentioned in the modules
Don’t miss the most important resource for citizen-targeted evidence about healthy aging:
Understanding how to navigate the health system
Knowing how your health system works will better you to navigate the system, identify opportunities to make things better, and advocate for changes that you’d like to see. This free online course describes the 'building blocks' of Ontario’s health system as well as how those building blocks are used to provide care in the province in different ways (e.g., by sector, condition, treatment, population). While Ontario is the example, these principles are useful to understanding health systems other jurisdictions in Canada and internationally.
Prepared by the McMaster Health Forum with support from the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the course is now available online as a set of six videos:
Here are helpful resources that are drawn on in the course:
- Free download of chapters from Ontario’s Health System: Key Insights for Engaged Citizens, Professional and Policymakers. The Ontario book is also helpful in understanding other health systems
Don’t miss the most important resource for citizen-targeted evidence about healthy aging:
Masterclass on patient-oriented research
The Forum’s masterclass was designed to prepare future champions for the conduct and use of patient-oriented research and future mentors to others becoming involved in the conduct and use of patient-oriented research. While we are not currently planning any sessions for the masterclass on patient-oriented research, you can access all of the course material to learn more about patient-oriented research.
Cochrane Canada webinar recordings released
Cochrane Canada recently published the recordings from the Cochrane Canada Live! webinar series held earlier this year. Three of these webinars featured experts from the McMaster Health Forum.
Stakeholder Dialogues - presented by Dr. John N. LavisThis signature Stakeholder Dialogues program involves preparing an evidence brief about a health-system problem (and its causes), options to address it, and key implementation considerations, and convening a deliberative dialogue among the policymakers, stakeholders and researchers likely to be involved in or affected by decisions related to the challenge. This webinar explored the key features of stakeholder dialogues, what we’ve learned about them and how you can request one.
Citizen Panels - presented by Dr. François-Pierre Gauvin
The Forum's Citizen Panels program complements our Stakeholder Dialogues program. A citizen brief about a health-system problem (and its causes), options to address it, and key implementation considerations is prepared, which informs a deliberative dialogue among a group of citizens who are ethnoculturally, socioeconomically and in other ways diverse. This webinar explored the key features of citizen panels, what we’ve learned about them, and how you can request one.
Health Systems Learning Educational Program, presented by Dr. Kaelan Moat
Health Systems Learning provides online and in-person training about how to strengthen health systems, and how to get cost-effective programs, services and drugs to those who need them. The first online course focuses on how to find and use evidence to accomplish this. This webinar explored the key features of this educational program, introduced the audience to related tools and resources, and outlined how you can enrol in one of the training opportunities.
"Cochrane Canada released The Cochrane Collaboration’s first webinar series in 2009, and it has since proven to be a favourite medium of training among Cochrane members in Canada and internationally."
- McMaster Forum
