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.
Achieving the SDGs: SDSN side-events to the 74th Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Photo: John Lavis (photo credit: Sirin Samman)
Representatives from the McMaster Health Forum (a partner of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Canada) and Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI, host organization for SDSN Australia, New Zealand & Pacific) recently attended a series of events in New York City focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These events, organized in conjunction with the 74th Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly, built on the focus around the SDGs and leveraged the attendance of global policymakers and stakeholders. As part of the International Conference on Sustainable Development, the two organizations co-hosted a workshop on September 24 to discuss a new initiative that aims to bring the best available research evidence on what works to achieve the SDGs to policymakers and other decision makers. The event brought together knowledge producers and users from SDSN, policymakers with a focus on achieving the SDGs in their own jurisdictions and internationally, and other stakeholder groups, to discuss how to best harness Social Systems Evidence (SSE) to achieve the SDGs. SSE – the world’s most comprehensive, free access point for evidence about strengthening 20 government sectors and program areas, and achieving the SDGs – is developed and maintained through a partnership between the Forum and MSDI.
The next day, John Thwaites (MSDI) chaired a plenary session on strengthening the research-policy interface for the SDGs with panellists John Lavis (McMaster Health Forum), Mari Pangestu (Columbia University and Former Minister of Trade of Indonesia), Beth Simone Noveck (The Governance Lab, New York University), and David Smith (University of the West Indies). Watch a recording of the plenary session.
On September 26th, MSDI’s John Thwaites and Peter Bragge and the Forum’s Kaelan Moat presented at the SDSN Leadership Council Meeting to key leaders in the SDG movement including Jeffrey Sachs, Srinath Reddy, and Jan Egeland. They discussed the potential to leverage systematic reviews to achieve the SDGs and highlighted how Social Systems Evidence can help those within the SDSN and beyond.
- McMaster Forum
