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.
COVID-END inventory of evidence syntheses
COVID-END has recently launched the beta version of the fully searchable COVID-END inventory of evidence syntheses. The inventory has long been the most reliable source of quality-appraised evidence syntheses to inform COVID-19 decisions, including those deemed ‘best’ for any given decision. Now it has the same ‘bells and whistles’ as Health Systems Evidence and Social Systems Evidence, as well as additional enhancements that we’ll soon be carrying over to HSE and SSE. The COVID-END inventory can support government policymakers, organizational leaders, professionals, citizens and researchers who want to access the best available research evidence in a timely manner through a number of features, including:
- a powerful search engine and sort function to ensure the best and most relevant results are quickly identified
- an intuitive user interface that streamlines the process of conducting advanced searches through the application of filters for public-health measures, clinical management of COVID-19 and pandemic-related health issues, health-system arrangements, economic and social responses, or any combination of these
- a guided search tool for users who want additional assistance in applying filters
- independently assigned quality ratings for each included evidence synthesis
- hyperlinks to scientific abstracts and full-text reports (when freely available)
- responsive design, which automatically gives users access to the site in a format optimized for use on their device of choice (for example, mobile, tablet or desktop)
- declarative titles for syntheses that are deemed ‘best’ (the most up-to-date, highest quality and transparently presented evidence syntheses)
Visit the COVID-END inventory of evidence syntheses to explore further.
- McMaster Forum
