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.
PERLSS hosts one-year anniversary meeting, receives additional grant and welcomes new partner
On their one-year anniversary, members of the Partners for Evidence-driven Rapid Learning in Social Systems (PERLSS) network will meet in Addis Addaba (Ethiopia) from 16-18 December to review achievements over the past year, share lessons learned, and review the strategy for the next two years of the program. These discussions will build on key insights about project coordination and administration from the PERLSS meeting held in September 2019 in Johannesburg.
PERLSS is excited to announce that the Hewlett Foundation is providing an additional research grant of US $300,000. A portion of the funding will be used for convening the PERLSS one-year anniversary meeting and the remaining will be used for topping up the existing Opportunity Fund. PERLSS – which includes peers in 14 countries and is already supported by the Hewlett Foundation and Canada’s International Development Research Centre – is a one-of-a-kind international effort that helps support the achievement of the non-health SDGs using best evidence, citizen values and stakeholder insights.
In addition to the new grant, PERLSS is excited to welcome a new partner: the Caribbean Centre for Health Systems Research and Development (CCHSRD) at the University of West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, representing Trinidad and Tobago and the larger Caribbean region, with Donald Simeon as the project lead. Their centre has a Caribbean-wide mandate and is uniquely well positioned to support the piloting and iterative improvements to PERLSS approaches. In addition, they already have established connections to key (non-health) partners in their own country and across the Caribbean.
The existing team members (country partners and funders) have warmly welcomed the new group and look forward to working together, starting with the one-year anniversary meeting in Addis Ababa.
- McMaster Forum
