Strengthening chronic disease prevention programming: the Toward Evidence-Informed Practice (TEIP) Program Evidence...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Chronic Disease Prevention
• Evidence-Informed Practice

Background:

• Effective use of evidence is a priority in public health and chronic disease prevention.
• Public health practitioners need practical methods to identify and apply evidence.
• Existing tools may not fully address the complexities of community-based health promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Program Evidence Tool for identifying, synthesizing, and applying evidence in chronic disease prevention programming.
• To adapt evidence-based medicine tools for community-based health promotion contexts.
• To strengthen the content of chronic disease prevention programs through evidence utilization.

Main Methods:

• Adapted tools from evidence-based medicine for community-based settings.
• Utilized knowledge management tools and an Evidence Forum for guided dialogue.
• Implemented a 5-step process: define question, develop search strategy, collect/synthesize evidence, interpret/adapt evidence, implement/evaluate.

Main Results:

• The Program Evidence Tool was applied in 4 Ontario public health departments.
• Benefits, strengths, and challenges of the tool's application were documented.
• Learnings from the application process were identified.

Conclusions:

• The Program Evidence Tool supports the effective use of diverse evidence sources in chronic disease prevention.
• It enhances the development and understanding of evidence application in community-based settings.
• The tool contributes to strengthening chronic disease prevention programming through evidence-informed practice.