Innovations in Policy and Practice: Engaging practitioners as scholars

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Health Practice Innovation

Background:

• The Canadian Journal of Public Health is launching a new section.
• This section aims to showcase and reflect on innovative public health policy and practice in Canada.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a dedicated space for innovative public health policies and practices in Canada.
• To attract public health practitioners as both readers and authors.
• To simplify the authoring process for practitioners and produce accessible, useful scholarly material.

Main Methods:

• Focusing on articles describing the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices.
• Incorporating reflections on practitioner experiences during implementation.
• Implementing a review process oriented to practice realities, conducted by 'practitioner-scholars' in a collegial, non-anonymous manner.

Main Results:

• The new section will serve as a showcase for Canadian public health innovations.
• It will provide a platform for practitioners to share their experiences and insights.
• Innovations in the Journal's authoring and review processes are expected to enhance practitioner engagement.

Conclusions:

• The Innovations in Policy and Practice section will foster a more inclusive and practical approach to public health scholarship.
• This initiative is poised to strengthen the connection between public health research and on-the-ground practice in Canada.
• The section is designed to be a valuable resource for both practitioners and researchers in the field.