Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Reducing social inequalities in health: the role of research in
decision-making
Nathalie PinsonnaultThe Léa Roback Research Centreon Social Inequalities in Health of
Montreal
Forgotten Families: Globalization and the Health of Canadians
Edmonton / 6-8 February 2007
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1- The background of the Léa Roback name
2- Mission and objectives of the Centre3- Health disparities in Montréal4- Research opportunities related to social inequalities in health (SIH)5- Distinctive characteristics of the
Centre6- Conclusion
• Léa Roback (1903-2000)
An inspiring Montréal activist who fought for many causes
The background of the Léa Roback name
Mission and objectives of the Léa Roback Research Centre
Mission
To help reduce social inequalitiesin health and improve livingconditions
Mission
1) to facilitate research on social inequalities in healthshaped by living conditions in the Montrealcommunity;
2) to develop a critical mass of researchers;
3) to develop alliances among researchers from diverse fields, public policymakers and professionals in institutional and community settings to support the conduct and application of such research;
4) to enhance knowledge transfer so research results can be transformed into action.
Mission and objectives of the Léa Roback Research Centre
• An interdisciplinary research network38 researchers (seniors, postdoc fellowships, …)
• Operates in an environment of proximity to decision-making(e.g. Montréal Public Health Department)
Mission and objectives of the Léa Roback Research Centre
• Questions referring to research on SIH
– How do social inequalities become health inequalities?
– How can we reduce social inequalities in health?
– How can we diminish the impact of social inequalities on health?
– How can we reduce the impact of health problems on social inequalities?
Mission and objectives of the Léa Roback Research Centre
Health disparities in Montréal Life expectancy at birth for both sexes combined (CLSC Montréal-Centre, 2003)
Research opportunities related to social inequalities
in health• Momentum : researchers, practionners and
decision-makers
• Different fields of research– Spatial patterns of health – Welfare regimes (comparison with Nordic countries)– Environmental health– Mental health– Service organisation, …
• Individual and contextual factors
1- Partnership support via production and knowledge exchange processes;
2- Current and potential benefits of
parterships.
WHAT MAKES THE CENTRE DISTINCTIVE
1- Partnership support
• ’Montreal’ develops relationships and negotiations in order to understand SIH on its territory
• Partnerships oriented towards knowledge acquisition and pooling of competencies
2- Current and potential benefits of partnerships
2-1 Knowledge-exchange activities with decision-
makers
2-2 Development of structuring projects
2-3 Integration of knowledge into practice
WHAT MAKES THE CENTRE DISTINCTIVE
2-1 Knowledge-exchange activities with decision-makers
• Free-trade area : workshops intended for public health practitioners and planners
• Future projects : Works-in-progress presented todecision-makers for comments
• Research in action: Conference clearly oriented towards the identification of possible interventions.
• Understanding Montreal: Breakfast given by the Centre for high-level decision-makers: Centraide, Director of social development, Director of environment, ...
2-2 Development of structuring projects
• Development of a survey : conceptual framework, scoping reviews
• Atlas project & documentary database
Common goal Understanding how inequalites in health are created in neighbourhoods
2-2 Development of structuring projects
• Particularity of the scoping reviews: working group
Composition: Montréal Public Health Department, the City of Montréal, Centraide, the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal, and the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
• SIH themes examined: Basic notions of SIH, obesity,
• Themes for the future: Urban transportation (related tophysical activity, respiratory diseases, traffic injuries, social exclusion). Smoking (upcoming pilot project)
2-2 Development of structuring projects
Conceptual framework: presented in various forums
2 articles in preparationBernard, P., Charafeddine, R., Potvin, L., Frohlich, K.L., Daniel,
M., Kestens, Y. (2006) Health Inequalities and Place: A Theoretical Conception of Neighbourhood. Submitted for a special issue of
Social Science and Medicine.
Frohlich, K. L., Bernard, P., Charafeddine, R., Potvin, L., Daniel, M., Kestens, Y., Seguin, A-M.. A theoretical framework for understanding how inequities in health are created in neighbourhoods. Social Science & Medicine, Draft manuscrit.
Info : Rana Charafeddine / [email protected]
2-2 Development of structuring projects
Involves the mobilization of actors because…
• structuring projects guide the research;
• structures exchanges;
• also depend on a network of researchers, decision- makers and practitioners.
2-2 Development of structuring projects
Provides opportunities for transfer and
exchange
in advance of researchers’ and planners’ needs (scientific commitees, working committees with groups of planners and decision-makers)
by involving people in charge, who work in Montréal on social, economic and urban planning levels.
2-2 Development of structuring projects
For a long-term outlook …
- on SIH research: shared reflection on the impact of a
neighbourhood’s environment on health;
- of decision-making on SIH issues: based on the willingness to act in neighbourhoods.
2-3 Integration of knowledge into practice
How to present the conditions for integration?
Involve decision-makers in the research process
2-3 Integration of knowledge into practice
Set the agendae.g., urban transportation
Public Health Department’s Annual Report and
research on walking in an urban environment,
on safety, on destination densities, etc.)
2-3 Integration of knowledge into practice
Common objectivese.g., the neighbourhood
(living conditions)
Access to healthy food (local markets, collective gardens, etc.)
Building social capital (social mixing
through housing, accessible services, etc.)
Neighbourhood development(walking, security, etc.).
Conclusion
• Research on SIH has the capacity to support decision-making if …
– Structuring projects;– Privileged access to the decision-makers (e.g.
Public Health Department); – Working committees and exchange activities;– Common objective: Montreal and its
neighbourhoods• Closely related to the decision-makers’
immediate areas of concern.
Acknowledgements
• Marie-France Raynault, Executive Director • Louise Potvin, Scientific Director• Isabelle Thérien, Administrative Assistant• Rana Charafeddine, Postdoctoral Fellow• Christiane Montpetit, Research Agent• Éric Robitaille, Doctoral Candidate
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nathalie [email protected] Programming Assistant
Isabelle Thé[email protected] Assistantwww.centrelearoback.ca
