Public Health Competencies
There is a need to modernize and strengthen communication core competencies for public health professionals. We are evaluating how training and education supports competency development for the public health workforce and, using an interdisciplinary and collaborative consensus-building process, are designing new competencies for public health professionals. The two specialized areas we are developing competency frameworks for are health communication and climate change. The Public Health Communication Competency Framework will launch in 2025. The Climate Change Competency Framework for Public Health will launch in 2026. We are working closely with the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health as they are leading work on the broader renewal of the Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada. Dr. McWhirter also serves on the Advisory Committe for the Core Competencies.
Modernizing and Strengthening Communication Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals to Transform Canadian Public Health Practice
Started: 2022
Principal Investigator: J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Climate Change Competencies for Public Health in Canada
Started: 2024
Principal Investigator: J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Cultural Safety in Cancer Screening Communication
With Indigenous partners, Ontario Health, and Sunnybrook Research Institute this project focuses on three linked aims: 1) improving Indigenous cultural safety at Ontario Health; 2) culturally safe cancer screening communication; and 3) culturally safe shared decision-making about cancer screening. We bring exptertise in health communication and cancer prevention to Aim 2 Findings will inform recommendations for change in Ontario’s cancer screening programs to improve First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples’ experiences with cancer screening. This research is led by Dr. Jill Tinmouth; Dr. McWhirter is one of the Principal Investigators on Aim 2. The research is funded by a CIHR Project Grant. More information can be found on the project website: Indegnous Cancer Screening Research Program.
Climate Change, Built Environment, and Health
Shade provision is an important design tool in climate resilient and health promoting built environments as it protects from heat and UV radiation. We seek to understand the current state of evidence on shade design, implementation, and policy. We also assess shade availability in public places and investigate barriers and facilitators to shade implementation.
Evidence-based Design and Decision-Making about Shade Provision for Healthy, Climate Resilient Built Environments
Started: 2023
Principal Investigator: J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Guelph Institute for Environmental Research (GIER)
Health- and Equity-Promoting Cities and Urban design (plazaPOPS)
plazaPOPS is a collaborative urban design initiative that turns parking spaces into people places in underserved areas of Toronto. Installations “pop-up” in summer months in parking lots of communities in Toronto that have been equity-denied and are home to many newcomers to Canada. The temporary infrastructure offers proof of concept that underused car-centric spaces can be converted to health- and equity-promoting people places that enhance belonging and social inclusion, support greater age and gender diversity in use of public spaces, and serve as a community hub for cultural events as our research results demonstrate. We bring a unique public health perspective to the plazaPOPS research team. Dr. McWhirter is the PI on a CIHR Healthy Cities Planning Grant focused on implementing healthy urban policy, leading a five-person team that includes public health, transportation, and political leaders from the City of Toronto and plazaPOPS co-lead Brendan Stewart. Our Toronto/University of Guelph team was one of five Canadian teams to travel to Copenhagen in 2024 for an immersive workshop led by 880 Cities. We are currently working to scale-up community co-designed plazaPOPS installations across the city and implement our learnings from Copenhagen through knowledge mobilization.
Generative AI and Public Health Communication
AI will amplify and sophisticate the spread of health mis- and dis-information, but has promising applications for public health communication to help counter this. The benefits of using generative AI in public health must be balanced with the risks and limitations, including the potential for AI to contribute to health inequities. We are exploring how generative AI models can apply evidence, theories, and other communication principles to create ethical and effective message outputs, especially in connection to climate change and health.
Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Public Health Communication
Started: 2023
Principal Investigator: J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Centre for Advancing Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence (CARE-AI)
Health Warning Label Design
Visual images influence health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, but are under utilized in the context of risk communication about artificial UV radiation. We investigate the design of health warning labels to incorporate graphic images to communicate artificial UV radiation risks more accurately.
Risk Communication about Artificial Ultraviolet Radiation: Health Warning Labels for Indoor Tanning Devices
Co-Principal Investigators: J. Beecker, J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Canadian Dermatology Foundation (CDF)
Outbreak Risk Communication
During enteric outbreak investigations, communication is a key public health intervention used to notify the public and advise them about measures they can take to protect their health. With the Public Health Agency of Canada, we are evaluating communications during outbreaks to ensure information is designed to reach the right people at the right time.
Evaluating Public Risk Communication During Enteric Outbreak Investigations
2022-2025
Co-Principal Investigator: L.E. Grant, J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Health Information on Social Media
For better or worse, social media is a significant source of health information. We investigate the nature, content, and influence of health information on social media covering a range of topics and scope from crises to chronic diseases, and cancer to COVID-19.
Public Health Communication about Cancer Risk and Prevention on Social Media
Ongoing
Principal Investigator: J.E. McWhirter
PAST PROJECTS
Evaluating Artificial UV Radiation Policy
Artificial UV radiation is a carcinogen, and governments around the world enacted legislation to limit access by minors. We investigated how the design of such legislation influenced its implementation, adherence, and enforcement, and impact on health behaviour.