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 communication competencies for public health professionals. We are working closely with the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health as they lead work on the broader renewal of the Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada.
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)
Shade Design and Policy
Shade provision is an important 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)
Cultural Safety in Cancer Screening Communication
The overall objective of the research is to improve cultural safety in the cancer screening system in order to improve First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples’ experiences of cancer screening. For more information: https://indigenouscancerscreeningresearch.ca/
Principal Investigator: J. Tinmouth
Co-PI (Aim 2): J.E. McWhirter
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
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
Started: 2020
Principal Investigator: J.E. McWhirter
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
Started: 2019
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
Started: 2022
Co-Principal Investigators: 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)
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.