Policy Research Unit

Mandate

Our work is to strengthen and promote evidence-based decision-making by providing strategic information to policy processes and program development in the Public Health Agency of Canada

Mission

Our mission is to strengthen and promote evidence-based decision-making by increasing the amount and quality of strategic information available to the policy process (including program development and research/science activities) and by providing leadership and expertise in the development and synthesis of population and public health information. We contribute to framework development, act as liaison on policy-oriented research and science needs, build and transfer knowledge on the effectiveness of community intervention approaches, on the burden of illness and on the relative importance of health issues and their determinants.

Research Evidence for Policy Making

We focus on two types of research evidence, Type I and Type II , that are inherently linked to each other and to policy planning and decision-making. Our team is leading the Public Health Agency of Canada in creating research networks, and mapping research activities for strategic planning purposes.

Type I EVIDENCE involves analytic data on the cost to Canadians of illness, injury, and risk factors both in terms of the economy and quality of life. It helps to answer questions such as: "Should public health action be taken to address a particular public health issue? " and can lead to the conclusion that "something should be done".

In comparison, Type II EVIDENCE focuses on the relative impact of population health interventions, and can help to answer questions such as: What action should be taken? Or How can a particular program or policy most effectively be implemented and evaluated? . Type II research evidence may lead towards decisions on "specifically, what should be done".

For more information, contact publichealthpractice@phac-aspc.gc.ca
or call toll free: 1-877-430-9995.