Building the field of population health intervention research: The development and use of an initial set of competencies

Barbara Riley; Jean Harvey; Erica Di Ruggiero; Louise Potvin

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.09.017

Building the field of population health intervention research: The development and use of an initial set of competencies

Prev Med Rep. 2015 Oct 13:2:854-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.09.017. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Barbara Riley¹, Jean Harvey², Erica Di Ruggiero³, Louise Potvin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
² Canadian Population Health Initiative, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
³ Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Population and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁴ CRC in Community Approaches and Health Inequalities, Institut de recherche en santé publique, and Centre de recherche Léa-Roback, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Abstract

Population health intervention research (PHIR) is a relatively new research field that studies interventions that can improve health and health equity at a population level. Competencies are one way to give legitimacy and definition to a field. An initial set of PHIR competencies was developed with leadership from a multi-sector group in Canada. This paper describes the development process for these competencies and their possible uses. Methods to develop the competencies included key informant interviews; a targeted review of scientific and gray literature; a 2-round, online adapted Delphi study with a 24-member panel; and a focus group with 9 international PHIR experts. The resulting competencies consist of 25 items grouped into 6 categories. They include principles of good science applicable though not exclusive to PHIR, and more suitable for PHIR teams rather than individuals. This initial set of competencies, released in 2013, may be used to develop graduate student curriculum, recruit trainees and faculty to academic institutions, plan non-degree professional development, and develop job descriptions for PHIR-related research and professional positions. The competencies provide some initial guideposts for the field and will need to be adapted as the PHIR field matures and to meet unique needs of different jurisdictions.

Keywords: CIHR, Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Capacity development; Competencies; Delphi; Field building; Intervention research; PHAC, Public Health Agency of Canada; PHIR, population health intervention research; Population health.