EvidenceNetwork.ca creates media content on public policy topics for publication in the mainstream media and links journalists with policy experts to provide access to non-partisan, evidence-based information.[1] According to their annual reports, they have published hundreds of original articles in every major media outlet in Canada every year since 2011, reprinted over 3700 times across media outlets [2] All of their content carries a Creative Commons license.[3]

EvidenceNetwork.ca
AbbreviationEvidenceNetwork.ca
Formation2011
TypeCreates original media content on public policy topics for publication in the mainstream media and links journalists with policy experts to provide access to non-partisan, evidence-based information.
Legal statusactive
PurposeTo provide evidence-based research and experts to journalists covering health policy issues.
HeadquartersWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Region served
Canada
Official language
English
Lead
Dr. Shannon Sampert (Director and Editor-in-Chief), Kathleen O'Grady, Managing Editor
Parent organization
University of Winnipeg
AffiliationsCanadian Institutes for Health Research, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, Manitoba Health Research Council, George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation
Staff
4
Websitehttp://www.evidencenetwork.ca

EvidenceNetwork.ca was created under the direction of Dr. Noralou Roos, the Founding Director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and co-founded with Dr. Sharon Manson Singer, professor, School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University.[4] Dr. Shannon Sampert, former Politics and Opinions Editor at the Winnipeg Free Press and academic at the University of Winnipeg edited the project from 2017-2018. Kathleen O'Grady Research Associate at Concordia University was the Managing Editor from 2011-2019.[5] EvidenceNetwork.ca ceased operations as of the end of 2019 but the content and the site remains online under the direction of Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement until at least 2024.[6]

The initiative was originally funded with a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Manitoba Health Research Council (MHRC) and the George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.[7][8] Additional support was provided by the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI).[9] It is currently funded by CFHI with support from individual CIHR institutes.[4]

Background

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EvidenceNetwork.ca was established to address the complex debates leading up to the 2014 renegotiation of the Canada Health Accord, and after, to highlight evidence on health policy issues across the country. The Director, Dr, Roos, says, "Health policy issues are increasingly complex and are too often taken over by politics and ideology. We thought the best way to serve the Canadian public would be to create an accessible and reliable resource where journalists can quickly find independent experts and evidence on issues as they arise."[10][11]

The site provides evidence-based information on controversial health policy issues for journalists such as the sustainability of the health care system, the impact of the aging population,[citation needed] the rising costs of drugs, accessibility and appropriateness of care, pharmaceutical policy, obesity, mental health, and the role of the private sector. There is also a section on the comparison between Canadian and international models of healthcare.[12] The site offers background papers and provides a comprehensive list of experts from across the country that journalists can contact quickly as they report on breaking health policy stories.[13][14]

The British Medical Journal's Evidence-Based Medicine highlighted the work of the network as an example for how to facilitate "the science and art of combining opinion and evidence."[15] University Affairs says of the initiative, "The project aims to break the traditional pattern of academics writing for other academics in journals that aren’t read by the mainstream press, or of professors avoiding the media, leaving a select few to appear again and again."[16] J-Source, a professional publication for the Canadian media says of the network, "it's an ambitious initiative to get the latest and best findings in health sciences and policy research into the broader public conversation by engaging the media."[17] In an article for Healthcare Policy, Dr. Roos et al. state that the project "seeks to improve the Canadian healthcare system and, ultimately, the health of Canadians by ensuring that our best health policy evidence is understood by journalists and accurately communicated to Canadians and policy makers."[7]

EvidenceNetwork.ca was established in consultation with experienced media advisors, health and health policy researchers and third party evidence brokers including the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Health Council of Canada.[18][19]

Commentaries

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The network of more than 80 scholars dedicated to evidence-based health research and policy direction also regularly publishes commentaries (OpEds) and articles in the mainstream media. The network has published more than 1200 commentaries and articles in the Canadian press since its inception, and has made all of the articles available for free re-use and dissemination by putting a Creative Commons license on the material.[2][20][21][15] In 2012, the organization published a compendium of their Creative Commons content in an ebook, Canadian Health Policy in the News: Why Evidence Matters.[22][23][24][25] In 2014, they released a second free ebook collection of commentaries, Making Evidence Matter in Canadian Health Policy.[26][27][28][29][30]

 
Book cover for the free Creative Commons book (2013) by EvidenceNetwork.ca, available at: http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/8941 Archived 2014-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
 
Book Cover for the free Creative Commons book (2014) by EvidenceNetwork.ca, available at: http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/17545 Archived 2014-03-18 at the Wayback Machine

A sample of the network's published commentaries includes:

  • "Four points about the pending challenge against medicare" by Colleen Flood and Kathleen O'Grady[31]
  • "We need to talk about poverty and health" by Carolyn Shimmin[32]
  • "Age-friendly communities create a healthier society for everyone" by Verena Menec[33][34]
  • "Social assistance reform can lead to better health for all" by Gary Bloch[35][36]
  • "Patent protection for drugs should come at a price" by Marc-Andre Gagnon[37]
  • "More health care does not mean better health" by Robert Brown[38]
  • "Childhood hunger is a Canadian public health crisis" by Elizabeth Lee Ford Jones[39]
  • "Canada Health Transfer changes: The devil is in the details" by Livio Di Matteo[40]
  • "The kids aren't all right" by Elizabeth Lee Ford Jones[41]
  • "The case against healthcare user fees" by Raisa Deber and Noralou Roos[42]
  • "Seniors are not a threat to health care" by Noralou Roos and Nicholas Hirst[43][44][45]
  • "What aging tsunami? Why some memes are bad for our health" by Alan Cassels[46]
  • "Time for Canada to improve our health care performance" by Colleen Flood[47][48][49]
  • "Preserving medicare means making changes" by Gregory Marchildon[50]
  • "North American fads, fallacies and foolishness in health care reform" by Theodore Marmor[51][52]
  • "Our surprisingly expensive pharmaceuticals" by Marc-Andre Gagnon[53]
  • "Why the health system is broken" by Marc-Andre Gagnon[54][55]
  • "How we can save our healthcare system without going broke" by Cy Frank[56][57]
  • "Wrestling with big pharma" by Colleen Flood[58]
  • "Prescription painkillers on the rise in Canada" by Ann Silversides[59][60]
  • "Defined benefit versus defined contribution pension plans: Why all the fuss?" by Robert L. Brown[61]
  • "Time for Ottawa to change course on health care" by Allan Maslove[62]
  • "Expanding CPP easier said than done" by Robert L. Brown[63]

The Director of the initiative, Dr. Noralou Roos has said in an interview, "There are key discussions going on in health policy, and academics typically have that evidence, and it’s important for those discussions in the media to be informed by evidence as much as possible."[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About". Evidencenetwork.ca. 3 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b "About". Umanitoba.ca. 3 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Linking academic research with the public and policy-makers". Policyoptions.irpp.org. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b "EvidenceNetwork.ca Media Advisory, 2017 | Evidence Network". Archived from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  5. ^ "Montreal Gazette". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 14 August 2018.[dead link]
  6. ^ http://evidencenetwork.ca/ [bare URL]
  7. ^ a b Roos, Noralou P.; O'Grady, Kathleen; Singer, Sharon Manson; Tapp, Shannon Turczak and Camilla (4 December 2012). "Making Evidence on Health Policy Issues Accessible to the Media". Healthcare Policy. 8 (2): 37–45. PMC 3517871. PMID 23968614. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Home Page". Chimb.ca. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  9. ^ "About | Evidence Network". Umanitoba.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  10. ^ "Third Party Brokers | Evidence Network". Umanitoba.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  11. ^ Lauren McKeon (2011-04-12). "The Canadian Journalism Project". J-Source.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  12. ^ "International Health Systems | Evidence Network". Archived from the original on 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  13. ^ "Experts | Evidence Network". Umanitoba.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  14. ^ "Health-care primers for journalists - JSource". J-source.ca. 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  15. ^ a b Marchildon, Gregory P; Verma, Jennifer Y; Roos, Noralou (2013). "Opinion editorials: The science and art of combining evidence with opinion". Evidence Based Medicine. 18 (5): 161–164. doi:10.1136/eb-2012-100996. PMC 3786663. PMID 23143923.
  16. ^ a b "Dancing with the media | University Affairs". Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  17. ^ "Absence of evidence is evidence of absence in health policy - JSource". J-source.ca. 14 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  18. ^ "EvidenceNetwork.ca: the new "go-to" resource on health policy issues for Canadian journalists". Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR). 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  19. ^ "Dancing with the media - University Affairs". Universityaffairs.ca. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  20. ^ Gregory P Marchildon; Jennifer Y Verma; Noralou Roos. "Opinion editorials: the science and art of combining evidence with opinion" (PDF). Umanitoba.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  21. ^ "Our Commentaries". Umanitoba.ca. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  22. ^ Canadian Health Policy in the News by Noralou Roos, Sharon Manson Singer, Kathleen O'Grady, Camilla Tapp & Shannon Turczak on iBooks. Retrieved 14 August 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  23. ^ "Canadian Health Policy in the News : Why Evidence Matters" (PDF). Umanitoba.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  24. ^ "Canadian Health Policy in the News: Why Evidence Matters - Health Policy - Population Ageing". Scribd. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  25. ^ Tapp, Noralou Roos, Sharon Manson Singer, Kathleen O'Grady, Shannon Turczak, Camilla (14 August 2018). Canadian Health Policy in the News: Why Evidence Matters. EvidenceNetwork.ca. ISBN 9780991697106. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018 – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Download our new free ebook! Making Evidence Matter in Canadian Health Policy | Evidence Network". Archived from the original on 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  27. ^ Making Evidence Matter in Canadian Health Policy by Noralou Roos, Kathleen O'Grady, Shannon Turczak, Camilla Tapp & Lindsay Jolivet on iBooks. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  28. ^ Making Evidence Matter in Canadian Health Policy eBook: Noralou Roos, Kathleen O'Grady, Shannon Turczak, Camilla Tapp, Lindsay Jolivet: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store. EvidenceNetwork.ca. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2018 – via Amazon.ca.
  29. ^ Roos, Noralou; O'Grady, Kathleen; Turczak, Shannon; Tapp, Camilla; Jolivet, Lindsay (28 February 2014). Making Evidence Matter in Canadian Health Policy. EvidenceNetwork.ca. ISBN 9780991697113. Retrieved 14 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ Roos, Noralou; O'Grady, Kathleen; Turczak, Shannon; Tapp, Camilla; Jolivet, Lindsay (28 February 2014). Making Evidence Matter in Canadian Health Policy. EvidenceNetwork.ca. ISBN 9780991697113. Retrieved 14 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ "Four points about the pending challenge against medicare". The Globe and Mail. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Opinion - We need to talk about poverty and health". The Toronto Star. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Age-friendly communities create a healthier society for everyone". iPolitics.ca. 2012-10-03.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ "Age-friendly communities tackle same old problems". Winnipeg Free Press. 2012-10-11. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  35. ^ "Social assistance reform can lead to better health for all". Guelph Mercury. Guelph. 2012-10-24.
  36. ^ "Social assistance reform can lead to better health for all". Huffington Post. 2012-10-22. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  37. ^ "Patent protection for drugs should come at a price". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg. 2012-08-28. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  38. ^ "More health care does not mean better health". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 2012-09-05. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  39. ^ "Childhood hunger is a Canadian public health crisis". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 2012-06-18. Archived from the original on 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  40. ^ https://windsorstar.com/health/Introduce+fairness+into+federal+health+transfers/6596686/story.html [dead link]
  41. ^ "The kids aren't all right". The Star. Toronto. 2011-09-03. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  42. ^ "Noralou Roos and Raisa Deber: The case against health-care user fees | Full Comment | National Post". Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
  43. ^ Noralou Roos; Nicholas Hirst Commentary (2011-05-02). "telegraphjournal.com - Seniors are not a threat to health care | Noralou Roos and Nicholas Hirst - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada". Telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  44. ^ Roos, Noralou (2011-05-12). "Seniors don't threaten health care sustainability". Windsorstar.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.[permanent dead link]
  45. ^ "Noralou Roos: Silver Tsunami to Break the Health System's Bank?". Huffingtonpost.ca. 2011-01-06. Archived from the original on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  46. ^ Cassels, Alan (2011-06-06). "What aging tsunami? Why some memes are bad for our health care system | The Hill Times - Canada's Politics and Government Newsweekly". Thehilltimes.ca. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  47. ^ "Colleen M. Flood: Time for Canada to Improve Our Health Care Performance". Huffingtonpost.ca. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  48. ^ Flood, Colleen M. (2010-04-16). "Canada's $192-billion health-care system under performing". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  49. ^ Flood, Colleen M. "Three steps to improve health care system". Timescolonist.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  50. ^ Gregory Marchildon (2011-05-24). "Preserving medicare means accepting changes". thestar.com. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  51. ^ "Ted Marmor: North American Fads, Fallacies, and Foolishness in Healthcare Reform". Huffingtonpost.ca. 2011-06-03. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  52. ^ Marmor, Theodore (2011-05-23). "Imaginary 'European solution': European models of health-care reform are not the answer | The Hill Times - Canada's Politics and Government Newsweekly". The Hill Times. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  53. ^ "Our Surprisingly Expensive Pharmaceuticals | The Mark". Themarknews.com. 2011-04-21. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  54. ^ MARC-ANDRÉ GAGNON (2011-04-19). "Why the system is broken". Montrealgazette.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.[dead link]
  55. ^ MARC-ANDRÉ GAGNON (2011-04-19). "Why the system is broken". Edmontonjournal.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  56. ^ Cy Frank (2011-05-13). "telegraphjournal.com - We can save health care | Dr. Cy Frank - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada". Telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  57. ^ "Saving Health Care – Without Going Broke | The Mark". Themarknews.com. 2011-06-03. Archived from the original on 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  58. ^ Colleen M. Flood (2011-06-02). "Wrestling with Big Pharma". thestar.com. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  59. ^ "Prescription painkiller deaths on the rise in Canada". Archived from the original on 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  60. ^ "Prescription painkiller deaths in Canada on the rise | hilltimes.com". Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  61. ^ Brown, Robert (2011-06-24). "Pension plans: Why all the fuss? - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  62. ^ "Time for Ottawa to Change Course on Health Care". Huffingtonpost.ca. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  63. ^ "Expanding CPP Is Easier Said Than Done". Huffingtonpost.ca. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
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