Centres for Health Promotion Research in Canada

Abstract

The past decade has been exciting for health promotion research in Canada. An International Symposium on the Effectiveness of Health Promotion in 1996 reviewed impressive evidence regarding health promotion strategies in the 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. In 1997, the Working Group on Determinants of Health of the National Forum on Health indicated that the broad approach, recommended in the symposium report, was consistent with their emphasis on the socio-economic-environmental factors that influence health practices and health outcomes. The Working Group on Striking a Balance endorsed rigorous evaluation of health promotion, disease prevention, and sickness care interventions. The National Forum itself recommended that priority be given to supporting gaps in knowledge about the impact of key determinants of health, outcome-oriented research, and dissemination of results (National Forum on Health, 1997a, 1997b). The health promotion research centres in Canada have played and will continue to play a key role in achieving the directions proposed by the National Forum on Health. The funding, structure, mandate, partners, staff, communication mechanisms, and contact numbers of the 15 centres are summarized in Table 1. Fourteen of these centres were launched in the past 10 years. Most centres were established with a threefold mandate: innovative health promotion research, community partnerships, and education and training. The policy function of the centres continues to evolve.