Course
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH IN PRACTICE: Evaluation and adaptation of public health interventions: the role of context
The master classes mix plenary sessions, theoretical lectures, illustrations of interventions from research and practice, work on individual and group applications, and a homework assignment to bring in own experiences with intervention development in practice
Background
In the past ten years, Academic Collaborative Centres (ACC) have been established to bridge the gap between the fields of policy, practice and research. These ACCs are consortia of Community Health Services and Universities in the Netherlands. At present there are eleven ACCs in the field of public health
Targed group
The master classes are especially developed for public health researchers and professionals from policy or practice, working in the field of population health, health promotion, epidemiology, nutrition and health sciences, infectious diseases, primary health care, youth health care, health policy and communication sciences.
Course aim
The aim of this master class is to make knowledge and experiences acquired in these ACC’s available for public health professionals and researchers working in the domain of public health
Programme topics
Day 1-2: The role of context in evaluation
Research in real-world settings differs from research in academic -controlled- settings: both content and implementation context of lifestyle or health interventions differ in both settings. Many researchers and professionals experience a gap between the research methodology used for research in practice and research in academia. Distinctive for public health interventions conducted in a real-world setting is that these are implemented by public health professionals, who integrate the activities in their daily work. These interventions ideally fit in participants’ daily lives, which has implications for the intervention itself, as well as for the evaluation design.
In the course, the nature of the gap between research in real-world versus academic settings will be explained, and the implications for the intervention and evaluation design will be discussed. In particular the role of context will be studied, ranging from contextual factors on the individual, interpersonal, organisational, sociocultural, political and economic level. This course will clarify how contextual factors can be taken into account in the evaluation of public health programmes, and how they can be incorporated in the analysis in order to support the evidence-base of the programme.
Day 3-4: The role of context in adaptation
A large number of public health interventions has been systematically developed, implemented, documented and evaluated. To prevent reinvention of the wheel and repetition of similar mistakes, planners are advised to use these so-called evidence-based interventions (EBIs) as a starting point for their own programmes. A systematic approach to making these EBIs fit with the new context and population is provided by the Intervention Mapping framework, a step-wise approach for the design and adaptation of health and lifestyle interventions.
The central question in this master class is: how can we adapt EBIs to a new context and population, retaining the effective intervention elements, ánd at the same time making the programme fit with the new setting. On the first day, participants will learn about the steps to adapt an existing EBIs to a new context and population. Examples from practice will illustrate adaptation experiences. On the second day, participants will learn about theoretical methods (or active intervention elements) that target individual behaviours and change towards a supportive environment.
Organisation
Course coordinators
- Dr Annemien Haveman-Nies, Strategic Communication, Wageningen University and ACC AGORA
- Dr Joanne Leerlooijer, Knowledge Technology & Innovation and Communication, Wageningen University & Research
Lecturers
- Prof John R. Weisz, Harvard University, Boston, USA
- Prof Rob Ruiter, Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, NL
- Prof Emely de Vet, Strategic Communication, Wageningen University & Research, NL
Date & duration
The course will be held from Monday 29 October 2018 till Thursday 1 November 2018, 4 days
We also offer the possibility to participate only in day 1&2 or day 3&4
Study load
The study load of this course is 1.0 ECTS = 28 hours. This is including preparatory work
The study load for two days will be 0.5 ECTS = 24 hourse.
Language
The course language will be English.
Contact information
Information concerning the course contents can be obtained from Dr Annemien Haveman-Nies Annemien.haveman@wur.nl
For organisational matters please contact:
Mrs. Ingeborg van Leeuwen-Bol, ingeborg.vanleeuwen-bol@wur.nl
Location & accommodation
Lectures will be given at the hotel and conference center WICC.
The town of Wageningen is 5 km from Ede-Wageningen railway station, with transport options being taxi or bus. Ede-Wageningen railway station is about one and a half hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For train schedules visit: www.ns.nl.
A number of hotel rooms have been blocked at the WICC. Accommodation costs are € 75, - (single room; bed & breakfast) per night. Participants have to book their own room by sending an e-mail to: info@hofvanwageningen.nl. Please book your room before 17 September 2018 and mention booking code AGORA18
Registration & course fee
To register for the 4 days, day 1 & 2 or day 3 & 4 of the master class please complete the electronic reply form before 25 September 2018
Applicants will be informed of acceptance of their registration at the latest on 28 September 2018. They will receive instructions for payment and further course details.
Course fee
Course fee includes printed materials, coffee/tea during breaks and lunches but does not cover accommodation. The course fee depends on the participant's affiliation and duration:
| 4 days | 2 days | |
| VLAG PhD candidates | € 275 | € 175 |
| PhD candidates/People working at GGD’s and ACC’s Public Health | € 500 | € 400 |
| Postdoc/staff not affiliated with VLAG | € 725 | € 525 |
| Professionals/Non academics | € 1600 | € 800 |
Cancellations policy
No charge until 25 September 2018
25% of the course fee paid or due till 28 September2018
No refund after 28 September 2018
Substitutions for participants may be made at any time until the start of the course.