Informing organizational strategies for digital public health: A qualitative description of practitioners’ perspectives on opportunities and challenges in a provincial public health organization in Canada (Preprint)

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

The digital transformation of health services accelerated during the pandemic. While “digital health” strategies were created, they paid minimal attention to public like promotion, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and protection. To inform a (DPH) strategy at BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), we explored practitioners’ perspectives on challenges opportunities integrating technologies into functions within organization. In this qualitative description, conducted 18 focus groups (FGs) between January June 2023, drawing practitioners from nine organizational subunits BCCDC including population health, environmental clinical services, vaccine preventable diseases, communications, knowledge translation, data analytics Indigenous (2 FGs per subunit). Discussions application in their work, focusing encountered implementation (current state FGs) perceived (future FGs). Sessions audio-recorded, detailed field notes taken. Thematic analysis was conducted, comparing across using constant comparative techniques. We identified three themes. First, “bridging existing inequities - an opportunity challenge contingent trust” described participants’ excitement about DPH disrupt historical if centred trust reconciliation, while recognizing current efforts risk exacerbating with divide. Second “a sense disconnect “digital” “public functions” perceptions as being out scope core duties, requiring new competencies navigation complex policies which support is suboptimal. Third, “balancing need responsive necessary reactivity” highlighted yearnings proactive rather than issue-based reactive approaches. Participants suggest centralized systematic program can help achieve goal. A cohesive, systematic, critical enable equity-focused transformation. Such bridge disconnects through supports competency development streamlined better integrate work. N/A

Language: Английский

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Building the workforce’s capacity to support the digital transformation of public health: An environmental scan of training programs for digital technologies in public health (Preprint)

Published: Feb. 24, 2025

The digital transformation of public health highlights the growing need for new competencies to tackle evolving and contemporary challenges. While some institutions schools worldwide have begun addressing this through various approaches, many in Canada yet do so. To support systematic competency curriculum development, we mapped explored existing (DPH) training programs, identifying common curricula content, approaches disciplinary perspectives. This two-stage environmental scan included a search DPH programs interviews with select program directors, emphasizing transdisciplinary approach. Between March May 2023, conducted on Google association directories identify degree courses (as part awarding programs) focused building capacity using technologies health. We then semi-structured four directors identified exploring characteristics inter/transdisciplinary partnerships essential their design. Search data was summarized narrative synthesis, while content analysis applied interview data. Overall, 58 were identified, categorized into three groups: science (29/58, 50%); informatics (16/58, 28%); mix (13/58, 22%) related project management determinants Interviews key categories: (1) Motivation interdisciplinary highlighting align current job market demands practitioners skilled practice pressures curricular updates from professional bodies; (2) Design delivery academic-industry aimed at developing professionals depth breadth knowledge; (3) Characteristics inter- partnerships, showcasing involvement diverse perspectives academia, public, private sectors design delivery; (4) Challenges implementing these including difficulties negotiating shared commitments, reconciling differing perspectives, securing sustainable funding such programs. global found strong focus data-centric competencies, less emphasis skills promotion, leadership, Bridging gaps requires stepwise approach: integrating curricula, offering standalone specialized skills, strengthening navigate administrative barriers promoting equity-driven, collaboration.

Language: Английский

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Reflecting Digital Transformations in Public Health Curricula

Public health reviews, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 46

Published: March 12, 2025

Digital technologies promise greater personalisation and precision in public health services, automation of repetitive tasks, more efficient use existing resources through rapid management analysis big data sets. To seize this opportunity, the workforce needs to become sufficiently competent navigate these novel digital understand how apply them across spectrum essential functions. With few exceptions, however, skills are not yet systematically incorporated into curricula.Digital transformation is "a complex multifaceted process that disruptive fundamentally changes culture, operational models, goals centred on public." 1 Critically, includes only digitisation processes patient pathways but also devising entirely new ways working, bringing about a cultural transformation. 2 The widespread adoption smartphones, wearable technology, social media platforms since 2000s was seized as opportunities for interventions, while COVID-19 pandemic accelerated uptake within sector. 3,4 Legislation like European Health Data Space regulation creating increasingly sophisticated technically advanced information systems require skilled professionals manage efficiently amplify potential benefits transformations. 5 On other hand, emergence dominant source (mis)information, increasing concern mental impacts media, growing role 'Big Tech' create challenges most illequipped handle promptly comprehensively. 6 top that, range artificial intelligence could redesign positively augment central tenets healthcare delivery simultaneously posing risk population spread misinformation reinforcement health-harming behaviours. complexities transformations health, there an urgent need upskill workforce.At time publication, no generally agreed-upon competency frameworks focused health. However, sufficient relevant evidence available start initial curricula anticipation comprehensive guidance. For instance, we can learn from aimed at providers. A recent review educational identified 28 domains, including basic technology literacy, management, communication, ethical, legal, or regulatory requirements, privacy security. 7 Ongoing global Europe-wide initiatives will improve theoretical practical basis training (public) workforce. Building its experience with infodemic training, WHO convened Competency Framework Committee 2023 develop framework outlining competencies policymakers, programme planners managers, practitioners, general public. Another example EU-funded BeWell project (bewell-project.eu), which developed strategy developing green overview programmes. 8 Currently (e.g. WHO-ITU Platform Handbook) 9 geared towards helping steer organisations services. These explicitly directing development, risking oversight health-specific factors. Nevertheless, they offer promising starting point augmentation redesigning include materials transformations.Based synthesis expert consensus priority areas determinants described domains undergraduate graduate education widely accepted critical era (Table 1). key challenge implementing balance wellestablished required by support institutions educators navigating challenge, provide four guiding principles.Firstly, it important integrate throughout curriculum rather than exclusively standalone courses -especially light ubiquitous nature digitalisation. This allows staff students contend context avoids counterproductive pigeonholing skills. 10 example, emerging sources be studied course epidemiology, communication integrated promotion. Secondly, integrating organisational leadership necessary reflect fundamental change services delivered. Thirdly, fostering literacy managing leading essential. themes already highlighted WHO-ASPHER Public Workforce Region. Some schools content their core experience, supplemented work specialist groups such ASPHER Task Force Transformation (DiPH), has contributed proposed curricular Core Curriculum (www.ccp.aspher.org), current ongoing dynamic effort define harmonise PH attainment competencies. covers executive forms continuous professional development.Finally, vital interdisciplinary academic community deep understanding engineering well disciplines. prepared closely outside sector, employees companies, software developers, engineers scientists. requires bidirectional transition curriculum. In one direction, foster backgrounds medicine sciences. principles interested achieve this, collaboratively faculties computer science engineering.

Language: Английский

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Health promotion and the digital determinants of health

Health Promotion International, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(2)

Published: March 4, 2025

Language: Английский

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From algorithms to negotiations: Why health diplomacy must adapt

PLOS Global Public Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(4), P. e0004488 - e0004488

Published: April 23, 2025

Health diplomacy traditionally relies on consensus-building across nations, yet the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health systems poses new governance challenges. Rapidly changing geopolitical conditions—exemplified by shifts in U.S. global funding and expansion AI beyond national boundaries—underscore urgency rethinking traditional approaches. This paper, based insights from Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2025 side meeting “Navigating Future: & Global Diplomacy,” examines how can reshape practice diplomacy, both empowering unsettling objectives. We first explore promise enhancing disease surveillance, resource allocation, progress toward universal coverage. However, inadequate exacerbate inequalities, particularly if remains hands profit-focused enterprises or digital divides persist. therefore, must expand its purview to include technical literacy, data ethics, robust regulatory frameworks that safeguard equity transparency design deployment. To illustrate these dynamics, we emphasise interplay social, political, commercial, determinants health, each feeding AI-driven innovations. Strong diplomatic engagement is critical ensuring becomes a tool for mutual benefit rather than catalyst further fragmentation. Effective policies integrate environmental sustainability considerations alongside cross-sector collaboration. conclude that, although cannot replace vital human element negotiation trust-building, it substantially enhance outcomes when governed ethically inclusively. The future shaped AI, requires agile adaptation unified strategies preserve planetary well-being.

Language: Английский

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