Papers by Elizabeth J Cooper
Implementation Science, 2010
Background
Maps and mapping tools through geographic information systems (GIS) are highly valuabl... more Background
Maps and mapping tools through geographic information systems (GIS) are highly valuable for turning data into useful information that can help inform decision-making and knowledge translation (KT) activities. However, there are several challenges involved in incorporating GIS applications into the decision-making process. We highlight the challenges and opportunities encountered in implementing a mapping innovation as a KT strategy within the non-profit (public) health sector, reflecting on the processes and outcomes related to our KT innovations.
Methods
A case study design, whereby the case is defined as the data analyst and manager dyad (a two-person team) in selected Ontario Early Year Centres (OEYCs), was used. Working with these paired individuals, we provided a series of interventions followed by one-on-one visits to ensure that our interventions were individually tailored to personal and local decision-making needs. Data analysis was conducted through a variety of qualitative assessments, including field notes, interview data, and maps created by participants. Data collection and data analysis have been guided by the Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) conceptual framework.
Results
Despite our efforts to remove all barriers associated with our KT innovation (maps), our results demonstrate that both individual level and systemic barriers pose significant challenges for participants. While we cannot claim a causal association between our project and increased mapping by participants, participants did report a moderate increase in the use of maps in their organization. Specifically, maps were being used in decision-making forums as a way to allocate resources, confirm tacit knowledge about community needs, make financially-sensitive decisions more transparent, evaluate programs, and work with community partners.
Conclusions
This project highlights the role that maps can play and the importance of communicating the importance of maps as a decision support tool. Further, it represents an integrated knowledge project in the community setting, calling to question the applicability of traditional KT approaches when community values, minimal resources, and partners play a large role in decision making. The study also takes a unique perspective--where research producers and users work as dyad-pairs in the same organization--that has been under-explored to date in KT studies.
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PLOSone, 2013
Developing appropriate risk messages during challenging situations like public health outbreaks i... more Developing appropriate risk messages during challenging situations like public health outbreaks is complicated. The focus of this paper is on how First Nations and Metis people in Manitoba, Canada, responded to the public health management of pandemic H1N1, using a focus group methodology (n = 23 focus groups). Focus group conversations explored participant reactions to messaging regarding the identification of H1N1 virus risk groups, the H1N1 vaccine and how priority groups to receive the vaccine were established. To better contextualize the intentions of public health professionals, key informant interviews (n = 20) were conducted with different health decision makers (e.g., public health officials, people responsible for communications, representatives from some First Nations and Metis self-governing organizations). While risk communication practice has improved, ‘one size’ messaging campaigns do not work effectively, particularly when communicating about who is most ‘at-risk’. Public health agencies need to pay more attention to the specific socio-economic, historical and cultural contexts of First Nations and Metis citizens when planning for, communicating and managing responses associated with pandemic outbreaks to better tailor both the messages and delivery. More attention is needed to directly engage First Nations and Metis communities in the development and dissemination of risk messaging.
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Public Health., 2014
The 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic prompted public health agencies worldwide to respond in a co... more The 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic prompted public health agencies worldwide to respond in a context of substantial uncertainty. While many lessons around successful management strategies were learned during the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, the usefulness and impact of mathematical models to optimize policy decisions in protecting public health were poorly realized. The authors explored the experiences of modellers and public health practitioners in trying to develop model-based public health policies in the management of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Canada.
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International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 2018
Policy decisions about the approval and funding of new cancer drugs must often be made in an envi... more Policy decisions about the approval and funding of new cancer drugs must often be made in an environment of complex uncertainty about clinical and cost‐effectiveness data. The focus of this article is on the results from qualitative interviews with senior officials (n = 16) who make decisions about or influence cancer drug policy in various organizations in the Canadian cancer control system. Most participants identified the use of a limited number of informal approaches to address uncertainty, such as grounding decisions in evidence and advice from expert groups. People tended to focus on evidence informed decisions including price negotiations, the ability to implement policy changes, and stakeholder values. Lessons from the Canadian context related to continuing efforts to build a public culture of understanding into how policy decisions like cancer drug funding are made may result in greater acceptance and increased confidence in health policy decision‐making processes across multiple sectors internationally.
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Canadian Journal of Native Education, 2018
Following the Truth and Reconciliation report and Calls to Action, there has been a concerted eff... more Following the Truth and Reconciliation report and Calls to Action, there has been a concerted effort within Canada to Indigenize the academy. this effort is taking place within administration, research, and classroom settings and with community partners across multiple disciplines. the application of these practices and policies often appears to be a token response rather than one achieving meaningful change. Through the use of focused auto-ethnography, we discuss our decolonizing pedagogical approach within post-secondary classrooms in health sciences, humanities, and social sciences with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. We propose that relational learning can lead to reconciliatory actions in the classroom.
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Journal of Indigenous Social Development, 2018
Explaining the challenges and successes of participant driven intervention research with Indigeno... more Explaining the challenges and successes of participant driven intervention research with Indigenous
families through the use of narrative ethnography provides an opportunity for a more nuanced
reflection of results than other methods often used to depict qualitative results. Within this paper,
findings from an intergenerational, multi-week research workshop exploring the concept of
wellness are portrayed through the lens of a girl, mother and grandmother. Each of the vignettes is
situated at different point in the intervention. This approach serves to explore post-reflexivity while
highlighting participant engagement and resistance.
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Public Health, 2018
Objectives
Good knowledge translation efforts can lead to significant changes in health status an... more Objectives
Good knowledge translation efforts can lead to significant changes in health status and service delivery. Although there is growing literature around ways to conduct knowledge translation within policy and health service delivery sectors, literature around how to conduct dissemination within indigenous community-based contexts remains scant.
Study design
Using creative, strengths-based approaches to not only return results but also to function as tools to address gaps in health knowledge as identified by participants and community members within intergenerational contexts was a central component applied to dissemination and knowledge translation.
Methods
We developed a series of seven key considerations that we applied to the creation of dissemination products from qualitative interviews and focus group discussions from two Manitoba, Canada-specific public health research projects with indigenous communities.
Results
Products created (activity sheets, board game, and non-fiction storybooks) considered principles of timeliness, literacy level, feasibility of reproduction, and meeting the stated needs of study participants.
Conclusions
By creating products that seek not only to return study information but also to answer questions and address specific challenges identified by participants, it is possible to continue to engage in research that is meaningful and ethical and strengthens relationships with all stakeholders.
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Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 2018
It is important to recognize that experiences of racial and gendered violence are a sad legacy of... more It is important to recognize that experiences of racial and gendered violence are a sad legacy of colonialism. The experiences of historical trauma are on-going. These affect the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. Addressing historical trauma through community-informed practices is central to creating space for meaningful change. This paper outlines results from a seven-week activity-based research workshop conducted on three separate occasions with urban-based First Nations and Metis women and girls (aged 8–12). Using a decolonizing theoretical framework, this paper examines data collected within three specific arts-based activities: empowerment bracelets, “I’m proud of you” charm bracelets and “Who I am” pictures. Women were hesitant to discuss future plans, as many were not confident that their daughters would be in contact with their maternal families when they become teenagers. Girls observed and mimicked the thoughts and actions of their mothers, step-mothers, aunts, older sisters and grandmothers. They demonstrated the role they already play within the discourse of what it means to be female living within their communities. This paper concludes with the implicit harm reduction approach women and girls used when exploring the impacts of trauma while envisioning a healthier future
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The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2019
Historical trauma and the negative effects of colonialism continue to be played out within Canadi... more Historical trauma and the negative effects of colonialism continue to be played out within Canadian culture. These processes have a deleterious effect on physical and psychological health outcomes among Indigenous Peoples. Through the creation of a safe space as part of a decolonizing, participatory activity program spanning 7 weeks, First Nations and Metis women and girls (aged 8-12) were able to begin to unpack what it means to be happy, healthy, and safe, and what is needed to actualize these goals. A community engaged, asset-based workshop approach provided a forum for participants to discuss the impact of traumatic experiences on the ability of adults to model a positive image of strength, independence, and confidence for their daughters, while creating a space to discuss change.
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Papers by Elizabeth J Cooper
Maps and mapping tools through geographic information systems (GIS) are highly valuable for turning data into useful information that can help inform decision-making and knowledge translation (KT) activities. However, there are several challenges involved in incorporating GIS applications into the decision-making process. We highlight the challenges and opportunities encountered in implementing a mapping innovation as a KT strategy within the non-profit (public) health sector, reflecting on the processes and outcomes related to our KT innovations.
Methods
A case study design, whereby the case is defined as the data analyst and manager dyad (a two-person team) in selected Ontario Early Year Centres (OEYCs), was used. Working with these paired individuals, we provided a series of interventions followed by one-on-one visits to ensure that our interventions were individually tailored to personal and local decision-making needs. Data analysis was conducted through a variety of qualitative assessments, including field notes, interview data, and maps created by participants. Data collection and data analysis have been guided by the Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) conceptual framework.
Results
Despite our efforts to remove all barriers associated with our KT innovation (maps), our results demonstrate that both individual level and systemic barriers pose significant challenges for participants. While we cannot claim a causal association between our project and increased mapping by participants, participants did report a moderate increase in the use of maps in their organization. Specifically, maps were being used in decision-making forums as a way to allocate resources, confirm tacit knowledge about community needs, make financially-sensitive decisions more transparent, evaluate programs, and work with community partners.
Conclusions
This project highlights the role that maps can play and the importance of communicating the importance of maps as a decision support tool. Further, it represents an integrated knowledge project in the community setting, calling to question the applicability of traditional KT approaches when community values, minimal resources, and partners play a large role in decision making. The study also takes a unique perspective--where research producers and users work as dyad-pairs in the same organization--that has been under-explored to date in KT studies.
families through the use of narrative ethnography provides an opportunity for a more nuanced
reflection of results than other methods often used to depict qualitative results. Within this paper,
findings from an intergenerational, multi-week research workshop exploring the concept of
wellness are portrayed through the lens of a girl, mother and grandmother. Each of the vignettes is
situated at different point in the intervention. This approach serves to explore post-reflexivity while
highlighting participant engagement and resistance.
Good knowledge translation efforts can lead to significant changes in health status and service delivery. Although there is growing literature around ways to conduct knowledge translation within policy and health service delivery sectors, literature around how to conduct dissemination within indigenous community-based contexts remains scant.
Study design
Using creative, strengths-based approaches to not only return results but also to function as tools to address gaps in health knowledge as identified by participants and community members within intergenerational contexts was a central component applied to dissemination and knowledge translation.
Methods
We developed a series of seven key considerations that we applied to the creation of dissemination products from qualitative interviews and focus group discussions from two Manitoba, Canada-specific public health research projects with indigenous communities.
Results
Products created (activity sheets, board game, and non-fiction storybooks) considered principles of timeliness, literacy level, feasibility of reproduction, and meeting the stated needs of study participants.
Conclusions
By creating products that seek not only to return study information but also to answer questions and address specific challenges identified by participants, it is possible to continue to engage in research that is meaningful and ethical and strengthens relationships with all stakeholders.
Maps and mapping tools through geographic information systems (GIS) are highly valuable for turning data into useful information that can help inform decision-making and knowledge translation (KT) activities. However, there are several challenges involved in incorporating GIS applications into the decision-making process. We highlight the challenges and opportunities encountered in implementing a mapping innovation as a KT strategy within the non-profit (public) health sector, reflecting on the processes and outcomes related to our KT innovations.
Methods
A case study design, whereby the case is defined as the data analyst and manager dyad (a two-person team) in selected Ontario Early Year Centres (OEYCs), was used. Working with these paired individuals, we provided a series of interventions followed by one-on-one visits to ensure that our interventions were individually tailored to personal and local decision-making needs. Data analysis was conducted through a variety of qualitative assessments, including field notes, interview data, and maps created by participants. Data collection and data analysis have been guided by the Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) conceptual framework.
Results
Despite our efforts to remove all barriers associated with our KT innovation (maps), our results demonstrate that both individual level and systemic barriers pose significant challenges for participants. While we cannot claim a causal association between our project and increased mapping by participants, participants did report a moderate increase in the use of maps in their organization. Specifically, maps were being used in decision-making forums as a way to allocate resources, confirm tacit knowledge about community needs, make financially-sensitive decisions more transparent, evaluate programs, and work with community partners.
Conclusions
This project highlights the role that maps can play and the importance of communicating the importance of maps as a decision support tool. Further, it represents an integrated knowledge project in the community setting, calling to question the applicability of traditional KT approaches when community values, minimal resources, and partners play a large role in decision making. The study also takes a unique perspective--where research producers and users work as dyad-pairs in the same organization--that has been under-explored to date in KT studies.
families through the use of narrative ethnography provides an opportunity for a more nuanced
reflection of results than other methods often used to depict qualitative results. Within this paper,
findings from an intergenerational, multi-week research workshop exploring the concept of
wellness are portrayed through the lens of a girl, mother and grandmother. Each of the vignettes is
situated at different point in the intervention. This approach serves to explore post-reflexivity while
highlighting participant engagement and resistance.
Good knowledge translation efforts can lead to significant changes in health status and service delivery. Although there is growing literature around ways to conduct knowledge translation within policy and health service delivery sectors, literature around how to conduct dissemination within indigenous community-based contexts remains scant.
Study design
Using creative, strengths-based approaches to not only return results but also to function as tools to address gaps in health knowledge as identified by participants and community members within intergenerational contexts was a central component applied to dissemination and knowledge translation.
Methods
We developed a series of seven key considerations that we applied to the creation of dissemination products from qualitative interviews and focus group discussions from two Manitoba, Canada-specific public health research projects with indigenous communities.
Results
Products created (activity sheets, board game, and non-fiction storybooks) considered principles of timeliness, literacy level, feasibility of reproduction, and meeting the stated needs of study participants.
Conclusions
By creating products that seek not only to return study information but also to answer questions and address specific challenges identified by participants, it is possible to continue to engage in research that is meaningful and ethical and strengthens relationships with all stakeholders.