Population Health Newsletter 2001

A Tool for Population Health Action

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Welcome to the third issue of the Population Health Newsletter from Health Canada's Population and Public Health Branch. In this issue we profile case studies that demonstrate how population health has been implemented at the regional, national and international levels. We are at an exciting stage in our knowledge of population health, with the availability of a growing number of documented examples of population health in action to stimulate analysis, learning and further development.

Also presented in this issue is the Population Health Key Elements Template, a new tool developed to advance understanding and action on the population health approach. In addition to these special articles, the newsletter further explores the theme of "population health in action" with highlights of some of the latest information and developments.

Introducing the Population Health Template

The Population Health Template: Key Elements and Actions That Define A Population Health Approach, a work in progress, is a new tool developed to advance understanding and action on the population health approach. It organizes and consolidates current understandings of population health and outlines the procedures and processes required to implement a population health approach. The Template itself is a more comprehensive reference document that endeavours to explain the outside parameters of a population health approach. For a quick overview, the Template Working Tool, summarizes the key concepts of the Template. Selected national and international reviews of these documents are currently underway. Anyone wishing to provide a substantive review may contact: population@hc-sc.gc.ca.

The Population Health Template highlights eight key elements. They are: (1) focus on the health of populations, (2) address the determinants of health and their interactions, (3) base decisions on evidence, (4) increase upstream investments, (5) apply multiple strategies, (6) collaborate across sectors and levels, (7) employ mechanisms for public involvement, and (8) demonstrate accountability for health outcomes. Each of the eight key elements is further elaborated with a description and rationale of required actions to mobilize a population health approach. The key elements are presented in the figure above.

The Population Health Template can be used by many groups for various purposes:

• Policy makers and program planners, to guide and direct policy and program development so that initiatives reflect population health key elements;
• Health educators, to support development of training curriculum and materials;
• Evaluators, to measure programs against population health key elements;
• Grant reviewers and writers, to assess the degree to which funding proposals align with population health concepts;
• Researchers and academics, to test for population-health related assumptions and hypotheses (and thereby advance theory).

For example, the Population Health Template was used by Health Canada regional managers to develop an analytical framework for the Case Studies of the Regional Mobilization of Population Health. This report as well as a national and international example of the population health approach are profiled in this issue of the Population Health Newsletter.

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