The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on October 20, 2009
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp140
Organizational capacity for chronic disease prevention: A survey of Canadian public health organizations
Nancy Hanusaik1, Jennifer L O’Loughlin2,3,4, Natalie Kishchuk5, Gilles Paradis4,6,7 and Roy Cameron8,9
1 Groupe de recherche interdisiplinaire en santé (GRIS), University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
2 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
3 Centre de recherche de Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
4 Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
5 Natalie Kishchuk Research and Evaluation Inc., Kirkland, Québec, Canada
6 Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
7 Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
8 Department of Health Sciences and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
9 National Cancer Institute of Canada, Centre for Behavioural Research and Program Evaluation, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Correspondence: Nancy Hanusaik, PhD, University of Montreal, Faculty of Medicine, Groupe de recherche interdisiplinaire en santé (GRIS), C.P. 6128 succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7 Canada, tel: +1 514 890 8000 [x.15860], fax: +1 514 412 7137, e-mail: nancy.hanusaik{at}mail.mcgill.ca
Received December 17, 2008 , accepted August 18, 2009
Background: There are no national data on levels of organizational capacity within the Canadian public health system to reduce the burden of chronic disease. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in a national survey (October 2004 to April 2005) of all 216 national, provincial and regional-level organizations engaged in chronic disease prevention through primary prevention or healthy lifestyle promotion. Levels of organizational capacity (defined as skills and resources to implement chronic disease prevention programmes), potential determinants of organizational capacity and involvement in chronic disease prevention programming were compared in western, central and eastern Canada and across three types of organizations (formal public health organizations, non-governmental organizations and grouped organizations). Results: Forty percent of organizations were located in Central Canada. Approximately 50% were formal public health organizations. Levels of skill and involvement were highest for activities that addressed tobacco control and healthy eating; lowest for stress management, social determinants of health and programme evaluation. The few notable differences in skill levels by provincial grouping favoured Central Canada. Resource adequacy was rated low across the country; but was lowest in eastern Canada and among formal public health organizations. Determinants of organizational capacity (organizational supports and partnerships) were highest in central Canada and among grouped organizations. Conclusion: These data provide an evidence base to identify strengths and gaps in organizational capacity and involvement in chronic disease prevention programming in the organizations that comprise the Canadian public health system.
Keywords: Canada, chronic disease prevention, organizational capacity, survey.