Striving for best practice – Are current frameworks from Europe and Canada ethically and contextually “fit” for global practice?

Objective:
To bring conference participants to the forefront of current thinking with regards to a general framework for quality improvement in Health Promotion - “best practice” - through a critical reflection of current models and approaches. The session will consider how well such frameworks go beyond being evidence-based to incorporate health promotion values and ethics as well as local knowledge. The session will also explore whether such frameworks are sensitive to the varying contexts in which health promotion actions, interventions and decision-making take place. If we want global agreement / consensus on a quality framework for health promotion practice we may need different ways of framing best practice as well as more equitable and sustainable ways of implementing it globally.
       
Key questions:

1. How can empirical and theoretical knowledge or evidence and health promotion values and ethics be combined to improve decision-making and action in health promotion?
2. How sensitive are the ‘best practice’ approaches presented and to what level can they be transferred to different cultural contexts? Are they acceptable and applicable in different regions and cultures?
3. Is there a tension between use of instrumental processes to assure “best practices” (standards, guidelines, quality assurance tools) and practical experience-driven approaches? 
4. Are there simply language issues with regards to terminology used (good, better, best, optimal…), or are there fundamental differences in how we view the challenge of improving the quality of health promotion practice and decision making? Is it possible to have a common orienting framework for professional health promotion action globally re-optimal or ‘best practice’ in health promotion, that rests on systematic consideration of both value base and health promotion ethics, the (scientific and practice-based) knowledge base, and the varying contexts for action?
5. If time permits: What are the most equitable and appropriate ways to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of health promotion practice? Through conceptual or guiding frameworks and quality assurance processes, continuing development of health promotion competencies, …
   

Links to conference theme(s):
The need for quality improvement is at the heart of both health promotion and sustainable development practices. As the goal of health promotion continues to extend widely across professions and sectors, how useful and transferable are frameworks, models and theories? This session will describe and challenge current health promotion frameworks and discuss their applicability across the field of health promotion.

Proposed format:
symposium, debate & dialogue, inter active panel

This sub-plenary session will provide an overview from a European and Canadian perspective of developments, progress and current application of models and frameworks of ‘best practice’ that have been developed over a number of years in association with the IUHPE Global Programme of Health Promotion Effectiveness in Europe. After a short introductory/ overview presentation, panelists will critique these approaches, from different theoretical and cultural standpoints, particularly with regard to ethics and sensitivity to context. Audience members will be encouraged to debate issues raised.

Session structure (90min):
The session will open with a 15 minute overview presentation on current best practice frameworks and work (Dr. Ursel Broesskamp-Stone, Dr. Viv Speller).

The invited panelists will then respond and critique this from a particular perspective along 2-3 pre-defined questions (based on the key questions listed above) (5x 5mins).

The remainder of the session (50 mins) will be open for discussion and debate along 2-3 pre defined questions (based on the key questions listed above and questions arising from the floor).

Source of request:
Health Promotion Switzerland; European IUHPE/EuroHealthNet “Joint Special Interest Group” (JSIG) for Health Promotion Evidence, Effectiveness and Transferability

Chair:

• Prof. Fred Paccaud, Director, Swiss School of PH SSPH, Switzerland
  
• Dr. Viv Speller, Director, Health Development Consulting Ltd; Visiting Sr Research Fellow University of Southampton, UK; and co-leader IUHPE/ EuroHealthNet Joint Special Interest Group on Health Promotion Evidence, Effectiveness and Transferability, UK
  

Moderator:

• Prof. Dr. Petra Kolip, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld; and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Health Promotion Switzerland, Germany

Panel members:

• Dr. Ursel Broesskamp-Stone, Head international Affairs and Senior Advisor Policy (lead person best practice; former Head of Evidence), Health Promotion Switzerland; Co-leader IUHPE/ EuroHealthNet Joint Special Interest Group on Health Promotion Evidence, Effectiveness and Transferability 2006-2010; since 2009, IUHPE Vice President for Europe; Switzerland
  Presentation (PDF, 1.91 MB)
  Presentation (PDF, 1.82 MB)
  
• Dr. Sylvie Desjardins, Scientific Director - WHO Collaborating Centre on Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Policy - Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada
  
• Dr. Andrew Tannahill, Head of Evidence for Action, NHS Health Scotland, UK
  Presentation (PPS, 512 kB)
  
• Prof. Ligia de Salazar, Universidad del Valle, Coordinator of the Latin American effectiveness efforts of IUHPE, Columbia
• Mrs. Rebecca Armstrong, Cochrane Public Health Review Group, Melbourne, Australia