Building a community of practice to address alcohol harms in Canada: Experience from the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project

期刊论文
发表日期：

2024年12月6日

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Tina R. Price,
Bryany Denning,
Victoria Burns,
Amy Hlaing,
Jacqueline Deroo,
Laura Lee Noonan,
Kim Brière-Charest,
Angela Haché,
Kate Dunn,
Marion Waysome McIntyre,
Ciana Van Dusen,
Patrick Brazeau,
Jenna Hopson,
Julie McEachern,
Kate Johnston,
Amanda M. Farrell-Low,
Kate Vallance,
Elizabeth K. Farkouh,
Norman Giesbrecht,
Timothy S. Naimi,
Adam Sherk,
Kara Thompson,
Isabella Priore,
Nicole Vishnevsky

摘要

Setting

Alcohol is a major cause of health and social costs and harms in Canada. While research and awareness of harms caused by alcohol are on the rise, few transdisciplinary platforms exist that are committed to facilitating bold alcohol policy change to reduce health inequities and improve lives.

Intervention

In response to feedback heard during engagement for the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project, an alcohol policy–focused community of practice (CoP) was launched in January 2022. Webinars, roundtable discussions, working group meetings, networking events, and a digital platform allow practitioners from various sectors (e.g. public health, alcohol regulation and distribution, public safety, justice, non-governmental organizations), researchers, and people with lived/living experience (PWLLE) to connect, share experiences and resources, and build capacity.

Outcomes

More than 500 members have joined the CoP from all Canadian provinces and territories, and international jurisdictions. CoP members engage in learning opportunities, contribute to letter-writing campaigns in support of alcohol policy initiatives, and lead a working group focused on alcohol warning labels. Through the CoP, members report gaining and applying new knowledge in their work, while also establishing valuable connections and collaborations that have supported positive change.

Implications

This cross-jurisdictional, intersectoral alcohol policy CoP facilitates knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration among practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and PWLLE, while contributing to public health efforts to prevent alcohol harms. Furthermore, as transdisciplinary approaches continue to be prioritized in research and practice, this CoP offers an example that could be applied to other public health initiatives.