The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73886

Geraldine S. Aglipay, ASPH, Project Manager, 1101 15th St., NW, #910, Washington, DC 20005, 202-296-1099, gaglipay@asph.org

Practice-based research is an area of public health research that blends the resources of academia and practice toward an evidentiary, practice research agenda. The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) two seminal public health reports in 2002 acknoledged that ecological, practice research is not only necessary for effective public health interventions, but that schools of public health are the origin to systematize and foster much, if not most, public health research. Further, the IOM states that academia bears the major research responsibility, since schools have the central role in training on how to implement, translate, and evaluate research, most especially the emerging concept of transdisciplinary research in the coming decades. This includes diagramming and shaping new yet rigorous paradigms of practice-based research.

This presentation will highlight the ongoing achievements of the ASPH Practice Council and how their progress has enhanced, and continues to advance, the understanding and application of practice research. Among the topics are showcasing the Council's successes; and, the dissonance of standard research ideas, understanding, and approaches of practice faculty (academic public health practice) versus practitioners (public health practice). The council is an ideal and natural body to organize and foster all types of practice-based research to ensure practical results based upon science-based processes (e.g., public health systems research, community-based participatory research, etc.). Councilmembers are experienced as both practitioner and faculty. They liaise and act as an intermediary, for and between the: deans, faculty, students, and practice partners. S/he is the lead in shaping the school's academic-practice system, including agency and community linkages and its evidence-base outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and describe practice-based research and its various forms;
• Discuss how academic-practice shapes and evaluates the practice-based research;
• Distinguish and identify the importance of academic public health practice toward elevating the goals of public health systems research, in contrast to a practitioner developed response.

Keywords: Practice-Based Research, Public Health Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.