High-Level Syntheses
For some topics multiple reviews evaluating public health interventions exist and require higher level synthesis to be useful for the public health workforce. Health Evidence™ has completed higher level syntheses in the following areas:
Currently Available Syntheses
Obesity Prevention Interventions: An Overview of Systematic Review Evidence on the Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Built Environments
A synthesis of 27 systematic reviews and recommendations for policy and practice, developed as part of a report commissioned by the Population Health Improvement Research Network (PHIRN). Evidence suggests that home safety and parent education are effective in childhood injury prevention; red light cameras and street lights prevent traffic-related injuries; occupational health and safety interventions have mixed effects on work-related injuries; green spaces, housing/neighbourhood regeneration, and housing refurbishment positively affect mental health; and interventions promoting walking and cycling improve physical activity.
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Diet and Nutrition: An Overview of Systematic Review Evidence on the Effectiveness of Community-Based Interventions to Promote Healthy Diet and Nutrition
A synthesis of 17 systematic reviews and recommendations for policy and practice, developed as part of a report commissioned by the Population Health Improvement Research Network (PHIRN). Evidence suggests that cognitive/behavioural strategies result in statistically significant effects on eating behaviours. There is some evidence supporting incentives for weight loss, but no definitive evidence on reducing BMI.
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Social Determinants of Health: An Overview of Systematic Review Evidence on the Effectiveness of Social Determinants of Health Interventions
A synthesis of 17 systematic reviews and recommendations for policy and practice, developed as part of a report commissioned by the Population Health Improvement Research Network (PHIRN). Evidence suggests assertive community treatment can be effective for mental health; health care services for intellectual disabilities do not improve behavioural issues; after school programs improve youth behaviour problems; and postnatal home visits for teenage mothers improve infant weight and height.
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Breast Cancer Risk Reduction: Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Public Health
Developed with the guidance of an expert panel convened by Health Evidence as part of the research study “Do tailored messages promote evidence-informed decision making in breast cancer prevention?”, funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Practice recommendations were drawn from interventions show by the evidence to be effective in reducing breast cancer risk (current to April 2011).
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