Why do we take a multi-faceted, community-based approach?

Taking a settings-based approach to develop, implement, and assess community-based population health interventions on built, social, or policy environments allows us to better explore impacts on a community’s health, wellbeing, and equity. Our multi-faceted perspective helps us understand the social determinants of health as well as how impacts vary by different population groups in a community.

Financial Wellbeing

Financial Wellbeing

Improving people’s financial circumstances has never been more critical. Disadvantaged population groups have experienced even higher levels of financial strain (including financial insecurity [...]

Chronic Disease Prevention Survey

Chronic Disease Prevention Survey

The Chronic Disease Prevention Survey measures the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of policy influencers (decision makers in government, schools, media, and other large organizations) and the [...]

Benchmarking Food Environments

Benchmarking Food Environments

Good food and nutrition are essential to promoting the health of children and youth. Healthy eating promotes child growth and development, learning and even the prevention of diet-related chronic [...]

Evaluation of Innovative Preschool Play Spaces

Evaluation of Innovative Preschool Play Spaces

Why is play in early childhood important? Early childhood free play experiences can influence a child’s developmental, mental and physical health, impacting them for the rest of their [...]

Diffusion of Healthy Public Policies

Diffusion of Healthy Public Policies

Governments and other decision-making bodies rarely make policy decisions in isolation. Instead, they often learn from each other to develop and implement policies that are best suited for their [...]

POWER UP!

POWER UP!

Policy Opportunity Windows – Engaging Research Uptake in Practice (POWER UP!) was a team of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers who worked together to share knowledge and evidence [...]

Community Health and the Built Environment

Community Health and the Built Environment

To better understand how a community environment helps or hinders people’s healthy choices, we worked in collaboration with four communities in Alberta: Bonnyville North Central [...]

Collaborative Projects and Publications

Collaborative Projects (Selected)

  • 2019 – 2023
    Reducing HIV-related Stigma in School Children in Northern Uganda: A Multi-level Arts-based Population Health Intervention
    (CIHR: Project Scheme – September 12, 2018)
    Principal Investigators: Bonnie Fournier (NPI), Olenka Bilash, Geoffrey M Maina, Joshua Mendelsohn, Santo Ojok (KU)
  • 2020 – 2022
    Income Inequality within Schools and Mental Health among Canada’s Youth
    (Women & Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI): Innovation Grant)
    Principal Investigator: Roman Pabayo
  • 2016 – 2021
    Building on Existing Tools to Improve Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening in Primary Care for Wellness of Cancer Survivors and Patients: The BETTER WISE Projec
    (Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions: Cancer Prevention Research Opportunity)
    Collaborative Leads: Donna Manca (NPI), Kris Aubrey-Bassler, Denise Campbell-Scherer, Eva Grunfeld, Melissa Shea-Budgell
  • 2020 – 2020
    Chronic Disease Prevention in Younger Adults Living with Low Income: A BETTER Life
    (CIHR: Catalyst Grant: Understanding Disease Prevention and Risk Factor Modification)
    Principal Investigators: Aisha Lofters (NPI); Mary Ann O’Brien (Co-PI)
  • 2019 – 2019
    Levelling the Playing Fields: Creating the Conditions for Outdoor Free-Play to Emerge in Cities
    (CIHR: IPPH Building Healthy Cities – Dragon’s Den)
    Principal Investigator: Katherine Frohlich (NPI)
  • 2018-2020
    Neighbourhood Income Inequality and Maternal and Child Mental Health in Calgary
    (WCHRI Innovation Grant) + (MSI Foundation)
    Principal Investigator: Roman Pabayo
  • 2018 – 2019
    Healthier Cities, Sustainable Futures: Leveraging Municipal Smart City Data and Technological Innovation to Improve Population Health and Health Equity
    (CIHR: IPPH Planning & Dissemination Grants: Healthy Cities)
    Principal Investigator: Candace Nykiforuk
    *Centre for Healthy Communities project

Collaborative Publications (Selected)

  • Glenn, N.M., Allen Scott, L., Hokanson, T., Gustafson, K., Stoops, M., Day, B., & Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2021). Community strategies to reduce the impact of financial strain and promote financial well-being: a comprehensive rapid review. Global Health Promotion, 28(1):42-40. Epub 2021 February 18. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757975920984182
    Special issue on Health Promotion Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic, accessible at: https://journals.sagepub.com/page/ped/collections/covid-19
  • Glenn, N.M., Kongats, K., Cowie, H., Guimond, J.K., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2020). Promoting children’s play in Calgary, Alberta: a case study of collective impact and municipal leadership. Cities and Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2020.1779994
  • Cheesbrough, A.E., Garvin, T., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2019). Everyday wild: urban natural areas, health, and well-being. Health & Place, 56: 43-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.01.005
  • Nieuwendyk, L.M., Belon, A.P., Vallianatos, H., Raine, K.D., Schopflocher, D., Spence, J.C., Plotnikoff, R.C., Nykiforuk, C.I. (2016). How perceptions of community environment influence health behaviours: using the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity framework as a mechanism for exploration. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice, 36(9): 175-184. Epub 2016 Sep 22. DOI: 24095/hpcdp.36.9.01
  • Lytvyak, E., Olstad, D.L., Schopflocher, D.P., Plotnikoff, R.C., Storey, K.E., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Raine, K.D. (2016). Impact of a 3-year multi-centre community-based intervention on risk factors for chronic disease and obesity among free-living adults: the Healthy Alberta Communities study. BMC Public Health, 16(1): 344. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3021-1
  • Sopcak, N., Aguilar, C., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., O’Brien, M.A., Aubrey-Bassler, K., Cullen, R.M., Heatherington, M., Grunfeld, E., Manca, D.P. (2017). Patients’ perspectives on BETTER prevention and screening: qualitative findings from Newfoundland & Labrador. British Journal for General Practice (BJGP) Open. BJBP-2017-0061. Epub 2017 Aug 8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen17X101037
  • Sopcak, N., Aguilar, C., O’Brien, M.A., Nykiforuk, C., Aubrey-Bassler, K., Cullen, R., Grunfeld, E., Manca, D.P. (2016). Implementation of the BETTER 2 program: a qualitative study exploring barriers and facilitators of a novel way to improve chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care. Implementation Science, 11:158. Epub 2016 Dec. DOI: 10.1186/s13012-016-0525-0
  • Manca, D.P., Campbell-Scherer, D., Aubrey-Bassler, K., Kandola, K., Aguilar, C., Baxter, J., Meaney, C., Salvalaggio, G., Carroll, J.C., Faria, V., Nykiforuk, C., Grunfeld, E. (2015). Developing clinical decision tools to implement chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care: the BETTER 2 program (building on existing tools to improve chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care). Implementation Science, 10(1):107. DOI:1186/s13012-015-0299-9.