PolÉthicas Case Study Bank: Call for Proposals

Context

The PolÉthicas case study bank is a joint initiative of the Public Policy and Population Health and Ethics and Integrity axes of the Quebec Population Health Research Network (QPHRN). It aims to capitalize on the expertise of each grouping, to combine and to enhance the knowledge and practices developed so far in public policy and ethics analysis. The case study examines multiple problems in different contexts and the ethical issues that may affect public health policies.

Public policies structure and guide action in various sectors of society. They are a key element in improving the health of populations. The adoption of “Healthy Public Policies” by governments or Public Policies Favorable to Health (PPFH) have for decades been a central focus of health promotion strategies. These policies target the determinants of health other than the health care system and health services.

Political science offers tools to better understand policy-making: what problems do the elected officials draw attention to? What roles do experts play when formulating solutions? How are health and well-being perceived by actors in sectors other than health? What does the analysis of implementation tell us? Why isn’t there more emphasis on evaluation to improve public policy? A better understanding of how public policy is realized is an important asset for public health actors.

Public health ethics (PHE), an interdisciplinary field developed over the past two decades in response to increasingly complex ethical issues (individual and collective rights, resource allocation), focuses on moral issues using concepts of ethical and political philosophy to solve population health problems. It is imperative for the validity of public policies to understand how ethical concepts relate to practice.

Objectives Of The Case Study Bank POLÉTHICAS

1. Foster a better understanding of public policy-making and the decision-making process;
2. Promote understanding of ethical issues and challenges in public health policies;
3. Provide a pedagogical and research tool for students, researchers and decision-makers, as well as managers and public health professionals.

Target Audience

This case bank aims to reach all those interested in public policies and their ethical issues. Cases will be available online. Students, researchers from academia and practice, public health managers and professionals are invited to submit cases.

Eligibility Criteria

• This contest is open to all researchers who are regular researcher members and student members of the QPHRN. The lead author must be a regular researcher member of the QPHRN or a student member of the QPHRN.
• The terms « public policy » are used in their broadest sense, encompassing laws, regulations, strategies, and plans such as formal political statements. Programs can also be considered to the extent that their analysis is part of a public policy directly related to population health.
• Authors must ensure that they do not have a conflict of publication rights since cases will be published online in the case study bank PolÉthicas and made accessible to the public.
• The same publication cannot be funded more than once by the RRSPQ and / or one of its strategic groupings or training programs.
• A same researcher can apply and/or appear as a co-researcher in several applications to the current competitions of the QPHRN and/or its axes. Yet, in order to provide all Network members with a fair access to this financial support, a same researcher cannot be funded more than once per year in these competitions. If any author appears in multiple applications, priority may be given to the application that gets the highest evaluation score.
• A same QPHRN student member can apply to various annual competitions launched by the QPHRN and its axes but he/she cannot be awarded more than $5,000 per year.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a peer review panel of members of the QPHRN.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of the theme addressing ethics and public policies that are favorable to health;
• Originality and quality of the data available for the case;
• Links to the objectives of the case study bank;
• Interest for the users of the case study bank.

Submission of Applications

Applications may be submitted in English or in French. They must be submitted as an attached file (Microsoft Word) by e-mail with the subject heading "Contest – Case Study Bank" at the latest on February 3, 2020, 4 pm EST at the following address: genevieve.malboeuf@teluq.ca

Case Study Fact Sheet

To submit your application, you must complete a fact sheet for your case study online. Click here.

For the full description of the competition, please download the documents found on your right.

For references, see the case studies online. Click here.