IWH Five-year Strategic Research Plan

The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) has developed a Five-year Strategic Research Plan that sets forth IWH’s research directions. The plan highlights three research priorities:

  1. To generate, synthesize and share knowledge in five key research areas.
  2. To create and evaluate approaches for evidence-based change.
  3. To advance methods in work and health research.

You can download the full document. IWH Strategic Research Plan 2008-2012  (637.95 KB)

Research Priority 1

To generate, synthesize and share knowledge about work and health related to the following five areas:

A. The Changing Nature of Work and the Workforce: The Canadian labour market is changing. Today, self-employment and flexible hours are more common than in the past; workers tend to be older and better educated. The new diversity of work experiences raises important questions about the occupational injury and illness landscape. Accordingly, the Institute will expand its research into the changing nature of work while developing new expertise on the changing policy landscape.

B. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) / Disability Policy Systems: The Canadian OHS and disability policy systems should support workplaces and protect workers and their families. Research can help to ensure these systems are functioning as intended. The Institute will expand its research into the design and performance of prevention and disability management systems, while continuing to investigate the adequacy of financial supports.

C. Workplace Policies, Programs and Practices: Work environments have an enormous impact on worker health. Research can identify the health and cost-effectiveness of workplace practices aimed at preventing injuries and illness. The Institute will expand its research into workplace change while continuing to synthesize evidence for stakeholders.

D. Disability Trajectories: Understanding the factors that affect individual return-to-work experiences can help to reduce the human, economic and social burden of work disability. The Institute will expand its research into the course of work disability as well as health and productivity. New research will focus on work disability programs.

E. Health-care Policies, Programs and Practices: Research has not yet explored the effects of Ontario’s health-care programs and policies on the quality of care provided to injured workers. The Institute will conduct new research into the delivery of health services for injured workers and consider the impact of health-care practices on workers with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and mental health conditions.

Sample projects: Injured immigrant workers’ experiences, B.C. workers’ compensation benefits after Bill 49, Measuring keyboard and mouse use to prevent MSDs, Understanding long-term compensation claims, Evidence-based practice systematic review

Research Priority 2

To develop and evaluate interventions and methods for understanding, implementing and monitoring evidence-based change to improve work and health.

The Institute has developed several tools to encourage stakeholders to make decisions based on evidence, including the DASH Outcome Tool and Low-back Pain Tool Kit. Research can identify how these tools are being used and whether they contribute to changes in practice patterns and policies. The Institute will continue to use evidence to develop tools and guidelines and evaluate them. One new area of research will explore how change is brought about and sustained. Another new area will be to develop metrics to assess the impact and success of research.

Sample projects: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand measure studies, A tool kit for persistent compensation claims, Economic evaluation workbook

Research Priority 3

To continue to improve analytic, measurement and evidence synthesis methods in work and health research.

A solid grasp of the methodological issues in work and health research supports leading-edge research. The Institute will continue to research measurement methods, injured worker data linkage and statistical analytic skills while pursuing new research into economic evaluation methods and evidence synthesis models.