Published: April 10, 2009

IWH contributes to health policy book

Institute for Work & Health (IWH) Scientists Dr. Emile Tompa and Dr. Peter Smith have co-authored separate chapters in the second edition of Social Determinants of Health. Edited by Dennis Raphael, professor of health policy at York University, the book explores the socioeconomic conditions (e.g. education, employment, food security, income, housing and more) that shape the health of individuals and communities. Tompa and Smith specifically discuss the impact of employment insecurity and other work dimensions on health. Reviewers have called the book “essential reading for university students, practitioners, program managers and policy-makers in all of the human service sectors.” The second edition was released in December 2008 by Canadian Scholars’ Press Inc. in Toronto. For more information, visit: www.cspi.org.

IWH workshops coming up

On June 18-19, 2009 in Toronto, IWH is offering a workshop on how to plan, conduct and communicate the results of systematic reviews. Systematic reviews provide an overview of findings from higher quality studies in answer to specific research questions. The workshop is intended for clinical trainees, clinicians, academics and researchers who have a general interest in systematic reviews or are planning to conduct one in the future.

IWH is also planning a two-day workshop on applying measurement principles in research. The workshop is designed for researchers, research assistants/coordinators, trainees and clinicians using multi-item measures as part of their research. The workshop will take place in the first week of July (final dates still to be confirmed) in Toronto. More information will be available shortly on the IWH website.

For more information, e-mail srworkshops@iwh.on.ca or go to: www.iwh.on.ca/workshops.

Deadline approaching for fellowship applications

IWH is now accepting applications for fellowships for master's or doctoral students who intend to study work and health. Preference will be given to candidates whose research interests include understanding the social determinants of health and illness in work environments, evaluating workplace interventions to improve health, and/or exploring the measurement issues associated with either of these two areas. IWH is particularly interested in candidates who show a commitment to research that promises to reduce work-related injury, illness and disability in Ontario. The application deadline is May 29, 2009. For more information, visit: www.iwh.on.ca/syme.