Public Engagement
Everything we do as a network is to benefit people in Canada through data use that leads to better health outcomes, greater health equity and more robust health systems. The public has an essential role in informing the work we do, which is why a key strategic goal for HDRN Canada is to increase community and public influence on data systems. The Public Engagement Working Group supports this commitment. Made up of staff and researchers from Member Organizations, the group collaborates with the Public Advisory Council to ensure the meaningful public participation in HDRN Canada’s overall work and goals. Read the Public Engagement Plan and the Public Engagement Working Group’s Terms of Reference for more information.
Public Trust in Health Data
Public trust in health data and data literacy have been identified as key priorities of governments across Canada. HDRN Canada, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, developed a foundational paper which identifies an emerging set of principles-based recommendations for trustworthy health data practices. Want to learn more? Download our Foundational paper, Glossary of Health Data Terms and Recommendations for Trustworthy Data Practices.
Health Data for All of Us
HDRN Canada hosts an annual hybrid in-person and online public forum to support our strategic goal of ensuring “purposeful and ongoing public and community involvement” in our collective work of facilitating multi-regional data access to improve health outcomes and health equity across the country. Researchers, students, policymakers and members of the public are invited to discuss and explore emerging and burning issues around the use, access and sharing of health data in Canada with leading thinkers and advocates in these areas.
Social Licence for Uses & Users of Health Data
Building on a decade of research into publicly supported uses of health data, this report adds the voices of public and patient advisors to the discussion about what uses and users of health data have “social licence.”
HDRN Canada
Social Licence for uses of Health DataThe Conversation (January 22, 2023)
How can health data be used for public benefit? 3 uses that people agree onThe Conversation (October 9, 2019)
Plain language about health data is essential for transparency and trustThe Conversation (October 6, 2019)
The public needs to know why health data are used without consentThe Conversation (September 10, 2020)
Health data collected during the coronavirus pandemic needs to be managed responsibly