This course, in a second version with virtual preparation prior to the course proper, has been adjusted to the conditions and needs of Latin America. Its objective is to provide both a theoretical and practical basis for evaluating and utilizing available evidence in public health, for decision-making in the area of chronic noncommunicable disease (CNCD) prevention and control in Latin America, with the purpose of strengthening Regional capacity in this area.

See below for a more detailed description and links to the course documentation in Spanish.

The Colombian Foundation for Public Health Development (Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Salud Pública Colombiana / FUNDESALUD), in collaboration with the Center for the Development and Evaluation of Public Health and Technology Policy (Centro para el Desarrollo y la Evaluación de Políticas y Tecnología en Salud Pública / CEDETES) of Del Valle University School of Public Health (Escuela de Salud Pública, Universidad del Valle), with sponsorship from PAHO, held the second version of their course on Evidence-Based Public Health (EBPH) on 25–28 August in Cali, Colombia. The course was designed with a virtual tutorial prior to the course, where participants gained the necessary background knowledge before the course proper that they attended in person. Documentation included: 

•  Course description (in Spanish)
•  Prior tutorial (distance training) (in Spanish)
•  Education strategies (used in course proper) (in Spanish)

The EBPH course for Latin America was developed within the framework of a joint alliance between the PAHO Country Offices and the Chronic Disease Project at Headquarters in Washington, in collaboration with the ministries of health, universities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the participating countries. It also falls within the framework of the CARMEN School, aimed at capacity-building in areas related to chronic disease and risk factor prevention, support for related policies, and integrated chronic illness care. The original version of this course was developed and offered by the St. Louis University (SLU) Prevention Research Center (PRC) in Missouri, USA. The current course offering for 2009 has been tailored to fit the conditions and needs of Latin America, taking into account the experience gained from previous courses.

General Objective: Provide both a theoretical and practical basis for evaluating and utilizing available evidence in public health, for decision-making in the area of chronic noncommunicable disease (CNCD) prevention and control in Latin America, with the purpose of strengthening Regional capacity in this area.

Specific Objectives

• Acknowledge the importance and challenges of public health evaluation and the use of evidence to influence decision-making.
• Identify available information resources (Internet and other sources) and their use to obtain and evaluate evidence on the effectiveness of public health interventions.
• Identify the characteristics and principles that guide evidence-based public health planning and input for evaluation of CNCD prevention.
• Understand the general framework and fundamental principles used in evaluating public health economics and applying the results.
• Identify key elements for communicating evidence and results of such evaluations to decision-makers.

Expected Result: Produce an evidence-based proposal designed to prevent and control CNCDs and their risk factors.

Output from the Course (in Spanish)

•  Curso Salud Pública Basada en Evidencia (informe final)
•  Propuestas para control y prevención de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles  

For more information, see the course description (in Spanish) on the CEDETES website.

Contact person: Branka Legetic, PAHO Regional Advisor for Chronic Disease.