Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada
Abstract Background Road-related injuries and deaths are among the most significant and avoidable public health problems in Canada. Modifications to the built environment (BE) can reduce injury rates for vulnerable road users (VRUs) and other priority populations who experience disproportionate risk...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21118-z |
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| author | Emily McCullogh Alison Macpherson Daniel W. Harrington Ian Pike Brent Hagel Claire Buchan Pamela Fuselli Sarah A. Richmond |
| author_facet | Emily McCullogh Alison Macpherson Daniel W. Harrington Ian Pike Brent Hagel Claire Buchan Pamela Fuselli Sarah A. Richmond |
| author_sort | Emily McCullogh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Road-related injuries and deaths are among the most significant and avoidable public health problems in Canada. Modifications to the built environment (BE) can reduce injury rates for vulnerable road users (VRUs) and other priority populations who experience disproportionate risk. This paper highlights public health professionals’ experiences working in injury prevention across Ontario public health units (PHUs) navigating barriers and facilitators to BE change. Their perspectives offer valuable insights that can support future BE change work in the Ontario public health context, thus illustrating the importance of including practitioners’ voices in injury prevention research. Methods Qualitative data were collected for a larger pan-Canadian study examining barriers and facilitators to BE change from the perspectives of injury prevention and transport professionals working across a variety of sectors, including public health, using key informant interviews (KI) and virtual focus groups (VFGs). Participants (n = 9) from four PHUs are included in this present study: Peel Region; York Region; Peterborough; and Ottawa. Thematic analysis was used to organize and code the data in relation to the guiding principles of the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS), situating our results within the broader context of public health and road-related injury prevention in Ontario. Results Major barriers included motor vehicle prioritization and decision-making structures. Facilitators included partnerships and collaboration, champions and advocates, and access to data. Lastly, participants highlighted the important role of public health in BE change discussions and decision-making for road-related injury prevention. Conclusion Public health professionals’ insights about barriers and facilitators show that some of their work aligns with the existing OPHS. Needs of local populations are clearly identified, while local data illustrating the impact of public health interventions are lacking. There are limits to PHU’s capacities, as well as the capacities of communities, which can be strengthened through the work of champions and advocates. Partnerships, collaboration, and engagement are also significant facilitators to BE change, aligning with the OPHS, but PHUs need to be involved more in BE change processes in order to prioritize the safety needs of VRUs in local communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1fc000a1f9aa4cfa83cde7654ccff013 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1fc000a1f9aa4cfa83cde7654ccff0132025-01-05T12:49:00ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111310.1186/s12889-024-21118-zBuilt environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, CanadaEmily McCullogh0Alison Macpherson1Daniel W. Harrington2Ian Pike3Brent Hagel4Claire Buchan5Pamela Fuselli6Sarah A. Richmond7York UniversityYork UniversityChronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health OntarioThe University of British ColumbiaDepartments of Pediatrics and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgarySchool of Public Health Science, University of WaterlooParachuteChronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health OntarioAbstract Background Road-related injuries and deaths are among the most significant and avoidable public health problems in Canada. Modifications to the built environment (BE) can reduce injury rates for vulnerable road users (VRUs) and other priority populations who experience disproportionate risk. This paper highlights public health professionals’ experiences working in injury prevention across Ontario public health units (PHUs) navigating barriers and facilitators to BE change. Their perspectives offer valuable insights that can support future BE change work in the Ontario public health context, thus illustrating the importance of including practitioners’ voices in injury prevention research. Methods Qualitative data were collected for a larger pan-Canadian study examining barriers and facilitators to BE change from the perspectives of injury prevention and transport professionals working across a variety of sectors, including public health, using key informant interviews (KI) and virtual focus groups (VFGs). Participants (n = 9) from four PHUs are included in this present study: Peel Region; York Region; Peterborough; and Ottawa. Thematic analysis was used to organize and code the data in relation to the guiding principles of the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS), situating our results within the broader context of public health and road-related injury prevention in Ontario. Results Major barriers included motor vehicle prioritization and decision-making structures. Facilitators included partnerships and collaboration, champions and advocates, and access to data. Lastly, participants highlighted the important role of public health in BE change discussions and decision-making for road-related injury prevention. Conclusion Public health professionals’ insights about barriers and facilitators show that some of their work aligns with the existing OPHS. Needs of local populations are clearly identified, while local data illustrating the impact of public health interventions are lacking. There are limits to PHU’s capacities, as well as the capacities of communities, which can be strengthened through the work of champions and advocates. Partnerships, collaboration, and engagement are also significant facilitators to BE change, aligning with the OPHS, but PHUs need to be involved more in BE change processes in order to prioritize the safety needs of VRUs in local communities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21118-zPublic healthInjury preventionBuilt environmentRoad safetyBarriersFacilitators |
| spellingShingle | Emily McCullogh Alison Macpherson Daniel W. Harrington Ian Pike Brent Hagel Claire Buchan Pamela Fuselli Sarah A. Richmond Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada BMC Public Health Public health Injury prevention Built environment Road safety Barriers Facilitators |
| title | Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full | Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada |
| title_short | Built environment change for injury prevention: insights from public health professionals across public health units in Ontario, Canada |
| title_sort | built environment change for injury prevention insights from public health professionals across public health units in ontario canada |
| topic | Public health Injury prevention Built environment Road safety Barriers Facilitators |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21118-z |
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