Modernizing and Strengthening Communication Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals to Transform Canadian Public Health Practice

Communication is at the core of effective public health practice. To ensure the public health workforce is appropriately knowledgeable and skilled in communication they should meet a set of competencies set out by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The pandemic and subsequent public health reports highlight the importance of communication in public health contexts. In turn, these show the public health workforces' competencies in the practice of communication are essential. Little is known about how current and future Canadian public health professionals are trained in communication and the extent to which this training aligns with core competencies. In addition, the communication core competencies have remained the same for many years despite many changes in public health and communication, especially as we move through and past the current COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges, our research team will determine: how public health training in Canada supports communication competence of the current and future public health workforce; and what evidence and experts show to be new, stronger communication competencies for public health. Together, this information will help address the gaps highlighted in the Chief Public Health Officer Annual Report.