What research areas do we study?
We use implementation science and equity-focused approaches to conduct applied public health research related to digital health, sexual health, and 2SLGBTQ+ health in British Columbia. Our research informs and is informed by the ongoing work of implementing services and engaging with service users and communities.
Main areas of active research
Currently, our main areas of active research are:
- Internet-based testing: Our team’s implementation science research focused on GetCheckedOnline, BC’s digital STBBI testing service. Our research spans all phases from development and design (2009-2013) to implementation and scale-up (2014-today) of the service working alongside the BCCDC Online Sexual Health Services program.
- Digital health: Over the past five years our team has been conducting research about the emerging field of digital public health, which grew out of our experience with digital sexual health interventions. Our research has focused on defining the scope of this field and thinking about how to advance the practice of public health in the face of the ongoing digital transformation of society. We are currently conducting the Digital Determinants of Health (DDoH) Study to understand how digital factors impact people’s access to health and social services, with a focus on populations facing more barriers in accessing services related to sexually and transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs).
- STBBIs and related services: Our team also conduct research about STBBI related services that may not be digital. For example, we helped respond to the Mpox outbreak in BC in 2022 by measuring the uptake of Mpox vaccine. We are currently conducting the ASTERR study to create a create a self-collection STBBI testing program for rural and remote communities in BC. Self-collection kits allow people to collect their own samples and can help to reduce barriers to testing access.
Other research areas
Other areas we have focused on in the past include:
