Wanted: interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and knowledge translation and exchange training for students of public health.

Students vocalized their concern with public health training programs in Canada at the 2010 CPHA Centennial Conference. Given these concerns, we reviewed the objectives and curricula of public health graduate (master's) programs in Canada. Our objective was to understand to what extent public and population health graduate programs in Canada support interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) training. This was achieved through a review of all public and population health master's programs in Canada identified from the public health graduate programs listed on the Public Health Agency of Canada website (n = 33) plus an additional four programs that were not originally captured on the list. Of the 37 programs reviewed, 28 (76%) stated that interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary or cross-disciplinary training opportunities are of value to their program, with 12 programs (32%) providing multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary training opportunities in their curriculum. Only 14 (38%) of the 37 programs provided value statements of KTE activities in their program goals or course objectives, with 10 (27%) programs offering KTE training in their curriculum. This review provides a glimpse into how public health programs in Canada value and support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration as well as KTE activities.

Psychiatric illness and obesity: recognizing the "obesogenic" nature of an inpatient psychiatric setting.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases is higher among individuals with psychiatric illness than in the general population. This study examined environmental factors that contribute to obesity in one psychiatric hospital in Canada. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 key stakeholders from multiple professional disciplines at the hospital. Transcribed interviews were analyzed through content analysis with the analysis grid for environments linked to obesity (ANGELO) framework as a categorical template. RESULTS: Factors contributing to obesity in this setting were related to increased energy intake, such as easy access to high-calorie snacks and beverages, and reduced energy expenditure, such as lack of access to staircases. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric settings may contribute to the high prevalence of obesity among individuals with psychiatric illness. Ecologically framed interventions are required to address obesity in this population.