[Environment and the "Health in All Policies" approach-an overview]

How effective is the health promotion policy in Sichuan, China: based on the PMC-Index model and field evaluation

BACKGROUND

Many countries around the world highlight the health in all policies (HiAP). However, most of the related research focused on the influential factors and implementation strategies, with less concern on the evaluation of HiAP. In response to HiAP's call, the Chinese government has proposed health promotion policies (HPPs) in counties or districts, the evaluation of HPPs in sample counties or districts of Sichuan province in China is an essential basis for optimizing policy content, improving policy implementation, and ensuring health promotion's continuous and efficient operation.

METHODS

This paper established an evaluation system for HPPs based on the PMC-Index model and then quantitatively analyzed 37 representative HPPs from the pilot areas in Sichuan province. In addition, a team of experts conducted a field assessment.

RESULTS

The results showed that the average PMC index of 37 HPPs was 7.091, and correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the PMC index and expert score.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that the overall consistency of HPPs was good and proves a connection between the formulation and implementation of HPPs.

Perceived built environment, health-related quality of life and health care utilization

Previous research has shown that the built environment plays a crucial role for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health care utilization. But, there is limited evidence on the independence of this association from lifestyle and social environment. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate these associations, independent of the social environment, physical activity and body mass index (BMI). We used data from the third follow-up of the Swiss study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart diseases In Adults (SAPALDIA), a population based cohort with associated biobank. Covariate adjusted multiple quantile and polytomous logistic regressions were performed to test associations of variables describing the perceived built environment with HRQoL and health care utilization. Higher HRQoL and less health care utilization were associated with less reported transportation noise annoyance. Higher HRQoL was also associated with greater satisfaction with the living environment and more perceived access to greenspaces. These results were independent of the social environment (living alone and social engagement) and lifestyle (physical activity level and BMI). This study provides further evidence that the built environment should be designed to integrate living and green spaces but separate living and traffic spaces in order to improve health and wellbeing and potentially save health care costs.