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Porcherie M, Thomas MF, Quidu F, Héritage Z, Vaillant Z, Simos J, Rican S, Cantoreggi N, Faure E, Gall ARL. How to Evaluate Health in All Policies at the Local Level: Methodological Insights Within Municipalities From the WHO French Healthy Cities Network. Int J Health Policy Manag 2022; 11:3060-3070. [PMID: 35942970 PMCID: PMC10105196 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2022.6584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article proposes a method for analysing the degree of maturity of Health in All Policies (HiAP) among World Health Organization-French Healthy Cities Network (WHO-FHCN) as part of the GoveRnance for Equity, EnviroNment and Health in the City (GREENH-City) project. We focused on the creation or enhancement of health-promoting environments, and more specifically, public green spaces. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional quantitative study guided by the evaluative framework of the HiAP maturity level developed by Storm et al mixed with a qualitative interpretation. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to elected officials and health department officers in the 85 member cities of the WHO-FHCN in 2017. Subsequently 58 cities were included in the analysis, which was based on a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and a hierarchical ascending classification (HAC). RESULTS Thirty-two criteria among a total of 100 were identified and were used to organize the cities into 8 groups which was then reduced to three profiles among the cities: a less advanced HiAP profile, an established HiAP profile and an advanced HiAP profile. This process allows us to identify 4 dimensions that make it possible to evaluate the level of maturity of cities in the HiAP process, namely: (1) the consideration of social inequalities in health and/or health issues in the policies/actions of the sector studied, (2) occasional intersectoral collaboration, ie, one-off initiatives between the health department and others sectors, (3) the existence of joint projects, ie, common projects between two or more sectors, (4) the existence of intersectoral bodies, in this case on the theme of urban green spaces including an intersectoral committee and/or working groups. CONCLUSION Four dimensions which allow to the measurement of the degree of progress in implementing health-all-policies are proposed. With a view to integrating knowledge into public action, this study carried out under real conditions offers a realistic method to evaluate HiAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Porcherie
- Department of Social Sciences, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Laboratoire Arènes URM CNRS 6051, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Marie-Florence Thomas
- Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Leres, Irset UMR- Inserm S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Frédérique Quidu
- Department of Social Sciences, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Laboratoire Arènes URM CNRS 6051, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Zoé Héritage
- Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, Paris, France
| | - Zoé Vaillant
- LADYSS, Université Paris-Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - Jean Simos
- Institut de Santé Globale, Université de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicola Cantoreggi
- Institut de Santé Globale, Université de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
| | | | - Anne Roué Le Gall
- Department of Health and Environment, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Laboratoire Arènes URM CNRS 6051, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
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Cairney P, St Denny E, Mitchell H. The future of public health policymaking after COVID-19: a qualitative systematic review of lessons from Health in All Policies. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2021; 1:23. [PMID: 37645203 PMCID: PMC10445916 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13178.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: 'Health in All Policies' (HiAP) describes the pursuit of health equity. It has five main elements: treat health as a human right; identify evidence of the 'social determinants' of health inequalities, recognise that most powers to affect health are not held by health departments, promote intersectoral policymaking and collaboration inside and outside of government, and generate political will. Studies describe its potential but bemoan a major implementation gap. Some HiAP scholars learn from policymaking research how to understand this gap, but the use of policy theories is patchy. In that context, our guiding research question is: How does HiAP research use policy theory to understand policymaking? It allows us to zoom-out to survey the field and zoom-in to identify: the assumed and actual causes of policy change, and transferable lessons to HiAP scholars and advocates. Methods: Our qualitative systematic review (two phases, 2018 and 2020) identified 4972 HiAP articles. Of these, 113 journal articles (research and commentary) provide a non-trivial reference to policymaking (at least one reference to a policymaking concept). We use the 113 articles to produce a general HiAP narrative and explore how the relatively theory-informed articles enhance it. Results: Most articles focus on policy analysis (identifying policy problems and solutions) rather than policy theory (explaining policymaking dynamics). They report a disappointing gap between HiAP expectations and policy outcomes. Theory-informed articles contribute to a HiAP playbook to close that gap or a programme theory to design and evaluate HiAP in new ways. Conclusions: Few HiAP articles use policy theories for their intended purpose. Policy theories provide lessons to aid critical reflection on power, political dilemmas, and policymaking context. HiAP scholars seek more instrumental lessons, potentially at the cost of effective advocacy and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cairney
- History, Heritage, and Politics, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK
| | - Emily St Denny
- Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-1353, Denmark
| | - Heather Mitchell
- History, Heritage, and Politics, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK
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Cairney P, St Denny E, Mitchell H. The future of public health policymaking after COVID-19: a qualitative systematic review of lessons from Health in All Policies. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2021; 1:23. [PMID: 37645203 PMCID: PMC10445916 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13178.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: 'Health in All Policies' (HiAP) describes the pursuit of health equity. It has five main elements: treat health as a human right; identify evidence of the 'social determinants' of health inequalities, recognise that most powers to affect health are not held by health departments, promote intersectoral policymaking and collaboration inside and outside of government, and generate political will. Studies describe its potential but bemoan a major implementation gap. Some HiAP scholars learn from policymaking research how to understand this gap, but the use of policy theories is patchy. In that context, our guiding research question is: How does HiAP research use policy theory to understand policymaking? It allows us to zoom-out to survey the field and zoom-in to identify: the assumed and actual causes of policy change, and transferable lessons to HiAP scholars and advocates. Methods: Our qualitative systematic review (two phases, 2018 and 2020) identified 4972 HiAP articles. Of these, 113 journal articles (research and commentary) provide a non-trivial reference to policymaking (at least one reference to a policymaking concept). We use the 113 articles to produce a general HiAP narrative and explore how the relatively theory-informed articles enhance it. Results: Most articles focus on policy analysis (identifying policy problems and solutions) rather than policy theory (explaining policymaking dynamics). They report a disappointing gap between HiAP expectations and policy outcomes. Theory-informed articles contribute to a HiAP playbook to close that gap or a programme theory to design and evaluate HiAP in new ways. Conclusions: Few HiAP articles use policy theories for their intended purpose. Policy theories provide lessons to aid critical reflection on power, political dilemmas, and policymaking context. HiAP scholars seek more instrumental lessons, potentially at the cost of effective advocacy and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cairney
- History, Heritage, and Politics, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK
| | - Emily St Denny
- Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-1353, Denmark
| | - Heather Mitchell
- History, Heritage, and Politics, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK
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Yu N. WITHDRAWN: The role of medical and health policies in the health risk management system. Work 2021:WOR210115. [PMID: 34308892 DOI: 10.3233/wor-210115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.
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Haynes A, Rychetnik L, Finegood D, Irving M, Freebairn L, Hawe P. Applying systems thinking to knowledge mobilisation in public health. Health Res Policy Syst 2020; 18:134. [PMID: 33203438 PMCID: PMC7670767 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-020-00600-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Knowledge mobilisation (KM) is a vital strategy in efforts to improve public health policy and practice. Linear models describing knowledge transfer and translation have moved towards multi-directional and complexity-attuned approaches where knowledge is produced and becomes meaningful through social processes. There are calls for systems approaches to KM but little guidance on how this can be operationalised. This paper describes the contribution that systems thinking can make to KM and provides guidance about how to put it into action. METHODS We apply a model of systems thinking (which focuses on leveraging change in complex systems) to eight KM practices empirically identified by others. We describe how these models interact and draw out some key learnings for applying systems thinking practically to KM in public health policy and practice. Examples of empirical studies, tools and targeted strategies are provided. FINDINGS Systems thinking can enhance and fundamentally transform KM. It upholds a pluralistic view of knowledge as informed by multiple parts of the system and reconstituted through use. Mobilisation is conceived as a situated, non-prescriptive and potentially destabilising practice, no longer conceptualised as a discrete piece of work within wider efforts to strengthen public health but as integral to and in continual dialogue with those efforts. A systems approach to KM relies on contextual understanding, collaborative practices, addressing power imbalances and adaptive learning that responds to changing interactions between mobilisation activities and context. CONCLUSION Systems thinking offers valuable perspectives, tools and strategies to better understand complex problems in their settings and for strengthening KM practice. We make four suggestions for further developing empirical evidence and debate about how systems thinking can enhance our capacity to mobilise knowledge for solving complex problems - (1) be specific about what is meant by 'systems thinking', (2) describe counterfactual KM scenarios so the added value of systems thinking is clearer, (3) widen conceptualisations of impact when evaluating KM, and (4) use methods that can track how and where knowledge is mobilised in complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Haynes
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia.
- University of Sydney, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney, Australia.
- University of Sydney, School of Public Health, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, PO Box M179, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
| | - Lucie Rychetnik
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia
- University of Sydney, School of Public Health, Sydney, Australia
- University of Notre Dame Australia, School of Medicine, Sydney, Australia
| | - Diane Finegood
- Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Michelle Irving
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia
- University of Sydney, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney, Australia
| | - Louise Freebairn
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia
- ACT Health Directorate, ACT Government, Canberra, Australia
| | - Penelope Hawe
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, Australia
- University of Sydney, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Sydney, Australia
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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Haynes A, Garvey K, Davidson S, Milat A. What Can Policy-Makers Get Out of Systems Thinking? Policy Partners' Experiences of a Systems-Focused Research Collaboration in Preventive Health. Int J Health Policy Manag 2020; 9:65-76. [PMID: 32124590 PMCID: PMC7054651 DOI: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing interest in using systems thinking to tackle 'wicked' policy problems in preventive health, but this can be challenging for policy-makers because the literature is amorphous and often highly theoretical. Little is known about how best to support health policy-makers to gain skills in understanding and applying systems thinking for policy action. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 policy-makers who are participating in an Australian research collaboration that uses a systems approach. Our aim was to explore factors that support policy-makers to use systems approaches, and to identify any impacts of systems thinking on policy thinking or action, including the pathways through which these impacts occurred. RESULTS All 18 policy-makers agreed that systems thinking has merit but some questioned its practical policy utility. A small minority were confused about what systems thinking is or which approaches were being used in the collaboration. The majority were engaged with systems thinking and this group identified concrete impacts on their work. They reported using systems-focused research, ideas, tools and resources in policy work that were contributing to the development of practical methodologies for policy design, scaling up, implementation and evaluation; and to new prevention narratives. Importantly, systems thinking was helping some policy-makers to reconceptualise health problems and contexts, goals, potential policy solutions and methods. In short, they were changing how they think about preventive health. CONCLUSION These results show that researchers and policy-makers can put systems thinking into action as part of a research collaboration, and that this can result in discernible impacts on policy processes. In this case, action-oriented collaboration and capacity development over a 5-year period facilitated mutual learning and practical application. This indicates that policy-makers can get substantial applied value from systems thinking when they are involved in extended co-production processes that target policy impact and are supported by responsive capacity strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Haynes
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kate Garvey
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australia Public Health Services, Department of Health Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Seanna Davidson
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Systems School, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Milat
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Legitimising Inter-Sectoral Public Health Policies: A Challenge for Professional Identities? Int J Integr Care 2019. [DOI: 10.5334/ijic.4641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Lawless A, Baum F, Delany T, MacDougall C, Williams C, McDermott D, van Eyk H. Power, Process and Context in Theory Based Evaluation of Policy Implementation: A Response to Recent Commentaries. Int J Health Policy Manag 2019; 8:61-62. [PMID: 30709106 PMCID: PMC6358648 DOI: 10.15171/ijhpm.2018.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lawless
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Fran Baum
- Southgate Institute for Health Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Toni Delany
- Southgate Institute for Health Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Colin MacDougall
- Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Carmel Williams
- SA Health, Department of Health and Wellbeing, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Dennis McDermott
- The Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Helen van Eyk
- Southgate Institute for Health Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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