ePrints

Use of evidence to support healthy public policy: a policy effectiveness-feasibility loop

Lookup NU author(s): Sarah Bowman, Professor Nigel Unwin, Professor Julia Critchley, Dr Wasim Maziak, Dr Shahaduz Zaman, Professor Peter Phillimore, Dr Balsam Ahmad

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Public policy plays a key role in improving population health and in the control of diseases, including non-communicable diseases. However, an evidence-based approach to formulating healthy public policy has been difficult to implement, partly on account of barriers that hinder integrated work between researchers and policy-makers. This paper describes a "policy effectiveness feasibility loop"(PEFL) that brings together epidemiological modelling, local situation analysis and option appraisal to foster collaboration between researchers and policy-makers. Epidemiological modelling explores the determinants of trends in disease and the potential health benefits of modifying them. Situation analysis investigates the current conceptualization of policy, the level of policy awareness and commitment among key stakeholders, and what actually happens in practice, thereby helping to identify policy gaps. Option appraisal integrates epidemiological modelling and situation analysis to investigate the feasibility, costs and likely health benefits of various policy options. The authors illustrate how PEEL was used in a project to inform public policy for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in four parts of the eastern Mediterranean. They conclude that PEEL may offer a useful framework for researchers and policy-makers to successfully work together to generate evidence-based policy, and they encourage further evaluation of this approach.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Bowman S, Unwin N, Critchley J, Capewell S, Husseini A, Maziak W, Zaman S, Ben Romdhane H, Fouad F, Phillimore P, Unal B, Khatib R, Shoaibi A, Ahmad B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

Year: 2012

Volume: 90

Issue: 11

Pages: 847-853

Print publication date: 14/09/2012

ISSN (print): 0042-9686

ISSN (electronic): 1564-0604

Publisher: World Health Organization

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.12.104968

DOI: 10.2471/BLT.12.104968

Altmetrics

Funding

Share