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Harm Reduction Journal Aug 2022In Scotland drug policy and consequently the progress of evidence-based treatment options has been struggling for many years. Political inaction is brought about by a... (Review)
Review
In Scotland drug policy and consequently the progress of evidence-based treatment options has been struggling for many years. Political inaction is brought about by a complex chain of legal and operational obstructions with local authorities deferring to national Government which in turn is paralysed by international convention. Scotland represents a case study demonstrating the adverse consequences of management by non medical requirements rather than implementation of a clinically proven progressive policy. The difficulty of translating theory and evidence into practice is acknowledged but suggestions are made for pragmatic and humanitarian initiatives.
Topics: Benzodiazepines; Drug Overdose; Harm Reduction; Health Policy; Humans; Politics; Public Policy; Scotland
PubMed: 36038934
DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00680-y -
The Lancet. Public Health Feb 2023There is a growing body of evidence indicating the arts have a role to play in promoting good health and preventing and managing illness. WHO has called for governments... (Review)
Review
There is a growing body of evidence indicating the arts have a role to play in promoting good health and preventing and managing illness. WHO has called for governments to take an intersectoral approach, both within and across traditional areas of policy, to realise the potential of the arts for public health. To explore what global progress is being made towards this aim, we present examples of arts and health policy development from diverse government areas: health, arts, local governments, and cross government. These examples, which have been selected from a scoping review of 172 relevant global policy documents, indicate that many health and arts policy makers view the relationship between arts engagement and improved health in quite general terms, although some are investing in more targeted applications of the arts to address specific public health issues. The most promising and concrete commitments are happening when health and arts ministries or agencies work together on policy development.
Topics: Humans; Public Policy; Policy Making; Health Policy; Public Health; Local Government
PubMed: 36709054
DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00313-9 -
Clinical Journal of the American... Jul 2019
Topics: Humans; Isoantibodies; Public Policy; Tissue Donors
PubMed: 31213509
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.05950519 -
Harvard Review of Psychiatry 2018This commentary examines the roles that communities and public policies play in the definition and processes of recovery for adults with mental illness. Policy,... (Review)
Review
This commentary examines the roles that communities and public policies play in the definition and processes of recovery for adults with mental illness. Policy, clinical, and consumer definitions of recovery are reviewed, which highlight the importance of communities and policies for recovery. This commentary then presents a framework for the relationships between community-level factors, policies, and downstream mental health outcomes, focusing on macroeconomic, housing, and health care policies; adverse exposures such as crime victimization; and neighborhood characteristics such as social capital. Initiatives that address community contexts to improve mental health outcomes are currently under way. Common characteristics of such initiatives and select examples are discussed. This commentary concludes with a discussion of providers', consumers', and other stakeholders' roles in shaping policy reform and community change to facilitate recovery.
Topics: Ill-Housed Persons; Humans; Mental Disorders; Public Policy; Residence Characteristics; Social Capital; Social Class; Social Environment
PubMed: 29381527
DOI: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000178 -
Canadian Journal of Public Health =... Jun 2023Our aim was to synthesize published scholarship that applies policy diffusion-a theory of the policy process that considers the interdependence of government-level... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Our aim was to synthesize published scholarship that applies policy diffusion-a theory of the policy process that considers the interdependence of government-level public health policy choices. We paid particular attention to the role of scientific evidence in the diffusion process, and to identifying challenges and gaps towards strengthening the intersection of public health, public policy, and political science.
METHODS
We systematically searched 17 electronic academic databases. We included English-language, peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2021. For each article, we extracted the following information: public health policy domain, geographic setting, diffusion directions and mechanisms, the role of scientific evidence in the diffusion process, and author research discipline.
SYNTHESIS
We identified 39 peer-reviewed, primary research articles. Anti-smoking and tobacco control policies in the United States (n = 9/39) were the most common policy domain and geographic context examined; comparatively fewer studies examined policy diffusion in the Canadian context (n = 4/39). In terms of how policies diffuse, we found evidence of five diffusion mechanisms (learning, emulation, competition, coercion, and social contagion), which could moreover be conditional on internal government characteristics. The role of scientific evidence in the diffusion process was unclear, as only five articles discussed this. Policy diffusion theory was primarily used by public policy and political science scholars (n = 19/39), with comparatively fewer interdisciplinary authorship teams (n = 6/39).
CONCLUSION
Policy diffusion theory provides important insights into the intergovernmental factors that influence public health policy decisions, thus helping to expand our conceptualization of evidence-informed public health. Despite this, policy diffusion research in the Canadian public health context is limited.
Topics: Humans; Canada; Health Policy; Policy Making; Public Health; Public Policy; United States
PubMed: 36944893
DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00752-x -
Gaceta Sanitaria 2021
Topics: Health Policy; Humans; Pandemics; Policy Making; Public Health; Public Policy
PubMed: 33239187
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.09.009 -
American Journal of Public Health Oct 2021
Topics: Humans; Public Policy; Workplace
PubMed: 34529450
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306368 -
Cancer Causes & Control : CCC Dec 2010Policy change continues to be an increasingly effective means of advancing the agenda of comprehensive cancer control. Efforts have moved progressively from describing... (Review)
Review
Policy change continues to be an increasingly effective means of advancing the agenda of comprehensive cancer control. Efforts have moved progressively from describing how public policy can enhance the comprehensive cancer control agenda to implementation of public policy best practices at both the state and federal levels. The current political and economic contexts bring additional challenges and opportunities to the efforts surrounding comprehensive cancer control and policy. The purpose of this paper is to highlight recent policy successes, to illustrate the importance of policy as a means of advancing the comprehensive cancer control agenda, and to discuss continued policy action as we move forward in a time of healthcare reform and continuing economic uncertainty.
Topics: Colorado; Comprehensive Health Care; Guam; Health Care Reform; Health Plan Implementation; Health Policy; Humans; Indians, North American; Oklahoma; Program Evaluation; Public Policy; Risk Assessment; United States
PubMed: 21086034
DOI: 10.1007/s10552-010-9668-5 -
International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2023Given the cost-effective nature of promoting desirable behaviors among individuals and societies, national and local governments have widely applied the nudge concept in... (Review)
Review
Given the cost-effective nature of promoting desirable behaviors among individuals and societies, national and local governments have widely applied the nudge concept in various public policy fields. This viewpoint briefly explains the concept of nudge and presents the trend of nudge application in public health policy with illustrative examples. While most academic evidence on its effectiveness has been derived from Western countries, there is a significant accumulation of cases of nudge practices in non-Western countries, including the Western Pacific nations. This viewpoint also provides tips for designing nudge interventions. We introduce a simple, three-step procedure for this purpose: (1) identify target behavior, (2) determine friction and fuel of the behavior, and (3) design and implement a nudge-as well as the behavioral process map and the EAST framework.
Topics: Humans; Choice Behavior; Health Behavior; Public Policy; Motivation; Health Policy
PubMed: 36900972
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20053962 -
Journal of Primary Care & Community... 2023This action research aimed to study the processes of public health policy toward salt reduction in food consumption. The processes were divided into 3 cycles as follows:...
This action research aimed to study the processes of public health policy toward salt reduction in food consumption. The processes were divided into 3 cycles as follows: 1) Public health policy formation; 2) Development of the policy to reduce dietary salt; and 3) Evaluation of the efficiency of the policy. Participants from the first group involved in policy formation; and a total number of 320 participants were recruited in the study with the criteria of a) age 18 years and above, b) having hypertension or at risk of having high blood pressure; c) overweight; and d) having underlying diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The second group was government officials involved in policy development to reduce salt consumption, including the head of the village, assistants of the village head, community leaders, public health personnel, village health volunteers, and a group of housewives. In total, 50 participants were recruited to the study. The results showed that people with hypertension could better control blood pressure which increased from 36.02, 25.6, and 39.06% (in 2018-2020) to 47.32%; and community people could manage their health prevention and control toward non-communicable diseases. Analyzing a return on investment (ROI) found that the ROI was 49.7%; and a social return on investment (SROI) was found that every $1 invested could generate a return of $3.45.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Sodium Chloride, Dietary; Public Policy; Health Services Research; Hypertension; Health Policy
PubMed: 37306335
DOI: 10.1177/21501319231180164