Glover, Rebecca; Burchett, Helen; Weatherburn, Peter; Chu, Yen-Hao; (2024) Mapping Public Health Policy Options. Project Report. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. https://www.phpru.online/projects/completed-projec...
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Abstract
Background: This study aimed to explore what types of interventions, for which health topics, had been evaluated in trials (TRoPHI) and reviews (DoPHER). Methods: We conducted bibliometric analyses of two databases on trials and effectiveness reviews to explore what intervention functions, for which health topics, have been evaluated. Results: Most (59%) of trials involved both capability-based (e.g. knowledge provision) and non-capability-based intervention functions. Few (7%) trials aimed to change policies, laws or environments. Over half the trials aimed to change lifestyle behaviours. There were few policy-focused reviews of effectiveness (168; 2%). Of these, lifestyle behaviours were the most common health topic focus (46%), followed by substance misuse (29%). Equity-oriented reviews (i.e. that mention equity, inequalities or disparities in their title or abstract) were also scarce (188; 2%). Among equity-oriented reviews, socioeconomic status was the most commonly addressed factor (38%), followed by age (34%), sex/gender/sexuality (26%) and race/ethnicity (26%). Conclusions: This analysis highlights the need for a more diverse approach to public health interventions, moving beyond capability-based strategies to address wider determinants of health. The scarcity of equity-oriented reviews underscores the importance of adopting more inclusive research practices. While AI-assisted evidence synthesis shows potential, human-facilitated refinement is required to enhance its utility in public health policymaking.
Item Type | Monograph |
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Faculty and Department | Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Health Services Research and Policy |
Elements ID | 238579 |
Official URL | https://www.phpru.online/projects/completed-projec... |
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Filename: Chu-etal-2024-Mapping-Public-Health-Policy-Options-Report.pdf
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