Mapping Public Health Policy Options

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.