Steel, et al. Lancet 2018; 392: 1647–61
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Background
Methods
Findings
Interpretation
Steel, et al. Lancet 2018; 392: 1647–61
Click here to view this systematic review
By Public Health England (2018)
This resource is made up of briefings and practice examples to promote healthy weight for children, young people and families as part of a whole systems approach. The briefings help to make the case for taking action to reduce childhood obesity, give examples of actions that can be taken, and provide key documents that form the evidence base and other useful resources. Practice examples are also given to illustrate what local areas are doing.
By Public Health England (2018)
This resource has been developed to help commissioners provide cost-effective interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease.
By London Councils (2018)
Gambling is often described as a ‘hidden addiction’ and problem gambling is now recognised as a complex public health issue that has an impact on individuals, families, and communities. This guidance outlines the areas in which public health can add value and support local gambling policies.
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Tudisca, V. et al. Health Research Policy and Systems, 2018: 16:47
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Background
Ensuring health policies are informed by evidence still remains a challenge despite efforts devoted to this aim. Several tools and approaches aimed at fostering evidence-informed policy-making (EIPM) have been developed, yet there is a lack of availability of indicators specifically devoted to assess and support EIPM. The present study aims to overcome this by building a set of measurable indicators for EIPM intended to infer if and to what extent health-related policies are, or are expected to be, evidence-informed for the purposes of policy planning as well as formative and summative evaluations.
Methods
The indicators for EIPM were developed and validated at international level by means of a two-round internet-based Delphi study conducted within the European project ‘REsearch into POlicy to enhance Physical Activity’ (REPOPA). A total of 82 researchers and policy-makers from the six European countries (Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, the United Kingdom) involved in the project and international organisations were asked to evaluate the relevance and feasibility of an initial set of 23 indicators developed by REPOPA researchers on the basis of literature and knowledge gathered from the previous phases of the project, and to propose new indicators.
Results
The first Delphi round led to the validation of 14 initial indicators and to the development of 8 additional indicators based on panellists’ suggestions; the second round led to the validation of a further 11 indicators, including 6 proposed by panellists, and to the rejection of 6 indicators. A total of 25 indicators were validated, covering EIPM issues related to human resources, documentation, participation and monitoring, and stressing different levels of knowledge exchange and involvement of researchers and other stakeholders in policy development and evaluation.
Conclusion
The study overcame the lack of availability of indicators to assess if and to what extent policies are realised in an evidence-informed manner thanks to the active contribution of researchers and policy-makers. These indicators are intended to become a shared resource usable by policy-makers, researchers and other stakeholders, with a crucial impact on fostering the development of policies informed by evidence.
By Royal Society for Public Health (2018)
This report, written with ukactive, explores how fitness professionals can play an enhanced role in supporting the public’s health. It calls for GP drop-in and smoking cessation services inside gyms and leisure centres to help ease pressure on local health facilities and improve access to health improvement services.
By Fields in Trust (2018)
This report demonstrates that parks and green spaces across the UK provide people with over £34 billion of health and wellbeing benefits and generates savings to the NHS of at least £111 million per year. It calculates that parks provide a total economic value to each person in the UK of just over £30 per year and that this is higher for individuals from lower socio-economic groups and also from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
By The King’s Fund (2018)
The primary and acute care system (PACS) model is an attempt to bring about closer working between GPs, hospitals, community health professionals, social care and others. This report offers a unique set of first-hand perspectives into the experience of those leading a major programme at the national level and those living it at the local level. The insights shared will be invaluable to those constructing future national support programmes intended to facilitate transformation in local health and care systems.
Chisholm, A. et al. Journal of Public Health, 2018: doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdy094
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Background
National Health Service England encourages staff to use everyday interactions with patients to discuss healthy lifestyle changes as part of the ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) approach. Although healthcare, government and public health organisations are now expected to adopt this approach, evidence is lacking about how MECC is currently implemented in practice. This study explored the views and experiences of those involved in designing, delivering and evaluating MECC.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 13 public health practitioners with a range of roles in implementing MECC across England. Interviews were conducted via telephone, transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive thematic approach.
Results
Four key themes emerged identifying factors accounting for variations in MECC implementation: (i) ‘design, quality and breadth of training’, (ii) ‘outcomes attended to and measured’, (iii) ‘engagement levels of trainees and trainers’ and (iv) ‘system-level influences’.
Conclusions
MECC is considered a valuable public health approach but because organisations interpret MECC differently, staff training varies in nature. Practitioners believe that implementation can be improved, and an evidence-base underpinning MECC developed, by sharing experiences more widely, introducing standardization to staff training and finding better methods for assessing meaningful outcomes.
by NICE (2018)
This guideline covers how to improve the physical environment to encourage and support physical activity. The aim is to increase the general population’s physical activity levels. The recommendations in this guideline should be read alongside NICE’s guideline on physical activity: walking and cycling.
Recommendations
This guideline includes recommendations on:
•strategies, policies and plans to increase physical activity in the local environment
•active travel
•public open spaces
•buildings
•schools