Abstract
BackgroundIn the Netherlands municipalities are legally required to draw up a Local Health Policy Memorandum every four years. This policy memorandum should be based on (local) epidemiological research as performed by the Regional Health Services. However, it is largely unknown if and in what way epidemiological research is used during local policy development. As part of a larger study on knowledge utilization at the local level in The Netherlands, an analytical framework on the use of epidemiological research in local health policy development in the Netherlands is presented here.MethodBased on a literature search and a short inventory on experiences from Regional Health Services, we made a description of existing research utilization models and concepts about research utilization. Subsequently we mapped different barriers in research transmission.ResultsThe interaction model is regarded as the main explanatory model. It acknowledges the interactive and incremental nature of policy development, which takes place in a context and includes diversity within the groups of researchers and policymakers. This fits well in the dynamic and complex setting of local Dutch health policy.For the conceptual framework we propose a network approach, in which we "extend" the interaction model. We not only focus on the one-to-one relation between an individual researcher and policymaker but include interactions between several actors participating in the research and policy process.In this model interaction between actors in the research and the policy network is expected to improve research utilization. Interaction can obstruct or promote four clusters of barriers between research and policy: expectations, transfer issues, acceptance, and interpretation. These elements of interactions and barriers provide an actual explanation of research utilization. Research utilization itself can be measured on the individual level of actors and on a policy process level.ConclusionThe developed framework has added value on existing models on research utilization because it emphasizes on the 'logic' of the context of the research and policy networks. The framework will contribute to a better understanding of the impact of epidemiological research in local health policy development, however further operationalisation of the concepts mentioned in the framework remains necessary.
Highlights
In the Netherlands municipalities are legally required to draw up a Local Health Policy Memorandum every four years
In the Netherlands in 1989 a new law on collective prevention was approved by parliament: the Public Health Preventive Measures Act [1]
Context of Dutch local health policy development Dutch municipalities are responsible for a range of public health tasks, of which “epidemiological assessment of the health status of the population” is one
Summary
In the Netherlands municipalities are legally required to draw up a Local Health Policy Memorandum every four years This policy memorandum should be based on (local) epidemiological research as performed by the Regional Health Services. The RHSepidemiologists are assembled in a National Association there is still a large variation in research methods and reporting styles in assessing and reporting the health status of the local population. These differences depend on academic background, personal preferences and organizational structures of the RHS. Most RHS-epidemiologists primarily assess the population health status by describing the public health condition and linking it to preventable risk factors. Research concerning “what should be done” has less attention in the RHS research setting
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