Abstract
BackgroundHealth surveillance and survey data are helpful in evidence-informed policy decisions. This study is part of an evaluation of the National Health Examination Survey (NHES) programme in Thailand. This paper focuses on the obstacles in the translation of survey information into policies at a national level.MethodsIn-depth interviews with relevant individuals and representatives of institutes were carried out for the data collection. A total of 26 focal informants included executives and staff of NHES funders, government health agencies, civil society organisations, health experts, NHES programme managers and researchers in the survey network.ResultsUtilisation of NHES data in policy-making is limited for many reasons. Despite the potential users’ positive views on the technical integrity of experts and practitioners involved in the NHES, the strength of employing health examinations in the data collection is not well recognised. Meanwhile, alternative health surveillance platforms that offer similar information on a shorter timescale are preferable in policy monitoring and evaluation. In sum, the lack of governance of Thailand’s health surveillance system is identified as a key element hindering the translation of health surveys, including the NHES, into policies.ConclusionDespite an adequate capacity to conduct population health surveys, the lack of governance structure and function has resulted in a fragmented health monitoring system. Large and small survey projects are conducted and funded by different institutes without common policy direction and alignment mechanisms for prioritising survey topics, collective planning and capacity-building programmes for survey practitioners and users. Lessons drawn from Thailand’s NHES can be helpful for policy-makers in other low- and middle-income countries, as effective governance for evidence generation and utilisation is necessary in all contexts, regardless of income level and available resources.
Highlights
Population health surveys generate helpful information that contributes to the monitoring of health risk behaviours and disease burden
Use of National Health Examination Survey (NHES) data in policy development Executives and staff of NHES funding agencies and technical officers in Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) departments shared the common perspective that, since this series of health surveys have been conducted by credible principal investigators and research faculties, they provide valuable information for policy decisions
As suggested by some informants, the shortfalls were a result of the lack of governance of the health survey system at the national level. Based on such an argument, we can see that the absence of governance is one of the weakest links that hinders the translation of health monitoring surveys, including the NHES, into policy since no institute is authorised to designate the collective priority-setting of survey topics, standardisation of survey methodology, and allocation of scarce resources to a wide range of activities under different health information platforms
Summary
Population health surveys generate helpful information that contributes to the monitoring of health risk behaviours and disease burden. The main objective of these surveys is to offer high quality data for resource allocation, planning and programme evaluation [1]. Despite such benefits, the availability and utilisation of such information are limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [2, 3]. Health surveillance and survey data are helpful in evidence-informed policy decisions. This study is part of an evaluation of the National Health Examination Survey (NHES) programme in Thailand. This paper focuses on the obstacles in the translation of survey information into policies at a national level
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
