Participation In Health Policy Research Articles

Supporting Youth Participation in Health and Climate Justice Through Advocacy Training Comment on "Between Rhetoric and Reality: Learnings From Youth Participation in the Adolescent and Youth Health Policy in South Africa".

This paper responds to lessons from the Adolescent and Youth Health Policy (AYHP) process in South Africa by drawing comparisons with youth participation within the climate justice movement. Relationship building is essential to successful youth participation in health policy and climate change as it creates intergenerational learning and cross-cultural engagement. At the same time, both sets of youth also deal with compounding challenges due to contemporary and historical legacies of colonialism and inequality. Yet, tokenism challenges the participatory process as adults profess to value youth perspectives, yet recommendations by youth often do not get incorporated into policies or plans. For organizations and agencies trying to build youth's capacity, organizations and agencies should look to programs that train youth in advocacy. These programs help build youth's confidence, increase their optimism for change, and give youth a sense of ownership.

The effects of political efficacy and nursing professionalism on political participation in nursing students

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the factors influencing the political participation of nursing students who, as they become future leaders in the nursing field, will need to increase their participation in health policy decisions.Methods: Data were collected using web-based questionnaires answered by 157 nursing students between March 13 and 27, 2023. Those data were analyzed using t-test, a one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and a multiple linear regression.Results: The average score of political participation was 2.77±0.70 out of 5 points. Political participation showed positive correlations between political efficacy (r=.48, <i>p</i><.001) and nursing professionalism (r=.27, <i>p</i><.001). Furthermore, sex (female) and political efficacy were identified as influencing factors on political participation among nursing students, which explained it with 24.0% power.Conclusion: Providing timely nursing education is necessary for enhancing political efficacy, which could promote political participation among nursing students.

Comparison of nursing doctoral programs in Iran and the University of Massachusetts Boston: A comparative study

Background & Objective: Learning about the world's successful educational systems in the field of nursing education can be helpful in planning, especially in the doctoral program, and lead to an increase in the quality of education in this field. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of a descriptive and comparative comparison of the curriculum of nursing doctoral programs in Iran and the University of Massachusetts Boston. Materials & Methods: The present study is a descriptive-comparative study. To compare the doctoral nursing curricula of Iran and Boston Massachusetts, related articles and resources along with library studies based on Bereday's four-stage model, including description, interpretation, proximity, and comparison were analyzed. Results: Integration of the curriculum with a focus on nurse participation in health policies, educational content related to defined roles and more emphasis on educational courses, admission of undergraduate doctoral students, the existence of part-time and full-time courses, and having the practice-focused program alongside Ph.D. were important features of Boston University curriculum. The nursing doctoral curriculum in Iran is done only full time and from master's degree and in a centralized manner. The educational courses do not meet the needs of society and the only nursing doctoral program in Iran is Ph.D. Conclusion: Boston's nursing Ph.D. curriculum has been developed with a comprehensive view of the real perceived needs of the nursing profession and society. The results of the comparison can be useful in revising Iran's nursing Ph.D. curriculum to improve educational quality.

Citizen engagement in health policymaking: challenges and recommended solutions

Abstract Background Involving citizens in health policymaking leads to the development of policies that are tailored to their needs and enables them to exercise their right as citizens. Citizen engagement in health policymaking in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is rarely practiced and so understanding barriers and facilitators to engagement and the factors that impede effective participation is crucial. This study aims to understand views from policy stakeholders and citizens on citizen participation in health policy making and solicit recommendations on how to improve this process in the context of Lebanon. Methods We conducted 29 individual in-depth interviews with stakeholders who work in fields relevant to health policy and/or have had experience in engaging citizens and four focus groups (average 8 to 10 participants each) with citizens from four municipalities in different governorates across Lebanon. Participants were purposively sampled through local Primary Healthcare Centers and municipality networks. Results Barriers to engagement were seen as a manifestation of a dysfunctional and top-down political system, weak culture of participation, and lack of formal processes and platforms for engagement. Citizens’ attributed lack of participation to mistrust with the political system while on the other hand, stakeholders thought that citizens lacked the needed skills for active engagement. Recommendations for improvement focused on the importance of implementing system level changes, developing contextualized citizen engagement processes, and ensuring its adoption and implementation. Conclusions Although participants identified many challenges to engagement, they acknowledged its value and were able to propose concrete solutions and recommendations for change. Those recommendations are useful for other LMICs of similar contexts whose mandates require participation. Key messages • By identifying and understanding barriers to citizen participation in health policymaking, public health professionals can work towards improving engagement. • Strategies and methods such as implementing system level changes and developing contextualized citizen engagement processes can be applied to improve citizen participation were needed.

Exploration of knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits towards nurse managers' participation in the health policy-making process: a qualitative thematic analysis study.

Participation of nurse managers in policy-making could help policy-makers to propose relevant and effective policies and support other policy actors involved with these processes. This study aimed at exploring the attitudes and perceived benefits of nurse managers' participation in the health policy-making process. In this descriptive qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 nurse managers, government officials, and faculty members. Recruitment was based on purposive sampling from different regions across Iran. A thematic analysis was performed in MAXQDA (version 2012). After analysis of the qualitative data, four themes and 13 sub-themes emerged. The themes were feelings about nurse managers' participation, advantages of nurse managers' participation, problems due to the non-participation of nurse managers, and recommendations for improvement of the policy-making process. The outcomes provided new insights into the perceived benefits of and attitudes towards nurse managers' participation in health policy making in the Iranian setting. It is crucial to strengthen the capacity for nurse managers' participation in health policy making to develop effective healthcare policies.

Current Stereotypes Associated with Nursing and Nursing Professionals: An Integrative Review.

Nursing and nursing professionals are associated with social stereotypes, which may hinder the profession’s development and future prospects as a scientific discipline. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the stereotypes associated with the nursing profession—students and professionals. Therefore, we carried out an integrative review. The search was conducted using PubMed, WOS, and CINAHL databases, and its search strategy was based on a combination of standardised keywords and natural vocabulary, with a temporal limit between 2016 and 2021. The data extraction and analysis was based on the conceptual framework developed by Whittemore and Knafl. Twenty-seven studies were included in the review, and their results were classified and coded. Two categories emerged, namely, stereotypes relating to the professionals’ gender and stereotypes relating to the profession itself. We concluded that the nursing profession is viewed as female with low skills, social status, salary, academic level and entry requirements, and with little autonomy. Male nurses’ professional competencies and masculinity are questioned, while the work carried out by female nurses is viewed as unprofessional. To reduce these stereotypes and bias we must present the nursing profession as a scientific discipline, developed by both men and women. Specific channels for this awareness-raising work include interventions from universities and the media, and participation in health policies.

Normalizing the political economy of improving health.

ProblemPolitical economy factors are important in determining the adoption and implementation of health policies. Yet these factors are often overlooked in the development of policies that have the potential to influence health.ApproachPolitical economy analysis provides a way to take into consideration political and social realities, whether at the community, subnational, national, regional or global levels. We aim to demonstrate the value of political economy analysis and to promote its wider use in technical programmes of work.Local settingWe provide examples from across a range of World Health Organization areas of work, including participatory governance, health financing, health taxes, malaria prevention and control, capacity-building and direct country support.Relevant changesExisting examples of how political economy analysis can be incorporated into technical support demonstrate the variability of this analytical approach, as well as its potential to support policy progress. Applying political economy analysis within the specified programmes of work has enabled more contextually relevant technical support to enhance the likelihood of advancing countries’ health-related objectives.Lessons learntEmbedding political economy into technical work has many benefits, including: enhancing voice and participation in health policies; supporting the adoption and implementation feasibility of technically sound policies; and building capacity to incorporate and understand political factors that influence health-related priorities.

Educational strategies to encourage participation in health policy for nurses: A systematic review

ObjectivesTo identify evidence on the types of educational interventions that have been developed to encourage participation in health policy for nurses and on the effectiveness of these interventions. DesignA systematic literature review. Data sourcesSix electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, and SCOPUS) were searched. Review methodsAll qualitative and quantitative studies on educational interventions developed to encourage participation in health policy for nurses were included in this study. Two researchers independently reviewed each article for inclusion and assessed the eligibility of the studies. The effects of educational interventions were analyzed through a thematic synthesis for the qualitative studies and data tabulation for the quantitative studies. A comprehensive framework of educational strategies to encourage participation in health policy was developed based on three stages of citizen participation in policy-making. ResultsSeven articles were selected for the review: four quantitative studies and three qualitative studies. In all studies that confirmed the educational effect through quantitative design, statistically significant improvement in students' competency on policy participation was observed. In the qualitative study, it was possible to mainly confirm the students' positive feelings toward policy participation education, and three themes were derived: expanding the perspective of policy, understanding the actual feature of policymakers, and improving the possibility of policy participation. The education strategies were synthesized into six types, which were divided into three stages according to the level of citizen participation in policy-making: Listener, Observer, Twitterian, Analyst and Speaker, Interviewer, and Contributor. ConclusionEducation on health policy increases the competency and interest of nurses concerning policy participation. We propose systematic policy education according to the policy participation stage. To realize this, nursing educators should secure faculty with relevant expertise and develop a verified curriculum.

Literacy in the time of Coronavirus: an Italian perspective: Value of literacy in the context of a pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic, with its dramatic impact on society, poses a challenge to Health Pro-motion and to its principles of empowerment, social cohesion and citizens' democratic participation in health policies. In this pressing emergency, public health strategies aimed at preventing the spread of the pandemic have been primarily oriented towards restrictive measures (travel restrictions, use of PPE) in absence of an adequate educational communication, aimed at increasing citizens' knowledge and skills in regard to the emergency context. To offer a perspective on the Italian situation, in terms of health literacy and life skills in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, aimed not only at identifying deficits, but particularly at determining opportuni-ties and resources (assets) - offered by the peculiar context of crisis - useful to provide citizens with the necessary tools to comprehend the criticalities linked with the emergency and to shape their behaviour to new requirements, in absence of external obligations, as well as to promote future participation of the population - both effective and informed - in a social and political context. A non-systematic review of literature on the subject of health literacy and social cohesion in emergency contexts has been supported by a qualitative assessment, based on the model of assets and on the Italian condition in the last trimester of 2020. The scarce ability of the population to independently adequate habits and behaviour to new criti-calities required by the risk of infection - as well as the necessity to suspend their empowerment and capa-bility from government authorities to protect public health - has been firstly traced back to a widespread lack of literacy and life skills at a general population level. The current situation of crisis offers a peculiar opportunity of tools, circumstances and receptiveness to highlight such deficits, as well as an intervention on multiple fronts, in order to increase literacy and capability, both on an individual and on a community level, through inclusive and sustainable initiatives. A prevention strategy based on the critical understanding of risk and risk-related criticalities is the only one which can aspire to last over time, while offering an effective tool for the safeguarding of public health, along with an opportunity of being prepared to contrast future emergencies more effectively. The development of such strategies represents one of the most significant contributions Health Promotion can offer in the time of Coronavirus.

Using Information and Communication Technologies to Engage Citizens in Health System Governance in Burkina Faso: Protocol for Action Research.

BackgroundHealth systems are complex systems involving a vast range of actors. In West Africa, they are often not accessible or responsive. Burkina Faso has widely expressed, in its public health policy, the need to improve both access to quality care and health system responsiveness. There is also a strong wish to give more voice to citizens. To support Burkinabè institutions in achieving these goals, we have developed an action research (AR) protocol.ObjectiveThis paper presents the protocol that will address citizens’ participation in health policies and their empowerment through the expression of opinions, for accountability, as well as the strengthening of the health system using information and communication technologies (ICTs).MethodsOur approach will consist of (1) enabling people to express their opinions on the health system by means of a toll-free (TF) service coupled with an interactive voice server (IVS); (2) building an information base with anonymous and reliable data; and (3) conducting information awareness-raising activities, including knowledge transfer (KT) and advocacy, social integration activities, development of OpenData platforms, and the capitalization and media coverage of governance issues. For this purpose, the AR project will be implemented in Burkina Faso. The design uses a concurrent mixed-methods approach. This AR project will evaluate the acceptability, process, effectiveness, and economic costs of the device’s implementation. We will also analyze the potential for the data collected by the device to be used to improve practices.ResultsData collection is in progress; the TF number was officially launched on July 1, 2020, and data collection is planned to continue throughout 2021. By using mixed methods, our AR will be approached from a variety of perspectives. Mixed methods will support us in combining the partial insights into sophisticated realities from qualitative inquiries with the data analyses produced by quantitative research.ConclusionsThis AR is expected to add knowledge on how to increase the empowerment of the population, especially the most vulnerable, to participate in democratic processes and enjoy and exercise their human rights. This protocol recommends implementing a low-cost, contextually adapted technology, associated with an evidence-based approach and carried out on a significant scale. The originality of this approach lies in the fact that it introduces a real AR dimension with local communities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), combined with an integrated strategy of KT and application throughout the project for all stakeholders.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/28780

Factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process: a systematic review

BackgroundNurses as the majority of the health care workforce help in the health systems strengthening. Nurses’ involvement in health policy making is clear; however, still few are involved in policy-making processes, even in the clinical context. The aim of the present systematic review was to identify factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process.MethodsThe present systematic review was designed on studies conducted between 2000 and 2019. Four online databases including PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Science Direct were searched using comprehensive terms. Study selection, quality assessment, data extraction, and data analysis were independently done by two reviewers. Inclusion criteria included published studies in English language and between 2000 to 2019, participants such as nurses and the healthcare managers, mentioned influential factors, types of participants were included nurses and the healthcare managers, study designs and methods clearly defined. The methodological quality of included article was appraised using the checklists of CASP and MMAT. Finally the data were analyzed using content analysis.ResultsAfter quality assessment, 11 studies, according to inclusion criteria, were retrieved. Nine studies had a good, 2 a medium, and non-articles was poor methodological quality. Three main themes include nursing-related factors (4 sub- themes), management and organizational factors (8 sub-themes) and creating a positive work environment (3 sub-themes) identified as affecting factors on nurses participation in health policy.ConclusionNurses can utilize this finding to develop empowering programs to play efficient roles and increase their participation in health policy making. Also, the extracted factors in this review can place nurses in suitable position and make them potential agents in changing the ways of policy-making. Further studies are required to survey the relation between these factors and nursing participation in health policy making.

Assessment of nurses’ involvement in health research and policy development at a Federal Teaching Hospital in South East Nigeria

Background: Nurses account for a significant proportion of the health-care workforce in most countries; however, they are marginally represented in policy decision-making. Aim: To assess nurses’ involvement in health research and policy making at a Federal Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted by using 305 nurses. Data collection was done by means of a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively by using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Results: The findings revealed that 71.1% of the respondents had been involved in research activity; however, only 16.6% had participated in a research study after school. The result also revealed that only 23.6% of the respondents had been involved in health policy decision-making in the hospital. Educational qualification did not have any influence on their involvement with research and policy development. The major barriers identified were lack of knowledge and relevant skills (89.8%), lack of organizational support (84.5%), and professional dichotomy (67.2%). The respondents strongly agreed that organizational support (94.4%), having interest in politics (89.8%), mentoring in research (84.6%), higher education in nursing (84.2%), funding of research (80%), and belonging to professional organizations (80%) will enhance their involvement in research and health policy decision-making. Conclusion: Nurses have not been adequately involved in research and policy development. Findings revealed organizational and individual factors as barriers to nurses’ involvement in the research and policy-making process. These findings, therefore, suggest strengthening nurses for effective participation in health policy and building support for research activities in nursing.

Strengthening partnerships for Roma children’s participation in health policy and practice in Europe

Abstract Background Whilst some Roma children thrive, many experience poor health, housing and nutrition. This is linked to antigypsyism, economic inequalities, poor experiences of healthcare and other denials of social citizenship. Children globally are demonstrating about climate change, an issue of particular importance to those Roma children living in the most polluted and hazardous conditions affected by environmental waste and climate related risks. Academic and policy discourse recognises that finding solutions requires involvement of Roma children and young people, but to date there is very little research in this field. This paper explores how Roma children (aged below 18) can guide policy and practice to promote public health and sustainable development goals. Methods A review of literature on participatory practice with Roma children and young people was combined with a qualitative European survey (conducted Feb - June 2020) in English and Bulgarian. Critical realist analysis of data identified mechanisms that enabled inclusive and impactful participation in public health related matters, for whom and in which circumstances. Results Preliminary results, illustrated with examples from three European countries, indicate that participatory practices are more inclusive where Roma children lead identification of the issues they wish to address; there are explicit links to current service and policy opportunities; intergenerational and intersectional alliances are built; opportunities are community- based, not simply engaging with children in education; and pathways towards employment are offered. Partnership with Roma and Pro-Roma NGOs is vital. Conclusions Success in public health related participatory practice with Roma children is promoted by using inclusive methods and making links between everyday challenges and local, national and international policy (reflecting on structural inequalities). There is need to build decision-makers' capacity and commitment. Key messages Roma children can be effective partners in public health policy and practice. Supporting Roma youth leadership enables inclusiveness.

Autonomy in Long-Term Care and Nurses' Participation in Health Policy.

Autonomy in Long-Term Care and Nurses' Participation in Health Policy.

Citizen Participation, Perceived Public Service Performance, and Trust in Government: Evidence from Health Policy Reforms in Hong Kong

Citizen participation is advocated as an effective instrument to retain and promote government legitimacy, but to what extent and through what mechanisms participation affects government trust have not been fully elaborated. In this study, we examine the mediating role played by perceived government performance in the link between citizen participation and government trust, by analyzing data from Hong Kong. We seized the opportunity when the Hong Kong SAR Government was undertaking public consultation on a health financing reform proposal and collected data from a telephone survey of adult citizens. Empirical evidence reveals that citizens who believe that their opinions about health care reform are considered by the government are more satisfied with health system performance, which, in turn, leads to stronger trust in government. If designed and executed properly, citizen participation in health policy generates positive outcomes, enhancing the legitimacy of health policy and that of government as a whole. The theoretical and policy implications of the empirical results are discussed with reference to the value of citizen participation and the political ramifications of social policies.

The Related Factors of Nurses' Participation and Perceived Benefits and Barriers in Health Policy Making.

Nurses play a critical role in providing good health services. The aim of this study was to examine the factors related to the participation of nurses in the provision of health services and the perceived benefits and barriers to their participation in health policy making. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in several hospitals affiliated with the Iran University of Medical Sciences during the first half of 2018 on a sample size of 220 people. A standard, self-management questionnaire was used to collect the data, and SPSS 21.0 software was used for data analysis. None of the demographic characteristics were found to be significantly associated with nurse participation in or the perceived barriers and benefits to health policy making. The results of this study show that the participants were involved only moderately in health policy making. "Providing written reports on problems or receiving consultation from a related official" was the performance item most frequently cited by the participants in terms of involvement, whereas "Disappointment in work procedures" was the most frequently cited barrier item affecting involvement. Despite the importance of the nursing role in health polices, this study indicates that nurses participate at only a moderate level in health policy-making activities. Providing more information to nurses regarding health policies, enhancing nurses' image of their job and their perceptions about the importance of their participation in the health policy, increasing partnerships with nurses at the upper levels of health services management, and supporting nursing professional organizations in the field of health policy are potential strategies for encouraging greater nursing participation in health policy making.

From primary health care to universal health coverage—one step forward and two steps back

Primary health care (PHC), codified at the historic 1978 Alma Ata Conference, was advocated as the means to achieve health for all by the year 2000. 1 WHOUNICEFDeclaration of Alma-Ata. International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR. https://www.who.int/publications/almaata_declaration_en.pdfDate: 6–12 September 1978 Date accessed: June 28, 2019 Google Scholar The principles of PHC included universal access and equitable coverage; comprehensive care emphasising disease prevention and health promotion; community and individual participation in health policy, planning, and provision; intersectoral action on health determinants; and appropriate technology and cost-effective use of available resources. 2 Bryant JH Richmond JB Alma-Ata and primary health care: an evolving story. in: International encyclopedia of public health. Academic Press/Elsevier, Cambridge, MA2008: 152-174 Crossref Scopus (8) Google Scholar These principles were to inform health-care provision at all levels of the health system and the programmatic elements of PHC that focused primarily on maternal and child health, communicable diseases, and local social and environmental issues. PHC emphasised community participation through a network of workers at all levels who would be trained both “socially and technically”. 1 WHOUNICEFDeclaration of Alma-Ata. International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR. https://www.who.int/publications/almaata_declaration_en.pdfDate: 6–12 September 1978 Date accessed: June 28, 2019 Google Scholar

Advocacy 101: Engaging Rheumatology Fellows in Health Policy and Advocacy.

Rheumatology fellowship programs lack formal curricular content to educate trainees about legislative and regulatory health care policies that have a profound impact on academic and community practices. Advocacy 101 was created as a program to address this gap and engage fellows-in-training (FIT) in health advocacy efforts. A web-based survey was sent via the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) FIT listserve in July 2015 and April 2016. The survey queried respondents about their knowledge of and participation in health policy and advocacy. Survey results guided the design of an educational program called Advocacy 101 for FIT and program directors in conjunction with the ACR Advocates for Arthritis fly-in meeting. The survey response rate increased from 19% in 2015 (95 of 500 FIT) to 39% in 2016 (231 of 595 FIT). In 2015, the top reason for nonparticipation in health policy and advocacy efforts (64% of respondents) was lack of knowledge on how to get involved. This reason decreased to 39% of respondents in 2016. Other barriers to participation included lack of time and familiarity with the issues. Over the 2 years, FIT identified patient access to medication and insurance, and physician reimbursement as important advocacy issues. All participants of Advocacy 101 reported an increase in knowledge of health policy and the intent to stay involved. FIT regard health policy issues as important, but many are uncertain of how to participate in advocacy. Advocacy 101 is the first program designed to educate and engage rheumatology FIT in health policy and advocacy endeavors.

Cancer patients’ organisation participation in heath policy decision-making: a snapshot/cluster analysis of the EU-28 countries

ObjectivesEven though patient involvement in health policy decision-making is well documented, studies evaluating the degree and impact of this participation are scarce. This is even more conspicuous in the case...

Health Democracy Index: Development and Validation of a Self-Reported Instrument for Measuring Patient Participation in Health Policy.

Introduction: Patient participation has emerged as a preponderant theme in contemporary health and healthcare; however there is a dearth of research on the degree and impact of collective patient participation on shaping health policy. In this frame, the current study endeavored to validate a scale for assessing patients' association (PA) participation in health policy processes. Furthermore, PAs' participation in health policy decision making in Greece was explored.Materials and Methods: The Health Democracy Index (HDI) is an eight-item scale enquiring about PAs' participation in important facets of health policy. To investigate its psychometric properties, 414 members of PAs in Greece were randomly recruited. By employing a self-reported questionnaire, construct validity was examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, while convergent validity was investigated through an additional question asking respondents to rate the degree of their association's participation in health policy processes. Moreover, the internal consistency of the scale and its test-retest reliability were explored.Results: The scale showed high internal consistency (Cronbach a = 0.85) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.89, p < 0,001). Exploratory factor analysis suggested a unidimensional construct; while confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate fit of the one-factor model (RMSEA = 0.079, CFI = 0.976, and GFI = 0.972). Regarding convergent validity, the HDI composite score displayed strong and positive correlation with the item asking respondents to rate the degree of PA participation in health policy processes (rho = 0.73, p < 0.0001). Concerning the pattern of results in Greece, PAs' participation was found to be low. The lowest level was observed for the item enquiring about PA participation in the national parliament and the highest for panels at influential health-related organizations.Conclusion: The HDI is a valid and reliable tool that can be utilized to serve policy-related as well as research purposes. PAs' participation in Greece is weak and thus efforts should be made to enhance it.