Policy Content Research Articles

Pharmaceutical industry payments to healthcare professional organisations in the United Kingdom: a seven-year cross-sectional analysis of the Disclosure UK database from 2015 to 2021

Objectives This study aimed to examine the size and trends in payments from the pharmaceutical industry to healthcare professional organisations (HPOs) in the United Kingdom (UK), and to characterise the conflict of interest (COI) management plans by HPOs who received large payments. Design Cross-sectional analysis of non-research payments disclosed in the Disclosure UK database from 2015 to 2021. Setting United Kingdom. Participants 148 pharmaceutical companies disclosing payment data and HPOs receiving the largest payments. Main outcome measures Total value and median of payments per HPO; existence and content of COI policies among HPOs receiving the largest payments. Results A total of 898 HPOs received non-research payments worth £99.9 million (17.4% of non-research payments to all healthcare organisations). The median seven-year payment per HPO was £4509 (interquartile range: £943–£30,360). The annual payments nearly doubled from £9.3 million in 2015 to £17.6 million in 2021. Event payments constituted the largest share (£68.2 million, 68.2%). HPOs representing physicians received over 91.5% (£91.5 million) of all payments, while those related to endocrinology and diabetology – 16.3% (£16.3 million). Over 59.9% (£59.9 million) went to the 30 top-funded HPOs, of which only 17 (56.7%) had a publicly accessible COI policy. However, just 6 (35.3%) of these policies included provisions for payments from external organisations. Conclusions HPOs received nearly one-fifth of pharmaceutical company payments to the UK healthcare sector. These payments were concentrated among a small number of HPOs, which often lacked effective policies for management of COI and payments from the industry.

Youth Work in the Republic of Kazakhstan: State and Prospects of Development

The purpose of this article is to analyze the state and prospects of development of youth work in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The analysis of scientific and methodological literature on the subject under study is carried out, the works of many well-known Kazakh and international scientists are studied. The article presents the content of youth policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and analyses the features of the implementation of youth work programmes in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The shortcomings of the implementation of youth policy programs are expressed and ways to improve these programs are considered.

Unveiling the roadblocks: exploring substance use disorder treatment policies in Iran through a qualitative lens.

Different countries, including Iran, have implemented various policies to address substance use disorder. This study aims to describe the policies related to substance use disorder treatment and identify challenges related to these policies in Iran since the beginning of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. This qualitative study utilized document analysis and interviews with policymakers and implementers. We reviewed a total of 22 documents related to substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction. The results from document analysis complemented and validated the interview data. The research population comprised policymakers and implementers, including individuals directly involved in formulating and implementing substance use disorder treatment policies. Purposive sampling was employed, with a snowball strategy utilized to maximize diversity. Data saturation was achieved after conducting 32 semi-structured interviews. Conventional content analysis was used for data analysis. In general, the policy landscape for substance use disorder treatment in the Islamic Republic of Iran can be divided into two periods: the "Moral Model" era (1979-1993) and the "Disease Model" era (1993-present). Challenges within the content of substance use disorder treatment policies in Iran encompass the lack of law revisions, existence of contradictions in laws and nature of disease, the absence of evidence-based policymaking, and an inadequate comprehensive perspective on the phenomenon of substance use disorder. The presence of multiple authorities with different perspectives on substance use disorder and its treatment, coupled with the application of personal preferences in policymaking and the absence of evidence-based policymaking, have contributed to weaknesses in decision-making and policy formulation. The true philosophy of Disease Model appears not to have been fully grasped by health policymakers in Iran, as all Disease Model policies have been pursued with an emphasis on abstinence and quitting. Iran and other nations facing similar challenges should place more reliance on evidence-based approaches and shift away from the "Moral Model" paradigm to develop more effective substance use disorder treatment policies.

Towards value‐based rehabilitation: an analysis of South African policies for people with disabilities

AbstractSouth Africa has progressively established good healthcare policies and actively promotes the rights of people with disabilities. However, as the healthcare sector is moving towards value‐based care to achieve universal health coverage, it remains unclear whether South African rehabilitation policies provide sufficient guidance for delivering value‐based rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. This article attempts to ascertain whether the content of South African rehabilitation policies is aligned with value‐based care. Rehabilitation policies were identified through a literature search (including grey literature) and discussions with stakeholders in the health policy field. A framework for value‐based care was created for deductive policy content analysis. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to describe the content that correlates with the framework's components. The National Rehabilitation Policy and the Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation Services were included in this study. Both documents aligned with the value‐based framework, however, various barriers in South Africa challenge value‐based rehabilitation services. We conclude that South Africa's rehabilitation policies can guide value‐based rehabilitation services. However, these policies need to be operationalized and supported by empirical data on disability and rehabilitation services. A concerted effort is required from the government to ensure the allocation of resources for the implementation of policy.

Textual Analysis of China’s Environmental Policies from the Perspective of Policy Instruments

Environmental governance cannot be separated from scientific and rational policy guidelines, and content analysis of environmental governance policy texts helps to understand the characteristics of existing policies and improve policy design. Using policy bibliometric and content analysis, this study analyses the environmental governance policy texts issued by China’s central government from 2018 to 2023, constructs an analytical framework that combines types of policy instruments and environmental governance cycles, and is devoted to exploring the key hotspots, design features, and development logics of the policy system. The study finds that China’s environmental governance policy instruments show characteristics of the synergistic development of diversified regulatory instruments, but focus on the use of environmentally based policy instruments, with relatively few supply-based and demand-based policy instruments. Furthermore, they focus on the prevention of environmental pollution in advance, with relatively little attention paid to post-pollution governance and the construction of the governance guarantee system, and the use of economic instruments remains limited. Accordingly, this paper puts forward relevant policy recommendations to provide valuable reference and guidance for the future development of China’s environmental governance.

Elderly Citizenship Experience under Different Pension Policies: A Comparative Analysis of China and Japan

Abstract: As global population structures change rapidly, the social rights and welfare of the elderly have increasingly become a focal point of societal concern. Pension policies not only address economic issues but also encompass welfare levels, social equity, citizenship rights, and identity. This paper explores the impact of different pension policies on the citizenship experience of the elderly by comparing the pension systems of China and Japan. The study is based on pension policy documents and related data from both countries and employs a comparative social policy analysis. The comparison is conducted conceptually, focusing on the scope, content, and depth of the pension policies in China and Japan, in order to reflect on the elderly's citizenship experience in both nations. The research highlights that Chinas pension policy features a single-tier structure with limited autonomy and marked urban-rural disparities, which restrict the citizenship experience of the elderly. In contrast, Japans retirement policy is characterized by mandatory participation, clear responsibilities, and a multi-tiered structure, providing broader coverage and more comprehensive social rights and a sense of identity for the elderly. However, this system also brings about noticeable class divisions.

Ensuring Safe Practice by Late Career Physicians: Institutional Policies and Implementation Experiences.

Late career physicians (LCPs; physicians working beyond age 65 to 75 years) may be at higher risk for delivering unsafe care. To oversee LCPs, some health care organizations (HCOs) have adopted LCP policies requiring cognitive, physical, and practice performance screening assessments. Despite recent controversies, little is known about the content and implementation of such policies. To characterize key features of LCP policies and the perspectives of medical leaders responsible for policy development and implementation. Mixed-methods study using content analysis and key informant interviews. 29 U.S. HCOs with LCP policies active in 2020. 21 purposively sampled interviewees in physician leadership roles at 18 HCOs. Descriptive statistics of policy features and content analysis of interviews. Although policies had many commonalities-mandatory universal screening at a trigger age around 70 years, a strategy of screening followed by in-depth assessment of positive results, and commitment to patient safety as the key motive-they varied substantially in the testing required, funding, processes after a positive screening result, and decision making around concerning results. Policies prioritized institutional discretion in interpreting and responding to test results; many lacked clear language about appeals or other procedural protections for physicians. Leaders were generally satisfied with policies but reported preemptive retirements as physicians approached the screening age and cautioned that substantial investment in cultivating physicians' buy-in was required for successful rollout. Sampled policies and interviews may not be representative of all HCOs. The analysis excluded the experiences of HCOs that tried and failed to implement LCP screening. Policies about LCPs are considered successful by institutional leaders. Policy variations and early adopters' implementation experiences highlight opportunities to improve physician acceptance and program rigor. The Greenwall Foundation.

Implementasi Perizinan Pendirian Rumah Ibadah Kota Surabaya

This research is motivated by how the licensing of the construction of houses of worship to the applicant, this research needs to be done to find out how the implementation of licensing the establishment of houses of worship in the city of Surabaya through various stakeholders such as FKUB, KEMENAG, BAKESBANGPOL, and DPRKPP. The theory used in this research is the implementation theory of Marilee S. Grindle and this theory is measured by two dimensions and nine indicators. The policy content dimension has indicators including the interests that influence, the type of benefits, the degree of change to be achieved, the location of decision making, program implementation, and the sources of resources used. The implementation environment dimension includes three indicators including the power, interests and strategies of the actors involved, the characteristics of the ruling institutions and regimes, and the level of compliance and response from implementers. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. The results showed that the implementation of licensing for the establishment of houses of worship in Surabaya City can be said to be less successful, this is indicated by 99 houses of worship that get recommendations but only 3 places of worship that take care of their IMB, where 2 worship services have obtained IMB status and 1 house of worship needs to take care of the files to be re-submitted.

Evaluating Ecosystem Services Incorporation in River Policy: A Multidimensional Framework Applied to China's River Chief System

ABSTRACTThis study develops a comprehensive evaluation framework to assess the incorporation of river ecosystem services (ESs) into policy content, focusing on China's River Chief System (RCS) policy. The framework introduces a quantitative tool that bridges the gap between policy formulation evaluation and policy effect evaluation by integrating a hierarchical indicator system, reference values, and a method for quantifying ES incorporation. Key findings from 32 province‐level RCS policy documents revealed selective incorporation of certain ES indicators, significant mismatches between policy focus and the typical structure of river ESs, and notable regional disparities. Provisioning services (i.e., water supply) and regulating services (i.e., pollution mitigation) are prioritized, while critical regulating services (e.g., flood mitigation and habitat maintenance) and cultural services (e.g., education and science) are underrepresented. Stakeholder and relationship indicators are limited, primarily focusing on managers and spatial relationships, while the value of river ESs is largely ignored. Policy optimization should emphasize expanding the coverage of ESs, incorporating broader stakeholder involvement, and integrating financial incentives. Drawing on international river policies, policymakers could create a more flexible and adaptive river governance structure. While the study offers a quantitative framework for policy evaluation, it acknowledges limitations, including reliance on textual data and potential biases in the reference values. Future research should include stakeholder perspectives and dynamically adjust reference values as new data become available.

Analyzing the Phenomenon of Policy Support for the Education and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Based on the Groupthink Model--Take Hunan Province as an Example

In recent years, the Hunan Provincial government has adopted a series of support measures in the education and employment policies for the disabled. The study focused on the education and employment policy for the disabled in Hunan Province, and used the groupthink model. The study found that there are blind spots in the process of policy formulation and implementation, and the lack of attention to the overall needs of persons with disabilities, resulting in incomplete content and poor implementation. The internal differences and interaction of the disabled affect the support effect, the policy content is limited, the implementation of resistance, and the one-sided evaluation. Policy makers need to pay attention to diverse voices and practical needs, and avoid fixed thinking and prejudice. This study helps to reveal the negative impact of groupthinks on the formulation of education and employment policies for the disabled, provide warnings and reference for policy makers, promote policy innovation and improvement, and promote the inclusive and diverse development of social culture.

Policy Information Communication in Shanghai’s 15-Minute Community Living Circle--Taking Jing’an District as an Example

This paper examines the communication strategies of the “15-minute community life circles” policy in Shanghai Jing’an District. The study highlights the critical role of effective information dissemination in fostering public understanding and engagement with the policy. Analyzing current communication channels, including online platforms such as WeChat and Weibo, the paper identifies key challenges such as inadequate coverage, low public awareness, and insufficient interaction between policy content and residents’ daily lives. The paper also critiques the reliance on traditional media, which may not effectively reach younger demographics. Recommendations are provided to enhance the policy’s communication, including diversifying media channels, tailoring content to specific audience segments, and integrating more interactive and relatable narratives. By improving these aspects, the policy can better achieve its goal of creating sustainable, well-connected communities that meet the needs of all residents. This study underscores the importance of adaptive and responsive communication strategies in the successful implementation of public policies.

Application of the One Health Surveillance (OHS) Matrix to Evaluate the Disease Surveillance Systems in Gujarat, India: A Policy Content Analysis.

An effective disease surveillance system can detect outbreaks of emerging zoonotic diseases early and allow the system to respond immediately and control the epidemic. Gujarat is a western Indian state with a population of more than 65million humans and 26million livestock, and it has the respective surveillance systems under the Department of Health & Family Welfare for humans and the Department of Animal Husbandry for animals. A veterinarian is placed on establishing cross-sectoral collaborations between these systems, but the joint collaborative activities and their effect on the early warning response are least understood. This provides an opportunity to conduct a secondary policy content analysis study using the One Health Surveillance Matrix (OHSM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of collaboration among human-animal disease surveillance systems for zoonotic disease in Gujarat, India. This study findings highlight a few gaps in the human health surveillance system, such as data sharing, sampling, outreach to decision-makers, and external communication, while the animal health surveillance system exhibits deficiencies in the data dissemination to decision-makers, management and storage of data analysis, interpretation of data, and external communication as per the OHSM evaluation. Despite major differences, there is a possibility of developing the One Health Surveillance system in Gujarat, India which is profoundly documented in this study.

Variability in youth coach concussion education requirements across states.

Youth sports coaches play a critical role in proper concussion recognition and management, reinforcing the need for coach concussion education. As of 2021, most states have statutory and policy measures mandating concussion education for coaches. In practice, these mandates have been enacted through state legislatures and their respective youth sport governing bodies. Prior studies have found significant variations in the contents of state-level concussion risk reduction policies and have raised questions about their specificity. To expand on previous analyses to provide an overview of youth sports coach concussion education, highlighting variations in state policies and discrepancies between state mandates and youth sport governing bodies. This report utilized qualitative content analysis to characterize and compare U.S. state and governing body concussion education requirements for youth sport coaches. State concussion statutes were identified via the National Conference of State Legislatures and Open States databases, and governing body handbooks/bylaws were obtained via their websites. Two researchers independently coded the policies, and discrepancies were resolved through consensus meetings with additional youth traumatic brain injury experts. We found significant variability in educational requirements and their implementation. A majority (68%; n = 34) of states require the completion of concussion education training for coaches. Notably, many states designate responsibility for enforcement and implementation of provisions to another party but just four state statutes delineate explicit consequences for noncompliance. Additionally, only 12 state statutes extend mandates to noninterscholastic sports, limiting their reach. In most cases, independent sanctioning authorities implement more stringent policies than the minimum acceptable standard established by state law. Our findings provide a coded data set of youth coach concussion laws and independent sanctioning authority guidelines that can be used in future research efforts. Further research investigating a relationship between the strength of coach concussion education policies and relevant youth and adolescent concussion-related metrics is required.

The United States is a messianic state: rhetorical roots in US foreign policy since 1991

ABSTRACT How do we explain the United States’ interventionist mindset in the international system since 1991? Since the end of the Cold War and the subsequent unipolar moment, America has actively promoted democracy and human rights globally. However, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban’s subsequent takeover prompts us to re-think the ideological roots of interventionism between 1991 and 2021. Scholars have taken two broad positions on how they view America: an empire or a hegemon. In this article, I suggest that two conceptions help explain the US actions and behaviour in the international system but do not explicitly outline the rhetorical roots of the US intentions. Drawing on historical instances of messianic tendencies in the global political structure, this paper argues that a messianic state is a nation-state that assumes the global responsibility of saving societies from an impending threat. As a messianic state, the US has used the discursive logic of saving others by drawing on American exceptionalism and the global vision of democratic peace. The messianic content in American foreign policy matured between 1991 and 2010, but it has been in steep decline since 2015 with the rise of China and American inwardness.

Green Supply Chain Technology Innovation and Enterprise Synergy in the Context of Sustainable Development: Challenges and Strategie

This study explores the synergistic development between technological innovation and enterprises in green logistics supply chains from the sustainable development perspective. The study first introduces the latest progress of China's environmental policies and technological innovation and analyses the importance and necessity of green logistics supply chain management. Subsequently, through case studies and theoretical research, this paper discusses the policies and regulations of green supply chain management, collaborative management among enterprises, and the development path of technological innovation. It further analyses the contents of policies and regulations, enterprise collaboration management, and technological innovation in green logistics supply chain management. It proposes strategies and suggestions to solve problems by combining cases and theories. Finally, this study summarises the development status of green logistics supply chain management. It looks forward to future development trends, emphasizing that more enterprises should strengthen cooperation to jointly promote green logistics supply chains, environmental protection, and sustainable economic and social development.

A Guideline for Local Elderly Policy Development in Thailand

In previous local elder policy research, most studies were fragmented with only some subjects or some steps in the policy process and attention to the local policy process not included explicitly. This article aims to analyze Thai local elderly policy formulation, implementation and evaluation and to propose guidelines for Thai local elderly policy development. This was a qualitative study. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with 40 key informants from 5 local case studies and 8 national organizations, as well as observations and documentary studies. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and analytic induction. For the policy content dimensions, the guidelines of policy content development of the case studies aim to make senior citizens happy, self-sufficient, and physically and mentally healthy. The means to achieve this are comprised of the following:1) an economic, career, and income stability dimension; 2) a health dimension; and 3) a social dimension. For the policy process dimensions, the guideline of policy formulation comprises of the following: the related national policy dimension, including developing the mindset of policy actors, developing the content of policies with clarity that is up-to-date and congruent with key agreements or related principles, and developing a participation process and communication of the policy. The local policy dimension is locally aged society strategic planning based on strategic management and objectives and key results (OKRs) derived from the results of data analysis, integration of public policy theory, resource-based view in strategic management theory, and objective and key results to reduce the limitations of the public policy theory and model. This comprises developing policy actors’ mindsets, competencies, and motivations, collecting information, creating participation for analyzing and formulating direction, and making local elderly society strategic plans. The guidelines of policy implementation comprise the following: creating knowledge and understanding, organizing a central organization, implementing a strategic plan, formulating strategies for implementing and integrating amicable coordination of networks, seeking and allocating tangible and intangible resources, developing competencies of local government personnel, network partners, and target groups, creating and developing a culture supporting the aged society, and creating internal and external motivation. The guidelines of policy evaluation comprise the following: the development of the evaluation competency, the growth and ethical mindset, and the development of a participatory local policy evaluation system. Based on the results of this study, the guidelines focus on the intangible resources, the internal motivation, the mindset of policy actors, the coordination and strength of networks, and the upper-level policy factors.

“I Don’t Know Whether It’s Priority, or Capacity, or Both”: Implementation Gaps in Employment Policies Targeting People with Disabilities in Kenya and Bangladesh

Disabled people are often excluded from employment, particularly in accessing waged employment. This exclusion persists despite enabling policies and legislature, indicating a need to address gaps in implementation. To improve policy implementation, it is crucial to better understand the gap between policy intention (what was planned) and effect (what happens), including reasons that widen this gap (what explains what happened). This study explores this in the context of Kenya and Bangladesh, drawing on key informant interviews and analysis of policies and programmes related to employment, social protection, and disability. Using the policy triangle framework, we analysed the policy context, process, actors, and content of relevant policies and programmes. The study identified key policy provisions on employment quota, social assistance, job placement services, tax incentives, and training opportunities, all of which were designed to promote employment for disabled people. However, implementation is limited in both countries, for reasons including ambiguity in policies, unavailability of data for monitoring, and lack of transparency among implementers. The data suggest that addressing these aspects would promote accountability among duty-bearers, advocacy power among rights-holders, and ultimately improve implementation and inclusion of disabled people in employment.

A Multi-State Examination of School District Policies to Address Teen Dating Violence.

In 2021, 13.6% of United States (U.S.) high school students reported experiencing teen dating violence (TDV). Most states have at least one law for addressing TDV in high schools through policies and/or educational programs. Limited research has been done to analyze the content and variability of school district TDV policies across the U.S., and its association with TDV victimization. Twenty-three large urban school districts across the U.S. were included in the analysis. School district TDV policies were obtained through an online search and were coded for the presence or absence of information pertaining to the scope, prevention education, response to TDV, and implementation of the policy. Self-reported TDV victimization was also obtained for each school district from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Overall, 18 school districts had a written TDV policy available online, with 15 school districts defining TDV in the policy. In terms of prevention education, only two school districts used culturally responsive language for diverse populations in the policy. Although 17 school districts included disciplinary consequences for TDV perpetration in the policy, only 6 school districts specified the consequences. All school districts with a TDV policy designated a liaison for TDV coordination. Overall, the prevalence and odds of self-reported TDV victimization was higher in school districts without a TDV policy compared to school districts with a TDV policy. Although most of the school districts had a TDV policy, there was substantial variation in the content of these TDV policies. Identifying and addressing gaps in school district TDV policies can potentially lead schools to preventing and responding to TDV more comprehensively, ultimately creating safer school environments.

Совершенствование подхода к управлению мерами государственной поддержки предприятий в ходе реализации промышленной политики

Issues of the effectiveness of the implementation of industrial policy and measures of state support for industrial enterprises have reached the level of state strategic decisions in connection with the emergence of new external and internal challenges facing Russia today. The main problem that urgently needs to be solved is the development of mechanisms for implementing state policy in terms of the application of state support measures in the context of ongoing sanctions and political pressure. The authors of the article presented an evolutionary cross-section of the content of industrial policy, provided criteria for classifying its instruments and forms of implementation through a description of government support measures. Consideration of industrial policy from the historical and functional side at the macro- and meso- levels (specific territory and specific industry) contributed to the systematization of government support measures for industrial enterprises. The relevance of the research interest is related to the fact that with a significant number of publications in Russia and abroad concerning the issues of improving industrial policy and measures of state impact on industrial facilities, the problem of appropriate effective methodological and practical support for the management of state support measures remains unsolved. The article presents a systematization of state support measures for industrial enterprises, a critical analysis of the methodology for selecting enterprises receiving state support, an assessment of the results of the implementation of the applied system of support measures, as well as the reasons for the gap between the stated goals of industrial policy and its actual results. In this scientific article, the authors propose to improve the approach to assessing enterprises that are recipients of government support in order to ensure that their choices comply with the goals of industrial policy.

Topic identification and content analysis of internet medical policies under the background of Healthy China 2030.

This study aims to analyse the content of internet medical policies, grasp the inherent laws of the development of internet medical policies and provide references for improving the policy system. On the basis of web crawler technology, 436 internet medical policies issued by the central and local governments after the Healthy China Strategy was proposed were collected. The BERTopic model was used to extract topics, and a comprehensive analysis of China's internet medical policy texts was conducted through the analysis of topic content, topic hierarchy and topic clusters. A total of 27 topics were identified in China's internet medical policies, mainly focussing on five topic clusters: medical service regulation, elderly nursing and children's healthcare using traditional Chinese medicine, user safety guarantees, health education and communication and infectious disease treatment and recovery guidance. Different topic contents play a role in promoting the comprehensive and standardized development of internet medical services. However, there is still room for further improvement in policy integrity, consideration of multiple types of users, and implementation effectiveness. Continuous efforts are needed to optimize the effectiveness of policies.