Policy Laboratory Research Articles

2.A. Practice session: Policy labs: getting public health research into policy and practice

Abstract The process of translating health research into policy and practice benefits is often too slow, taking an average of 17 years globally. Additionally, health policy changes fail when they have an inadequate understanding of the communities and challenges they seek to address. The Policy Institute at King’s College London has developed an innovative ‘Policy Lab’ method, which convenes diverse policy and practice stakeholders such as health workers, patients and policymakers, to discuss a policy challenge, assess the evidence and co-produce viable policy options. The proposed workshop introduces this method in a practical, impactful session aimed at helping participants from any country and research background mobilise their research to improve health outcomes. Policy Labs have been shown to be highly successful method. Previous Policy Lab outcomes include influencing changes to the Mental Health Act in the UK, new international guidance on treatment of type 2 diabetes, and a global coalition on paying for prevention in dentistry. The method can be adapted to different health challenges and considers the potential for change in local, national and international arenas. The workshop teaches this method in a way that enables researchers to apply it to their own work, harnessing the potential of research to improve health outcomes. Objectives of the workshop The workshop aims to teach people the skills to design and run a Policy Lab so that they can better mobilise their research into policy and practice. Participants will learn To develop policy-relevant questions from their research; Stakeholder mapping; To design a policy lab agenda; To develop a research engagement plan. What is the added value of the workshop? The workshop teaches an innovative method that helps researchers greatly increase the policy impact from their work. It provides attendees with practical tools to employ in their own work and bridge gaps between their research and policy and practice changes. The format of the workshop will involve a short presentation on Policy Labs by facilitators, followed by four brief interactive activities for participants, as follows: Facilitator presentation: (10 mins) Introducing the Policy Lab method; Group work 1: (10 mins) Developing a policy-relevant question; Group work 2: (10 mins) Stakeholder mapping; Group work 3: (10 mins) Designing a lab agenda; Group work 4: (10 mins) Developing a research engagement plan. We have allowed 10 minutes to adapt to any arising demands, as well as to bring the session to a close with some key messages. Participants will be guided by the facilitators, and we will use template handouts for participants to complete during the session to reinforce learning. The handouts also ensure that those who wish to work independently rather than in groups may do so if preferred, and will provide participants with the practical tools necessary should be they arrive late or need to leave early. Key messages • Policy Labs are an effective way for researchers to have policy and practice impact with their work. • Participants will learn how to run a successful Policy Lab, and improve their research impact.

Introducing the Policy Lab Method

Abstract The workshop will begin with a brief presentation providing an overview of the Policy Lab method. The presentation will address how to develop a policy-relevant question from research, introduce stakeholder mapping, and introduce techniques for designing a lab agenda and engagement material. This introductory presentation will lay the groundwork for the practical sections of the workshop in which participants will explore these techniques.

Changes in integration and wellbeing by educational background among migrants in Kristiansand

Abstract Background Integration levels and wellbeing of newly arrived migrants change according to their everyday activities in their new home country. Although migrants have very different educational backgrounds and expectations regarding work in Norway, the compulsory educational activities are the same for all, disregarding their educational background. Aims To examine the changes in integration and wellbeing among newly arrived migrants participating in a compulsory integration program in Norway, according to their educational background. Methods As part of the Integration for Health project (I4H) we collected information from participants in Kristiansand municipality through a self-filled questionnaire in 2023 (N = 102) repeated six months apart, including questions from the Immigrant Policy Lab Index and the WHO-5 Well Being Index. For both screening tools, higher scores indicate better integration and wellbeing. Information on educational background was dichotomized into either health or non-health (natural and technical) sciences, using health sciences as the reference. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age and gender. Results The mean age was 34 years (SD 8.3) and 59% were women. Mean residency time was 3 years (SD 0.14). In terms of education, 14% had health sciences, and 86% had other educational backgrounds. We did not find change in wellbeing over the six-month period (RR 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.1), and this trend was similar for both educational groups (RR 0.9 (95% CI 0.8-1.1). Integration score slightly increased after six months (RR 1.0 (95% CI 1.0-1.1). However, there was no difference by educational background (RR 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.0). Conclusions Changes in wellbeing and integration among participants in the compulsory introductory program with short residency time, do not seem to vary by educational background in a six-month period. Key messages • Schools and introductory programs in the host country can be used as a arena to enhance both the integration and wellbeing of newly arrived migrants. • Strengthening migrants’ educational opportunities in the new host country is also of importance.

Living policy Labs: A case study of collaborative dialogue about social protection to alleviate grievances and facilitate peaceful outcomes in Egypt

Social protection may be regarded as the conduit for governments to end poverty (SDG1) and in turn maintain civil order/peace. However, how social protectionis conceptualized alongside poverty ideology (who/what causes it and whose responsibility it is to relieve it) can negatively impact the development of social protection programs to the extent that they do not meet the social and economic needs of beneficiaries/end-users. Underpinning these views are social and political dynamics that reflect a wide range of sometimes opposing interests and social divisions. Thus, social protection inadvertently risks becoming a conduit to conflict rather than peace. In this paper we report on a living policy lab (LPL) we developed in Cairo (Egypt) to help mitigate this risk. The aim of the LPL was to facilitate dialogue between various stakeholders to support collaboration towards policy-making. First, we present an in-depth review of extant literature, discussing the viability of a ‘living policy lab’ approach to social policy making in MENA countries such as Egypt that are susceptible to conflict. Using Egypt as our focus, we critically outline its evolution of non-targeted to targeted programs and initiatives to alleviate poverty, arguing that they have been reactive and piecemeal rather than thought through (except for the universal health insurance system). We then examine findings from a project in Egypt involving a series of interrelated living policy labs (2018–2019) on social protection reform that involved a range of social actors. The aim was to explore whether, as a design process, the approach might offer an alternative shared power model that facilitates agreed policy priorities and in so doing mediates peace. In this way, we add to the scholarship on social protection by considering to what extent new approaches to policy making in contexts of conflict can support more sustainable and peace-promoting social protection interventions. We end the paper by providing recommendations in terms of research, policy and practice particularly in relation tofuture possibilities for consultative design theory.

Policy Lab as an engagement tool for improving pre-eclampsia management in a high-burden setting

Policy Lab as an engagement tool for improving pre-eclampsia management in a high-burden setting

Disseminating key messages from a policy lab in Sierra Leone: A national pre-eclampsia awareness campaign

Disseminating key messages from a policy lab in Sierra Leone: A national pre-eclampsia awareness campaign

A Policy Lab to accelerate translation of novel research into policy to improve timely detection and appropriate action in care of women with Pre-eclampsia in Sierra Leone

A Policy Lab to accelerate translation of novel research into policy to improve timely detection and appropriate action in care of women with Pre-eclampsia in Sierra Leone

Understanding Labor Market Discrimination Against Transgender People: Evidence from a Double List Experiment and a Survey

Using a double list experiment designed to elicit views free from social desirability bias, we find that support in the United States for transgender people in the labor market is significantly overreported by 8%–10%. After correcting for this overreporting, we still find that over two-thirds of respondents would be comfortable with a transgender manager and support employment nondiscrimination protection for transgender people. However, respondents severely underestimate this level of support. We also show that stated labor market support for transgender people is lower than support for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Our results advance our understanding of employment discrimination against transgender people. This paper was accepted by Marie Claire Villeval, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: Financial support from The Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. is gratefully acknowledged. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.02567 .

Association of integration with oral health among Indian migrants living in the Netherlands.

Limited data exist about the relationship between acculturation and oral health. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the association of integration with self-reported oral health, behaviours, and oral healthcare utilization among Indian migrants living in the Netherlands, a cross sectional survey study. Between February and April 2021, a random sample from Dutch municipalities was obtained for the Indian migrants living in the Netherlands (n = 147). A validated questionnaire was used to collect information on independent variables, namely socio-demographic, integration assessment tool: Immigration Policy Lab (IPL-12) and everyday discrimination scale (EDS). The outcome variables were self-reported oral health, oral health behaviours, and oral healthcare utilization. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the associations. Higher integration among Indian migrants was associated with longer stay in the Netherlands, having a Dutch passport, intention to settle in the Netherlands, and having a permanent residence. After adjusting for covariates such as age, gender, marital status, education, income, occupation, and dental insurance, regression analysis showed that Indians with higher integration had lower odds of reporting their oral health as fair to poor [OR = 0.92(95%CI:0.0.85;0.99)] than the Indians with low integration scores. Also, Indians with higher integration had lower odds of using a manual toothbrush as compared to an electric toothbrush or use of both [OR = 0.86(95%CI:0.76;0.97)]. Highly integrated Indians had lower odds of consuming Indian sweets than lower integrated Indians (OR = 0.91; 95%CI:0.86;0.97). Indians with higher integration had 1.15 times (95% CI:1.03;1.29) higher odds of visiting a Dutch dental professional than visiting a dentist in both places (India and the Netherlands). No significant association was found between discrimination and the three outcome variables. Integration is positively association with self-reported oral health outcomes among the Indian migrants. Measure to improve integration among Indian migrants may help to promote healthy oral health behaviours and improve their oral health care utilization.

Development Partner Involvement in Policy Lab Creation Analyzed Through Brazil’s “MindLab Project”

Development Partner Involvement in Policy Lab Creation Analyzed Through Brazil’s “MindLab Project”

State policy teams probe strategies to address crisis in children's care

This month's convening of child‐serving agency officials from nine states offered a rare opportunity for policy leaders in mental health, child welfare and Medicaid to strategize together toward system improvement. Attendees of the Children's Behavioral Health State Policy Lab reported that while the nine state teams identified some immediate steps that they can take to improve service coordination, the most impactful actions to improve child outcomes would likely take shape over a much longer period.

Presentation of the Public Policy Laboratory Design Model

Addressing the complexity of policymaking necessitates the establishment of a policy lab dedicated to formulating, implementing, and evaluating public policies. This research aims to explicate a design model for such policy laboratories. Given the absence of a theoretical framework in this domain, researchers conducted thematic analysis to identify the dimensions, components, and indicators of the policy laboratory design model. This analysis revealed four key dimensions: policy laboratory design antecedents, steps, design, and outcomes. Utilizing this model, policy experts can create a space with suitable infrastructure, personnel, and stakeholders, fostering innovative solutions for societal challenges. This facilitates interdisciplinary discourse among experts handling multifaceted societal issues. The study's value lies in enhancing policy development within the policy lab by leveraging its components and indicators.

Applying a logistics cluster typology in spatial planning for circularity: lessons from a Dutch policy lab

ABSTRACT The spatial planning of logistics is an emerging topic due to scarcity of land, environmental impacts and the transition to a circular economy. This paper proposes a policy information tool for these issues, including a new logistics cluster typology applied in suitability maps. The validity and applicability of this tool are tested in a Dutch policy lab. The analysis reveals two stakeholder views: one emphasising an informed multilevel dialogue and the other pointing to local freedom of decision making. Applicability can be improved by training, updating and deciding on a clear status of the tool in the policy process.

Policy labs on the fringes: boundary-spanning strategies for enhancing innovation uptake

Governments around the world are increasingly launching policy labs to break the alleged inertia of public bureaucracies. Operating on the fringes of their parent organizations, however, public policy labs often live a secluded life with little or no subsequent organizational adoption of lab-designed policies. This research examines how lab managers enhance policy innovation uptake through boundary-spanning strategies and practices connecting public policy labs to their bureaucratic parent organizations. Based on a qualitative study of three Danish public policy labs, it coins and conceptualizes three boundary-spanning strategies for enhancing policy innovation uptake: agenda linking, arena linking, and actor linking. Analyzing how the lab managers carry out each of these strategies in practice, the study shows their respective strengths and weaknesses in building political-administrative support for lab-designed policies on multiple levels of the public bureaucracy. The study findings suggest that lab managers must strike the right balance between under- and over-integration of policy labs in the public bureaucracy in order to enhance innovation uptake, connecting the lab to bureaucratic agendas, arenas, and actors, without compromising the integrity of the lab as a creative space for the experimental co-design of public policies. Conceptualizing managerial strategies and practices for bridging the gap between policy labs and public bureaucracies, the study contributes not only to policy lab theory and practice, but also to the mounting collaborative governance, management and leadership literatures on the tensions and dilemmas arising at the interface between hierarchical government and interactive governance.

What's going on in there? Canadian government policy labs and public value management

AbstractGovernment‐based policy labs have established themselves across the Canadian policy landscape. This article argues these labs contribute to public value management. We begin by reviewing the public value management literature, followed by Canadian contributions to the policy lab literature. Then, our inventory of 35 current Canadian government‐based policy labs is descriptively analyzed, including trends in spatial concentration, the tools and methods employed, their focus areas, the number of years in existence, and their primary role in the policy process. We randomly selected nine of these labs, provide more details of their activities, and present a preliminary public value management typology to analyze policy labs.

예비 교원의 디지털 역량 강화를 위한 독일과 한국의 교원양성과정 사례 비교 연구

This study aims to draw implications for research on teacher education programs in South Korea and through a comparison of teacher education programs for enhancing the digital competencies of pre-service teachers which have been actively researched and developed in Germany and South Korea in recent years. For this purpose, this study first analyzes the case of teacher education programs to enhance the digital competence of pre-service teachers in Germany by examing the background of the Project ‘Digitalization of Teacher Education’, the concept of digital competence being discussed in Germany, and the teacher education programs being piloted in two universities. This study then analyzes the case of teacher education programs to enhance the digital competence of pre-service teachers in South Korea by examing the background of the ‘AI EDucation Alliance and Policy lab’, the concept of digital competence being discussed in South Korea, and the proposed reform of the teacher education programs. Through the comparison of the cases of teacher education programs in the two countries, it found that there are some differences in the concept of digital competency which is being studied in the two countries, and the teacher education programs for enhancing digital competency. Based on these differences, this study concludes that research on digital competence should be conducted in a wider range of institutions and from a variety of perspectives and topics, that the concept of digital competence itself should be studied more in depth, and that teacher education programs should be improved to enhance the critical reflection competency of pre-service teachers.

Outh Participation in Local Process: Reflections of Bangsamoro Youth in Policymaking in Malaysia

This note details our reflections on participating in an academic visit and learning exchange on public policymaking in Malaysia. The Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA) at Universiti Malaya and The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority jointly organised the program. Our executive summary covers the event and includes reflections from BYC participants participating in the program and policy lab simulation. We want to thank Professor Dr Khadijah Md Khalid and her team at INPUMA for their impactful and intellectual contributions to the event. During the program, we also considered Malaysia's history of the peace process in Mindanao and the cultural exchange between Malaysians and Bangsamoro. We are grateful to the professors and speakers who have enriched our public policy, governance, and youth development knowledge. INPUMA's commitment to empowering the BYC is commendable, and we appreciate all those who contributed to the program's success. We would like to recognise the BYC Coordinator and their team for their exceptional efforts in coordinating logistics and ensuring a successful learning exchange. Their professionalism and dedication ensured that everyone had a productive and enriching experience.

From the Editors.

From the Editors.

HIV policy legacies, pandemic preparedness and policy effort to address COVID-19.

That the world was unprepared for a major infectious disease outbreak is now readily apparent to all credible observers. However, some countries were more prepared than others and we have seen a variety of responses to COVID-19 emerge across nations. While recognizing that the sources of variation in country responses to COVID-19 are many and varied, in this study we seek to examine how policy legacies from national responses to HIV have influenced countries' responses to COVID-19. The aim of this study was to examine whether countries with a more conducive HIV policy environment were better prepared for COVID-19 and have therefore had more preemptive and rights-based responses. Using data from the Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker, we develop measures of country effort to respond to COVID-19 including early containment and closure policies, prevention policies, economic policies, and health system policies. We combine this with data from the HIV Policy Lab and correlate overall and disaggregated country HIV Policy scores with COVID-19 Policy scores. We find that the COVID-19 Containment and Closure Measures Index was negatively correlated with supportive social policies related to HIV in the early stages of the pandemic, but the association did not persist as time went on. The COVID-19 Economic Support Measures had prolonged positive associations with supportive social policies related to HIV and negative association with clinical and treatment policies. Countries with stronger structural responses to HIV have been less inclined towards involuntary measures and more prepared for the social and economic elements of COVID-19 pandemic response.

Afghan immigrants in Western Australia: Divisions within the community and integration within the society

The integration process for immigrants is a multi-dimensional concept, influenced by a wide range of structural and individual factors, including social connections that immigrants make in the host society. An important part of this social connection can be developed with other co-nation immigrants within the immigrant community. However, this sometimes can be challenging due to the divisions that might exist within communities. Drawing on data with a mixed-method design, this study focuses on the Afghan community in Western Australia to understand, firstly, the relationship between Afghan immigrants’ social connections within their community and successful integration within Australian society, and secondly the causes of divisions and challenges within the community. To do this, the Immigration Policy Lab (IPL) Integration Index was used to measure the level of integration among 115 Afghan participants in the quantitative phase, with 18 interviews and two focus groups conducted in the qualitative phase, to understand Afghan experiences of divisions within their community. Findings show that there is a correlation between Afghans’ social connections within their community and the four dimensions of economic, social, linguistic, and navigational integration. Qualitative findings also showed the details of the challenges that Afghans face within their community due to ethnic/regional divisions as well as the challenges women face in the community.