scholarly journals 14.I. Workshop: Strengthening the impact of national health information systems in policy and practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract Health information (HI) includes data on population health, on health determinants, health care systems, and health-relevant policy developments. Duly prioritised HI is essential to inform decision-makers, researchers and the public. However, getting evidence into the hands of key stakeholders is still a challenge in many European countries. Depending on the respective target groups: decision-makers, clinical care providers, allied health professionals, health advocates and patients, various challenges arise for leveraging this data for intervention. While public health agencies aim to improve health for all, building bridges across stakeholder groups for a more efficient implementation of evidence-based recommendations requires concerted efforts and exchange of best practices and innovations in HI. This workshop aims to provide delegates with a clear understanding of the strategies that can strengthen the impact of national health information systems (HIS) in policy and practice. Within InfAct, the EU Joint Action on Health Information (InfAct), EU-Member States have taken significant steps towards building such an integrated infrastructure to advance the use of HI for analysis, decision-making and intervention. Five case examples of this consortium will be presented. The objectives are two-fold: 1) to provide delegates with an overview of the latest developments in public health reporting and monitoring across European countries, and 2) to present solutions that focus on strengthening the impact of national HIS in policy and practice. The workshop will begin with an introduction to national strategies that have been implemented across Europe to identify and prioritise HI needs; good practice recommendations for public health reporting will also be provided. At EU level, the 88 European Core Health Indicators (ECHI) have been widely adopted to provide a 'snapshot' of European public health (including care), and we will explore the future of the ECHI list in guiding decision-makers. There is also increasing interest on how to facilitate the uptake of evidence in the health system but also across sectors; this relies on taking into account the broader socio-political context and envisioning new partnerships with civil society and non-state actors. Therefore, our workshop will explore the latest developments in monitoring knowledge integration into national policies and civil society. Dialogue on what can be done, and what is needed for better knowledge management will be fueled by an interactive voting poll during the session. The Mentimeter poll will prompt the audience to share, in real time, their perspectives and expectations for HI production, dissemination and use across countries. For example, on the role of health literacy in facilitating the implementation of evidence-based recommendations. The delegates will take the perspective of the public, the public health researcher and the health policy maker in this. Key messages Mapping health information (HI) priorities and reporting approaches across countries facilitates the exchange of best practices in the context of building a sustainable EU Health Information system. The future EU distributed research infrastructure on population health (DIPoH) may hold a key role in informing national and EU-level interventions in health policy and practice.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Delnord ◽  
F Tille ◽  
L A Abboud ◽  
D Ivanković ◽  
H Van Oyen

Abstract Background The optimal use of data and evidence from national health information systems is paramount in public health. However, current tools to evaluate health information systems focus on data quality and availability rather than measuring how data are used by key stakeholders. This limits capacity to monitor the impact of evidence on health care management and health policy making. Methods Based on an extensive literature review we developed a new model, the Health Information (HI)-Impact framework, to monitor the impact of health information in health policy and practice. We further conducted a web-based Delphi survey between February and April 2019 among European public health professionals working in health policy, health care, research, and health monitoring to develop the HI-Impact Index. Results In the HI-Impact framework, four domains are essential for mapping public health data availability, dissemination, and use: (1) Health Information and Evidence Quality, (2) Health Information System Responsiveness, (3) Stakeholder Engagement, and (4) Knowledge Integration. This last domain has a broader reach on the determinants of health and reflects the use of evidence by community partners and across sectors. In the DELPHI survey, 127 experts from 38 European countries selected 30 criteria to integrate in the HI-Impact Index. This tool could be used by European public health agencies to monitor the impact of their information products, and inform national strategies for evidence-based public health. Conclusions It is crucial for routine health information systems to create a culture of accountability in the use of evidence. Data on the determinants and consequences of ill-health as well as stakeholder engagement in leveraging evidence for intervention are explicit points to consider for a full quality assessment of national health information systems, and a sustainable impact on health outcomes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 314-335
Author(s):  
Jennifer Kolker ◽  
Claire Slesinski ◽  
Amy Carroll-Scott ◽  
Jonathan Purtle

As mentioned earlier in Part IV, research alone does not lead to change. Those committed to improving urban public health have a responsibility to translate and disseminate what they learn about urban health with those who make decisions about urban health, and with the input of those who are most impacted by those decisions. The authors start with chapter with a discussion of why dissemination is critical to urban health, how to plan for dissemination as research is initiated, and how to define and categorize urban health audiences. They then focus on two primary audiences for dissemination: policymakers/decision makers and community residents/leaders. They also discuss best practices for effective dissemination and the importance of measuring the impact of dissemination on urban health and action.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ming Jiang ◽  
Ichiro Nakamoto ◽  
Weiqing Zhuang ◽  
Weiguo Zhang ◽  
Yin Guo ◽  
...  

The randomness of public health events requires that the cloud-native architecture, as the mainstream architecture of the new generation of the public health information system, has the appropriate flexibility to meet the needs of environmental change. The flexible acquisition of cloud-native architecture requires organizations to invest additional resources. How to plan and formulate resource input is a topic of common concern for public health management and information systems. According to the commercial characteristics of the public health system based on cloud-native architecture, this paper systematically analyzes the external major impact factors and auxiliary factors that affect the flexible cost investment strategy of cloud providers and combines flexible investment strategies to build a cloud-native cost investment model. Finally, case data in practice is applied into the model, and cost planning is discussed according to different situations. The findings indicate that (1) the more cloud providers adopt the changed flexible strategy, the more conducive it is to reduce costs; (2) the larger the application load, the more cloud providers need to use flexible strategies to lower costs; (3) the less the impact of changing the flexible strategy on costs, the more conducive cloud providers use the flexible strategy to decrease costs; (4) the more uneven the distribution of diversity, the higher proportion of investment increases than the proportion of investment, and the more cloud providers consider the investment using flexible strategy. The results of the discussion provide a reference for public health organizations to use flexible strategies and change flexible strategies in a timely manner and expand the research scope of information system cost investment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  

Abstract Background To support policy and practice with evidence-based information, several countries have best practice portals for public health interventions. Some of the portals were started recently (France) and other portals exist already for several years now (Netherlands). All the countries face the same challenges, which relate to how to identify the relevant practices, the assessment of the practices (how to achieve an inclusive portal while maintaining high quality), and the implementation and the use of the practices by professionals and policymakers (integrity vs. adaptation of the best practices). In addition to best practice portals the organisations are also working on the development of What works approaches. Objective The organisers will share their experiences with the development and implementation of best practice portals, and discuss the successes and challenges with the workshop participants. Three countries (the Netherlands, France and Germany) will present the successes and challenges of their best practice portal, and, as an example of a joint European approach, EuroHealthNet will discuss both joint and independent approaches from a European perspective. At the end of the workshop we will discuss the challenges and invite other countries to share their experiences and successes with best practice portals and providing evidence for policy and practice. With the objective to: Present the procedure and the assessment criteria of evaluating practices for inclusion in the portalsPresent the implementation and the use of best practices as well as the acceptance of the portalsDiscuss the issues of integrity and adaptation and how to assess the core elements of effective interventionsDiscuss the development of what works approaches (description of evidence in a short and accessible way) and their added value to best practice portalsDiscuss the value added of best practice portals, including promotion of their use by professionals and policymakers Key messages This workshop will give participants insight into best practice portals developed across Europe. It will discuss how countries identify and select good practice and evidence-based preventive interventions as well as the successes and challenges of such portals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Delnord ◽  
L A Abboud ◽  
H Van Oyen

Abstract Background National health information systems (NHIS) report on the health of populations, the determinants of health and service use within countries. Thus far, the evaluation of HIS has largely focused on data production, and less on their impact in policy and practice. This entails that there is no standardized framework for monitoring the uptake of Health Information (HI) in the healthcare system. Methods An international Delphi with public health professionals and policy makers allowed reaching agreement on criteria for monitoring the impact of NHIS, based on four domains: (a) Health information Evidence Quality, (b) HIS Responsiveness, (c) Stakeholder Engagement, and (d) Knowledge Integration. Next, we pretested the Index among participating countries in the European Joint Action on Health Information. Results Over 130 public health professionals and policy-makers from 38 countries participated in the Delphi. The panel reached agreement on 30 criteria to monitor the impact of HIS in policy and practice; these constitute the HI-Impact Index. Eight countries participated in pretesting the HI-Impact Index. InfAct country representative found the HIS evaluation tool user friendly and the time needed to fill the evaluation acceptable. They noted however the need to refine the auditing guidelines further as to who shall be responsible for conducting the evaluation (i.e. multistakeholder evaluation vs. single governing body), and which type of population health data sources should be included as part of the evaluation. Conclusions Knowledge translation facilitates the implementation of practices that will benefit population health and well-being. The HI-Impact Index addresses a growing demand for more transparency and accountability in the use of HI and scientific evidence within countries. Next steps consist in further piloting the HI-Impact Index for use in specific health areas (i.e. maternal and child health, cancer, antimicrobial resistance).


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. S8-S16
Author(s):  
Eleanor L Stevenson ◽  
Cheng Ching-Yu ◽  
Chang Chia-Hao ◽  
Kevin R McEleny

Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bartelink ◽  
D Yacaman Mendez ◽  
A Lager

Abstract Issue Public health problems and interventions are often addressed in sub-optimal ways by not prioritizing them based on the best available evidence. Description of the Problem The public health report 2019 for the Stockholm region aims to inform decision makers, politicians, and public health workers about the risk factors and diseases that account for the biggest part of the burden of disease with a clear focus on high quality evidence and communication of main messages. How did the public health report 2019 affect public health policy in the Stockholm region? Results The public health report 2019 influenced agenda setting, resource allocation and priority setting in the Stockholm region. Lessons We identified the following facilitating factors in the process, of which most also are supported in scientific literature, in chronological order: 1) understanding the policymaking context to be aware of windows of opportunity, 2) establishing relationships with relevant policymakers, engage with them routinely in the decision-making process, and being accessible for questions, 3) doing high-quality research by considering the latest scientific literature, multiple data sources and involving academic experts in the field, 4) communicating clear and relevant messages for generalists by translating research into easy-understandable texts and attractive figures, and 5) active dissemination of the report through multiple channels. In addition, the following barriers were identified: 1) the timeframe of the policymaking process was not in line with the research process, and 2) involving politicians in an early stage can potentially harm the objectivity of research in media messages. Key messages By focussing on major problems, high quality evidence and clear messages a public health report can contribute to more evidence-informed policy making. Engaging decision makers in the process of public health reporting is critical for the impact on agenda setting, resource allocation, and priority setting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emalie Rosewarne ◽  
Michael Moore ◽  
Wai-Kwan Chislett ◽  
Alexandra Jones ◽  
Kathy Trieu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Public health advocacy strategies facilitate policy change by bringing key health issues to the forefront of public and political discourse, influencing decision-makers and public opinion, and increasing policy demand. The Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership (VSRP) was established in 2014 in response to inadequate government action to improve population diets in Australia. This study aimed to evaluate the success of the VSRP’s advocacy strategy in achieving policy change. Methods Documentation of VSRP activities and outputs were collected, and semi-structured interviews conducted as part of a comprehensive process evaluation. For this study, the Kotter Plus 10-step public health advocacy evaluation framework was used to guide data extraction, analysis, and synthesis. Results A sense of urgency for salt reduction was generated by producing evidence and outlining the potential impact of a state-based salt reduction programme. This enabled the creation of a coalition with diverse skills and expertise, which facilitated the development of an innovative and collaborative advocacy action plan. A clear change vision was established, but communication of the vision to decision-makers was lacking, which reduced the impact of the programme as decision-makers were not provided with a clear incentive for policy change. As a result, while programme outputs were achieved, these did not translate to achieving broader strategic goals during a limited-term intervention in a political climate unconcerned with salt. Conclusions The Kotter Plus 10-step framework was a useful tool for evaluating the success of the VSRP advocacy strategy. The framework enabled the identification of key strengths, including the creation of the guiding coalition, and areas where efforts could be improved in future similar strategies, such as effective communication within partnerships and to decision-makers, to better influence policy and improve public health impact.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Yijie Huang ◽  
Tao Ai ◽  
Jun Luo ◽  
Hanmin Liu

Abstract Background Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a change in the incidence and transmission of respiratory pathogens was observed. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on the epidemiologic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among children in Chengdu, one of the largest cities of western China. Method M. pneumoniae infection was diagnosed in 33,345 pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms at the Chengdu Women’s & Children’s Central Hospital between January 2017 and December 2020, based on a serum antibody titer of ≥1:160 measured by the passive agglutination assay. Differences in infection rates were examined by sex, age, and temporal distribution. Results Two epidemic outbreaks occurred between October-December 2017 and April-December 2019, and two infection peaks were detected in the second and fourth quarters of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Due to the public health response to COVID-19, the number of positive M. pneumoniae cases significantly decreased in the second quarter of 2020. The number of M. pneumoniae infection among children aged 3–6 years was higher than that in other age groups. Conclusions Preschool children are more susceptible to M. pneumoniae infection and close contact appears to be the predominant factor favoring pathogen transmission. The public health response to COVID-19 can effectively control the transmission of M. pneumoniae.


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