scholarly journals Prioritizing health information for national health reporting - a Delphi study of the Joint Action on Health Information (InfAct)

2022 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Fehr ◽  
Stefanie Seeling ◽  
Anselm Hornbacher ◽  
Martin Thißen ◽  
Petronille Bogaert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
National Health ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Joint Action ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Health Reporting ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
National Public Health

Abstract Background Health information (HI) strategies exist in several EU Member States, however, they mainly focus on technical issues and improving governance rather than on content-related priority setting. There is also little research available about national prioritization processes underlying HI development for policy support in the EU. The aim of this study was to broaden the knowledge base on HI prioritization strategies and to encourage expert exchange towards good practice models. A specific focus was put on HI produced for national health reporting, this being a crucial tool for policy advice. Methods We conducted a literature search to identify published and grey literature on national HI prioritization. This was followed by a two-round Policy Delphi study, where we explored which processes and methods exist in EU Member States and associated countries for the prioritization of HI collection. In the first round, information about these processes was gathered in semi-structured questions; in the second round, participants were asked to rank the identified approaches for desirability and feasibility. The survey was conducted online; participants were recruited from the membership of the Joint Action on Health Information (InfAct – Information for Action). Results 119 experts were contacted, representing 40 InfAct partner institutions in 28 EU Member States and associated countries. Of these, 28 experts responded fully or partially to the first round, and six to the second round. In the first round, more than half of the respondents reported the existence of structured HI prioritization processes in their countries. To prioritize HI, a clear preference was given in the second round for a formal, horizontal process which includes different experts and stakeholders. National public health institutes were named desirable key stakeholders in this process, and also desirable and feasible coordinators for stakeholder coordination. Conclusion Health information prioritization methods and procedures reflect the heterogeneity of national public health systems in European countries. Mapping, sharing and ranking prioritization methods and procedures for “good practices” provides a meaningful basis for expert knowledge exchange on HI development. We recommend to make this process part of a future sustainable EU health information system and to use the information gathered in this project to initiate the development of a guidance “Good Practice HI Prioritization” among EU Member States and associated countries.

scholarly journals Developing recommendations for good practice in national health reporting

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Thißen ◽  
S Seeling ◽  
P Achterberg ◽  
A Fehr ◽  
R Haneef ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Health Reporting ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Member States ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Desk Research ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background Health reporting should deliver up-to-date data and information on the population's health status, its determinants and on national (or regional) healthcare services. Establishing an information or discussion base for health policy is an important objective ('data for action'), but health reporting also addresses other target groups like scientists, the media or the general public. Depending on the needs and competencies of the respective target groups, requirements for health reporting formats will differ. At the same time, heterogeneity of health reporting practices in Member States causes, next to occasional language barriers, difficulties in facilitating access to EU-comparable information. To allow for alignment and identification of good practices, our study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the health reporting formats in the EU. Methods A web-based desk research of health reporting formats and their target groups was conducted among EU Member States and associated InfAct partner countries. Good practice examples were identified on the basis of quality criteria derived from 'Good Practice in Health Reporting' for Germany and the Eva PHR (Evaluation of National and Regional Public Health Reports) project. Based on the findings of the desk research, a guidance document for health reports will be drafted in close cooperation with InfAct partner countries. Results The guidance should accommodate the heterogeneity of reporting practices at EU level while defining desirable and feasible good practice standards. Although the focus is on public health reports, recommendations for other formats of health reporting will also be included. It will facilitate the preparation, dissemination and access to EU-comparable and high-quality health information. Conclusions The guidance is expected to be a useful tool for making health information adequately available to the targeted groups while reducing inequalities in health reporting across the EU.

scholarly journals The innovative use of health information in public health policy across EU-Member States

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Haneef ◽  
H Van Oyen ◽  
R Gaidelyte ◽  
O Zeynep ◽  
B Pérez-Gomez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Linked Data ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Use Of Data

Abstract Background Health information systems both at the national and international level play a key role in ensuring that timely and reliable evidence is used for operational and strategic decision making inside and outside the health sector. The availability of data generated from different sources is increasing with the possibility to link these data sources together. However, more efficient data generation processes are required to use data collected for different purposes initially, as well as advanced statistical techniques to generate comparable and timely health information. The main objective is to explore the innovative use of health information for better public health policy across the Member States. Methods As part of InfAct, we have conducted as survey among EU-MS to describe the innovative use of data sources. We are collecting inspiring examples on the innovative use of health information based on national or European data networks involved with health policy-making at national, regional or local level. We are further developing generic methods to estimate health indicators using machine learning techniques and mathematical modelling. Results These approaches will generate a roadmap on the innovative use of health information across Member States, enlarge the existing list of health indicators estimated from linked data and/or advanced statistical techniques, inform on the implications of these indicators in health policy with inspiring examples from Member States, and provide methodological guidelines for using linked data and advanced statistics to estimate health indicators, and composite outcome measures. Conclusions This work will highlight the gaps in the innovative use of data sources, and improve the comparability of health indicators and the capacity of EU-Member states to apply innovation for increased relevance and timeliness of health information for public health policy-making.

scholarly journals Overview of national health reporting in the EU and quality criteria for public health reports – results of the Joint Action InfAct

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Thissen ◽  
Stefanie Seeling ◽  
Peter Achterberg ◽  
Angela Fehr ◽  
Luigi Palmieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Health Reporting ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Member States ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Desk Research ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background Health reporting shall provide up-to-date health-related data to inform policy-makers, researchers and the public. To this end, health reporting formats should be tailored to the needs and competencies of the target groups and provide comparable and high-quality information. Within the Joint Action on Health Information ‘InfAct’, we aimed at gaining an overview of health reporting practices in the EU Member States and associated countries, and developed quality criteria for the preparation of public health reports. The results are intended to facilitate making health information adequately available while reducing inequalities in health reporting across the EU. Methods A web-based desk research was conducted among EU Member States and associated countries to generate an overview of different formats of national health reporting and their respective target groups. To identify possible quality criteria for public health reports, an exploratory literature review was performed and earlier projects were analysed. The final set of criteria was developed in exchange with experts from the InfAct consortium. Results The web-based desk research showed that public health reports are the most frequently used format across countries (94%), most often addressed to scientists and researchers (51%), politicians and decision-makers (41%). However, across all reporting formats, the general public is the most frequently addressed target group. With regards to quality criteria for public health reports, the literature review has yielded few results. Therefore, two earlier projects served as main sources: the ‘Evaluation of National and Regional Public Health Reports’ and the guideline ‘Good Practice in Health Reporting‘from Germany. In collaboration with experts, quality criteria were identified and grouped into eight categories, ranging from topic selection to presentation of results, and compiled in a checklist for easy reference. Conclusion Health reporting practices in the EU are heterogeneous across Member States. The assembled quality criteria are intended to facilitate the preparation, dissemination and access to better comparable high-quality public health reports as a basis for evidence-based decision-making. A comprehensive conceptual and integrative approach that incorporates the policy perspective would be useful to investigate which dissemination strategies are the most suitable for specific requirements of the targeted groups.

scholarly journals Overview of National Health Reporting in the EU and Quality Criteria for Public Health Reports – Results of the Joint Action InfAct

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Thissen ◽  
Stefanie Seeling ◽  
Peter Achterberg ◽  
Angela Fehr ◽  
Luigi Palmieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Health Reporting ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Member States ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Desk Research ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background: Health reporting shall provide up-to-date health-related data to inform policy-makers, researchers and the public. To this end, health reporting formats should be tailored to the needs and competencies of the target groups and provide comparable and high-quality information. Within the Joint Action on Health Information ‘InfAct’, we aimed at gaining an overview of health reporting practices in the EU Member States and associated countries, and developed quality criteria for the preparation of public health reports. The results are intended to facilitate making health information adequately available while reducing inequalities in health reporting across the EU.Methods: A web-based desk research was conducted among EU Member States and associated countries to generate an overview of different formats of national health reporting and their respective target groups. To identify possible quality criteria for public health reports, an exploratory literature review was performed and earlier projects were analysed. The final set of criteria was developed in exchange with experts from the InfAct consortium. Results: The web-based desk research showed that public health reports are the most frequently used format across countries (94%), most often addressed to scientists and researchers (51%), politicians and decision-makers (41%). However, across all reporting formats, the general public is the most frequently addressed target group. With regards to quality criteria for public health reports, the literature review has yielded few results. Therefore, two earlier projects served as main sources: the ‘Evaluation of National and Regional Public Health Reports’ and the guideline ‘Good Practice in Health Reporting‘ from Germany. In collaboration with experts, quality criteria were identified and grouped into eight categories, ranging from topic selection to presentation of results, and compiled in a checklist for easy reference.Conclusion: Health reporting practices in the EU are heterogeneous across Member States. The assembled quality criteria are intended to facilitate the preparation, dissemination and access to better comparable high-quality public health reports as a basis for evidence-based decision-making. A comprehensive conceptual and integrative approach that incorporates the policy perspective would be useful to investigate which dissemination strategies are the most suitable for specific requirements of the targeted groups.

scholarly journals Development of a Public Health Preparedness Competency Model for EU Member States

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Stoto ◽  
E Savoia ◽  
C Nelson ◽  
R Piltch-Loeb ◽  
S Guicciardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Competency Model ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States

European Union Rights and Values in Human Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 16-51
Author(s):  
Anniek de Ruijter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Eu Fundamental Rights ◽  
The Eu

This book looks at the impact of the expanding power of the EU in terms of fundamental rights and values. The current chapter lays down the framework for this analysis. Law did not always have a central role to play in the context of medicine and health. The role of law grew after the Second Word War and the Nuremberg Doctors Trials (1947), in which preventing the repetition of atrocities that were committed in the name of medicine became a guidepost for future law regarding patients’ rights and bioethics. In the period after the War, across the EU Member States, health law developed as a legal discipline in which a balance was struck in medicine and public health between law, bioethics, and fundamental rights. The role of EU fundamental rights protections in the context of public health and health care developed in relation with the growth of multilevel governance and litigation (national, international, Council of Europe, and European Union). For the analysis here, this chapter develops an EU rights and values framework that goes beyond the strictly legal and allows for a ‘normative language’ that takes into consideration fundamental rights as an expression of important shared values in the context of the European Union. The perspective of EU fundamental rights and values can demonstrate possible tensions caused by EU health policy: implications in terms of fundamental rights can show how highly sensitive national policy issues may be affected by the Member States’ participation in EU policymaking activities.

The public health system in France and the structural developments during the last ten years

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Arwidson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health System ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Tobacco Control Program ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
Prevention And Health Promotion

Abstract In 2009, the hospitals, health and territories act has entrusted the responsibility for care and public health to the regional health agencies. This decentralisation aims to adapt strategies to local situations. These regional agencies have a very strong autonomy. In 2013, it was stated in the national health strategy that it was necessary to develop a scientifically based prevention. Two tracks are to be followed: either by importing and adapting validated or promising programs by identifying effective programs in the international literature; or from existing French initiatives (tobacco, alcohol, psychoactive substances, physical activity). The high prevalence of smoking motivated the establishment of a National tobacco reduction program in 2014, which was then relayed by a national tobacco control program. In 2016, the Health System Improvement Act created a major national public health agency combining surveillance, prevention, health promotion and emergency response. The motivation was to achieve greater synergy and collaboration between the different functions in public health. A report from the Inspectorate General of Social Affairs has recommended that this agency should establish a national portal with evidence-based prevention and health promotion programmes. Established in 2018, the Priority Prevention Plan is a major interdepartmental project to improve the health of the population, and is part of the National Health Strategy. This interdepartmental approach reflects the Government’s desire that all ministries should be able to contribute to prevention and health promotion. The increased investment in prevention and health promotion is starting to bear fruit with 1.6 million fewer smokers between 2016 and 2018. Immunisation coverage has also been improved. NutriScore, a nutritional information on the front of food containers, very easy to understand, has been put in place with partnership with 100 companies.

scholarly journals Trust in national health information sources in the United States: comparing predictors and levels of trust across three health domains

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 978-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily B Peterson ◽  
Wen-Ying Sylvia Chou ◽  
Dannielle E Kelley ◽  
Brad Hesse
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
National Health ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
General Health ◽  
Trust In Government ◽  
Health Organizations ◽  
Government Health ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Multiple Health

Abstract Public trust in traditional sources of health information is essential for public health agencies and organizations to perform necessary public health functions. Little research has examined levels and predictors of trust in government health agencies and national health organizations. Additionally, few studies have simultaneously analyzed trust in multiple health topics. The major aim of this study was to compare levels and factors associated with trust in national health sources across three health topics: information about tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and general health. Data from two cycles of the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey collected in 2015 and 2017 were merged and analyzed for this study (n = 5,474). A series of weighted multivariable logistic regression models calculated odds of high trust in government health agencies and health organizations for each health topic. More respondents reported high trust in health organizations than for government health agencies across all topics. More participants reported high trust in these sources tobacco information, as compared to general health or e-cigarette information. Logistic models found that those higher in information seeking confidence were more likely to report high trust across all models. Other demographic variables were inconsistent predictors of trust across topics. This study highlights inconsistent sociodemographic predictors of trust across multiple health topics and national health sources. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers should consider the unique context of specific health topics in health promotion campaigns, partner with existing community-based organizations, and encourage and enable health information seeking.

scholarly journals EU ASYLUM SYSTEM IN AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: DISCLOSING THE WEAKNESSES OF THE CURRENT RULES AND ASSESSING THE PROSPECTS OF THE NEW PACT ON MIGRATION AND ASYLUM

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojana Čučković
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Current Phase ◽  
Member States ◽  
International Protection ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Human Rights Standards ◽  
The Eu

The paper analyses the influence that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the functioning of the European asylum system. The analysis is divided into three parts and addresses problematic issues associated with different stages of the pandemic. In the first part of the paper, the author outlines the asylum practices of EU Member States in the initial stage of the Covid-19 pandemic during which the pandemic was perceived as a state of emergency. By exploring the legal possibilities to derogate both from the EU asylum rules and international human rights standards, the author offers conclusions as regards limits of derogations and the legality of Member States’ practices, especially their failure to differentiate between rules that are susceptive of being derogated in emergency situations and those that are not. The second part of the paper analyses the current phase of the pandemic in which it is perceived as a 'new normal' and focuses on making the EU asylum system immune to Covid-19 influence to the greatest extent possible and in line with relevant EU and human rights rules. The author insists on the vulnerability as an inherent feature of persons in need of international protection and researches upon the relationship between the two competing interests involved – protection of asylum seekers and ensuring public health as a legitimate reason for restricting certain asylum seekers’ rights. The final part of the paper analyses the prospects of the future EU asylum system, as announced by the New Pact on Migration and Asylum in September 2020, to adapt to the exigencies of both the current Covid-19 crisis and pandemics that are yet to come. With an exclusive focus on referral to Covid-19 and provisions relevant for the current and future pandemics, the author criticizes several solutions included in the instruments that make up the Pact. It is concluded that the Pact failed to offer solutions for problems experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic and that, under the pretext of public health, it prioritizes the interests of Member States over the interests of applicants for international protection.

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