Knowledge in process
Producing usable knowledge for local
health policy in the Netherlands
Joyce de Goede
Science Practitioner University of Tilburg,
Epidemiologist Regional Public Health Service West-Brabant,
The Netherlands
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policy
Development of local
public health memoranda
?
research
practice
Epidemiological research
within Regional Health Service:
Local Health Messages
2
Motivation for this study
Do the facts and figures support the policy making process?
And if so, in what way and why?
And where do I stand (as an epidemiologist) in the
policy process?
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Theoretical perspective
Local health policy (by law):
•Integrate health policy
•Developed & implemented with local stakeholders
•Based on epidemiological knowledge
Complex multi actor process
Network approach: relations between stakeholders
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Expectations, transfer, adoption and
interpretation
Policy field
Research field
Change of policy?
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Method: Case studies
Observation of the research and policy process:
• Document analyses
• Interviews and questionnaires
• Field observations
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Preliminary results: research network
Input: local periodical health surveys
Round 1:central
Round 2: Municipality
Case 2
Case 1
Time
Output: Local health messages for municipalities
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Preliminary results: Network of policy development process case 1
Round 1: development of memorandum
Public call
Time
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Preliminary results: Network of policy development process case 2
Round 1:
evaluation
Project group
Round 2:
preparation
Project group:
Round 3:
development of memorandum
Project group
Consultation groups
Evaluation groups
City council and
committee
General event
Public call
City council and
committee
City council and
committee
Time
Memorandum
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Difference between cases
Case 1
Case 2
No involvement of alderman
Involvement of alderman
1 policy round
3 policy rounds
24 actors
94 actors
Epidemiologist as ambassador
Policy advisor as ambassador
Limited stakeholders
Many different
stakeholders (and interests!)
Similarities: involvement civil servants, media did not play a important role
and experienced civil servants
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Preliminary results: use of evidence (both cases)
City council members :conceptual way but the story
has to be convincing
Communities of interests and health professionals :symbolic way
“Use” for development memoranda:
Local support for national policy priorities on lifestyle prevention
Provides specifications in priorities
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Conclusions
Civil servants act as process managers
Involvement in research process helps to manage expectations
Local health reports needs ambassadors in the policy process
Don’t underestimate the power of stories
Writing a (local) health reports means thinking about what you
want to achieve in the policy process and the role of researchers
to play.
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To be continued…..
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