ArticleBMC public health2008
Planning ahead in public health? A qualitative study of the time horizons used in public health decision-making.
Article in BMC public health, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Strategies for knowledge exchange for action to address place-based determinants of health inequalities: an umbrella review.Journal of public health (Oxford, England) · 2023Pooled it
- The use of research evidence in public health decision making processes: systematic review.PloS one · 2011Pooled it
- Forecasting hospital bed occupancy: a time series approach with prophet.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2026Article
- Is bureaucracy being busted in research ethics and governance for health services research in the UK? Experiences and perspectives reported by stakeholders through an online survey.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Getting research to the policy table: a qualitative study with public health researchers on engaging with policy makers.Preventing chronic disease · 2015Article
- New directions in evidence-based policy research: a critical analysis of the literature.Health research policy and systems · 2014Article
- Population health needs assessment and healthcare services use in a 3 years follow-up on administrative and clinical data: results from the Brisighella Heart Study.High blood pressure & cardiovascular prevention : the official journal of the Italian Society of Hypertension · 2014Article
- Use of evidence to support healthy public policy: a policy effectiveness-feasibility loop.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2012Article
- Article
- Development of modelling method selection tool for health services management: from problem structuring methods to modelling and simulation methods.BMC health services research · 2011Article
- Ministers of Health: short-term tenure for long-term goals?Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina · 2011Article
- Defining features of the practice of global health research: an examination of 14 global health research teams.Global health action · 2010Article
- Barriers to evidence-based decision making in public health: a national survey of chronic disease practitioners.Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn order to better understand factors that influence decisions for public health, we undertook a qualitative study to explore issues relating to the time horizons used in decision-making.
methodsQualitative study using semi-structured interviews. 33 individuals involved in the decision making process around coronary heart disease were purposively sampled from the UK National Health Service (national, regional and local levels), academia and voluntary organizations. Analysis was based on the framework method using N-VIVO software. Interviews were transcribed, coded and emergent themes identified.
resultsMany participants suggested that the timescales for public health decision-making are too short. Commissioners and some practitioners working at the national level particularly felt constrained in terms of planning for the long-term. Furthermore respondents felt that longer term planning was needed to address the wider determinants of health and to achieve societal level changes. Three prominent 'systems' issues were identified as important drivers of short term thinking: the need to demonstrate impact within the 4 year political cycle; the requirement to 'balance the books' within the annual commissioning cycle and the disruption caused by frequent re-organisations within the health service. In addition respondents suggested that the tools and evidence base for longer term planning were not well established.
conclusionMany public health decision and policy makers feel that the timescales for decision-making are too short. Substantial systemic barriers to longer-term planning exist. Policy makers need to look beyond short-term targets and budget cycles to secure investment for long-term improvement in public health.
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Registered trials
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