Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40533751›Full record

ArticleHealth research policy and systems2025

Raising complex public health challenges on local government agendas: a Norwegian case study.

Kristine Løkås Vigsnes, Charlotte Kiland, Harry Rutter, Eirik Abildsnes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health research policy and systems, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Kristine Løkås VigsnesDepartment of Nutrition and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. Kristine.l.vigsnes@uia.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-7026-6271
Charlotte KilandDepartment of Political Science and Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2994-8036
Harry RutterDepartment of Nutrition and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9322-0656
Eirik AbildsnesDepartment of Research and Innovation, Kristiansand Municipality, Kristiansand, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5454-8560

Funding

Norwegian Research Council 336714
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPublic health challenges, ranging from noncommunicable disease prevention to pandemic preparedness, involve both policymaking and the handling of complexity at local, national or global level. The complexity of public health challenges arises from uncertain knowledge, hidden mechanisms, differing conceptual models and multiple stakeholders, making it difficult to identify and agree on problem definitions and potential solutions. This case study aims to provide insights into how complex public health challenges are addressed within local government agendas. We use theories of policy entrepreneurs and agenda setting to explore the processes behind the agenda setting of a public health programme for work inclusion.

methodsWe conducted an in-depth case study in a local government context. Data from interviews with key informants and political documents were triangulated and analysed using deductive thematic content analysis, framed within Kingdon's agenda-setting theory and theories of policy entrepreneurs.

resultsWe identified problem framing, the involvement of multiple actors, and turbulent surroundings as influential factors for agenda setting of complex public health challenges in local government. We further identified the significance of the level of influence of policy entrepreneurs' positions, their coalitions and maintaining agenda control as core mechanisms for enabling agenda setting. We found that strategic manoeuvres of policy entrepreneurs were crucial to handle and manoeuvre complexity within the multiple streams described by Kingdon.

conclusionsThis article contributes knowledge of how complex public health problems receive attention and how these issues are shaped and defined, placed on governmental agendas, and paired with solutions. The article contributes important insights for understanding policy responses to complex public health problems and how policy entrepreneurs strategically manoeuvre within the streams of policy development to create windows of opportunity and maintain agenda control. This is important knowledge to support agenda setting for public health challenges and to realize policies to improve public health.

Indexed as

Health PolicyLocal GovernmentPolicy MakingPublic HealthEntrepreneurshipHumansNorwayPoliticsAgenda settingComplexityLow politicsPolicyPolicy entrepreneursPublic health

Identifiers

PMID40533751
PMCPMC12177986

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.