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Health Research Policy and Systems
Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Increasing the scale and adoption of population health interventions: experiences and perspectives of policy makers, practitioners, and researchers

Authors: Andrew J Milat, Lesley King, Robyn Newson, Luke Wolfenden, Chris Rissel, Adrian Bauman, Sally Redman

Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Decisions to scale up population health interventions from small projects to wider state or national implementation is fundamental to maximising population-wide health improvements. The objectives of this study were to examine: i) how decisions to scale up interventions are currently made in practice; ii) the role that evidence plays in informing decisions to scale up interventions; and iii) the role policy makers, practitioners, and researchers play in this process.

Methods

Interviews with an expert panel of senior Australian and international public health policy-makers (n = 7), practitioners (n = 7), and researchers (n = 7) were conducted in May 2013 with a participation rate of 84%.

Results

Scaling up decisions were generally made through iterative processes and led by policy makers and/or practitioners, but ultimately approved by political leaders and/or senior executives of funding agencies. Research evidence formed a component of the overall set of information used in decision-making, but its contribution was limited by the paucity of relevant intervention effectiveness research, and data on costs and cost effectiveness. Policy makers, practitioners/service managers, and researchers had different, but complementary roles to play in the process of scaling up interventions.

Conclusions

This analysis articulates the processes of how decisions to scale up interventions are made, the roles of evidence, and contribution of different professional groups. More intervention research that includes data on the effectiveness, reach, and costs of operating at scale and key service delivery issues (including acceptability and fit of interventions and delivery models) should be sought as this has the potential to substantially advance the relevance and ultimately usability of research evidence for scaling up population health action.
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Metadata
Title
Increasing the scale and adoption of population health interventions: experiences and perspectives of policy makers, practitioners, and researchers
Authors
Andrew J Milat
Lesley King
Robyn Newson
Luke Wolfenden
Chris Rissel
Adrian Bauman
Sally Redman
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health Research Policy and Systems / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-12-18

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