Publishing on Policy: Trends in Public Health

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Abstract

Our goal was to explore the number and topics of policy articles published in general public health journals. We conducted an audit of articles in 16 public health journals from 1998 through 2008. Results showed no trends for the decade studied; only 3.7% of all articles published in these journals were policy-related, and the topics most represented were smoking/tobacco, health care, and school policy. As policy research on public health issues continues to develop, researchers have an opportunity to increase dissemination through publication in general public health journals.

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Most cited references 7

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Environmental and policy determinants of physical activity in the United States.

R Brownson, E A Baker, R A Housemann … (2001)

This study examined (1) descriptive patterns in perceived environmental and policy determinants of physical activity and (2) associations between these factors and behavior. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1999 to 2000 among US adults; individuals at lower income levels were oversampled. Availability of areas for physical activity was generally higher among men than among women. The 4 most commonly reported personal barriers were lack of time, feeling too tired, obtaining enough exercise at one's job, and no motivation to exercise. Neighborhood characteristics, including the presence of sidewalks, enjoyable scenery, heavy traffic, and hills, were positively associated with physical activity. There was a high level of support for health policy-related measures. Up to one third of individuals who had used environmental supports reported an increase in physical activity. An array of environmental and policy determinants, particularly those related to the physical environment, are associated with physical activity and should be taken into account in the design of interventions.

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Shaping the context of health: a review of environmental and policy approaches in the prevention of chronic diseases.

R Brownson, Roice D. Luke, Debra L. Haire-Joshu (2005)

Given the growing attention on how environmental and policy interventions can affect chronic disease burden, our objectives are to describe (a) effective and promising interventions to address tobacco use, physical activity, and healthy eating and (b) lessons learned from the literature and practice experience in applying environmental and policy approaches. A total of 17 interventions were reviewed, organized across 3 domains affecting the physical environment/access, economic environment, and communication environment. Many of these interventions are effective. Several lessons are important to consider, such as the need to start with environmental and policy approaches, intervene comprehensively and across multiple levels, make use of economic evaluations, make better use of existing analytic tools, understand the politics and local context, address health disparities, and conduct sound policy research.

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The scientific basis for law as a public health tool.

Tanja Popovic, Jacob Mercer, Jason R Goodman … (2008)

Systematic reviews are generating valuable scientific knowledge about the impact of public health laws, but this knowledge is not readily accessible to policy makers. We identified 65 systematic reviews of studies on the effectiveness of 52 public health laws: 27 of those laws were found effective, 23 had insufficient evidence to judge effectiveness, 1 was harmful, and 1 was found to be ineffective. This is a valuable, scientific foundation-that uses the highest relevant standard of evidence-for the role of law as a public health tool. Additional primary studies and systematic reviews are needed to address significant gaps in knowledge about the laws' public health impact, as are energetic, sustained initiatives to make the findings available to public policy makers.

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Contributors

Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis

660 S Euclid, Box 8109, St. Louis, MO 63110314-362-9642aeyler@wustl.edu

Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Prev Chronic Dis

Title: Preventing Chronic Disease

Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ISSN (Electronic): 1545-1151

Publication date Collection: January 2011

Publication date (Electronic): 15 December 2010

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

Electronic Location Identifier: A22

Affiliations

Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

Article

Publisher ID: PCDv81_09_0247

PMC ID: 3044033

PubMed ID: 21159234

SO-VID: 0909456b-8ec2-47fa-97b8-cc1c93a43109

Publishing on Policy: Trends in Public Health

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Abstract

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Pan African Medical Journal

Most cited references 7

Environmental and policy determinants of physical activity in the United States.

Shaping the context of health: a review of environmental and policy approaches in the prevention of chronic diseases.

The scientific basis for law as a public health tool.

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