Session 16: evaluating the effect of policies and interventions to address health inequities

Question 1

what can epidemiologists do for health policy? (3)

Answer 1

• can provide input regarding the deen for health policies
• able to provide quantitative evidence regarding effectiveness of health policies
• data are collected and analyzed in an objective way

Question 2

how do epidemiologists do what they do for health policy? (3)

Answer 2

• can conduct and disseminate their own research that might be used to inform policy and practice
• can werve on expert groups that make policy recommendations
• work as an advocate to achieve a specific policy objective

Question 3

a health policy is a policy related to ___. for example a policy related to: (3)

Answer 3

• provision of heatlh services
• water quality
• environmental protection

Question 4

what is evidence-informed policy making?

Answer 4

• an approach for making decisions
• based on the best quality evidence available (one of the most reliable forms of evidence comes from randomized controlled trials)

Question 5

define evidence

Answer 5

evidence is information that comes closest to the facts that we use in support of a conclusion

Question 6

what are two types of experimental studies that can inform health policy?

Answer 6

• randomized controll trials

- quasi-experimental study (aka community intervention or community trial)

Question 7

what is the purpose of community intervention and what type of study design is it usually

Answer 7

is an intervention designed for the purpose of educational and behavioural changes at the population level. most community interventions use quasi-experimental designs

Question 8

how can data be translated into something that will inform policy? (4)

Answer 8

• provide evidence on inequalities in the health at the lowest reportable data level
• provide policu makers, health planners and practitioners with cimple, precise, accurate, easy to understand, easy to learn, visualizeable information
• communicate the evidence in a strategic and engaging wat to get them involved and
• even get them involved in the process of research (integrated knowledge translation research)

Question 9

what is the central factor that influences policies in (guides) health system? and what are the 7 other factors?

Answer 9

• central: scientific evidence
• other: values, political judgement, resources, protessional experiences and expertise, habits and tradition, lobbyists and pressure groups, pragmatics and contingencies. values

Question 10

what is evidence infomed policy making?

Answer 10

• an approach for making decisions
• based on best quality evidence available, with the consideration of all the other factors that might be important to consider

Question 11

describe how well infoemed heatlh policy decisions are made?

Answer 11

looks at systematic reviews and local evidence. Then come up with options and compare the options and come up with a final decision

more complicated version:
systematic reviews (judgements about the impacts of policies) and local evidence (judgements about modifying factors, needs, costs, and availability of resources) inform judgements about the expected benefits, harms, and costs of policy options, so that people can then make judgements about tradeoffs (desirable impacts vs undesirable impacts) which leads to well-informed health policy decisions

Question 12

it is important to increase input of ______ into policy making process because of their ____________ for policy development and assessment and program evaluation

Answer 12

• epidemiologist

- expertise in study design, data collection methods and analysis to provide high quality evidence for