Suchergebnisse

The STEPS Report describes public health research in European Union countries and the role of civil society organisations, particularly the 12 EU new member states. It recommends that ministries of health should lead support for public health research, and collaborate to develop a European Public Health Research Area. STEPS (Strengthening Engagement in Public Health Research) was funded by the Science in Society programme of the European Commission. It was a collaboration from January 2009 to June 2011 between University College London, the European Public Health Association, Association Skalbes and 12 country partners. The report presents results from STEPS. Section one is an analysis of public health research in Europe. Section two is a description of national systems for public health research. Section three presents the role of civil society organisations. Section four makes recommendations. Section five provides more detailed results from the data collection. Section six describes the project activities of STEPS. Section seven reprints the paper presented to the EU Consultation on Research and Innovation in May 2011.

The creation and exchange of knowledge between cultures has benefited world development for many years. The European Union now puts research and innovation at the front of its economic strategy. In the health field, biomedical research, which benefits the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has been well supported, but much less emphasis has been given to public health and health systems research. A similar picture is emerging in European support for globalisation and health

Legislation for compulsory wearing of seat belts by car drivers and front seat passengers has been acclaimed as a major public health advance. Reports from other countries, and two recent evaluative studies in the United Kingdom, have suggested that legislation reduces both deaths and injuries. To assess the effect of the UK law 5 years after its implementation, trends in routine data for 1976-1987 have been reviewed. There were two sources of data: mortality statistics, published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the quarterly Monitor DH4, and road accident statistics, recorded by the police and published by the Department of Transport. There is a downward trend in deaths over the period, but the data show little impact from the law. One explanation for this lack of effect is the risk compensation hypothesis, which suggests that "safety" improvements are transferred by drivers into increased performance--the amount and speed of travel. Public health policies need to take into account the complex behavioural interactions between travel and safety choices if they are to affect underlying trends.

This article examines the dogged progress of the child benefit scheme during the mid-seventies and illuminates in particular the campaign for its introduction conducted by the Child Poverty Action Group. In doing so it places the episode in the perspective of earlier attempts in the sixties and seventies to improve the lot of poor families. Against the backcloth of apparent prevarication by the Callaghan Government the piece also raises the question of how groups lacking social and economic 'muscle' may influence governments and it examines the prospects of liaison with the trade union movement as one means of this. Notably, the article examines the usefulness of a 'cabinet leak' in adding to a group's armoury of tactics.

Background. European Union strategies and programmes identify research and innovation as a critical dimension for future economic and social development. While European research policy emphasises support for industry, the health field includes not-for-profit civil society organisations providing social innovation. Yet the perspectives of civil society organisations towards health research in Europe are not well understood. Methods. STEPS (Strengthening Engagement with Public Health Research) was funded by the European Commission's Science in Society research programme. Within the study, we interviewed by telephone respondents of 13 European health civil society organisations which represented collectively local and national organisations Results. Research was valued positively by the respondents. Health civil society organisations did not seek to do research themselves, but recognised the opportunity of funds in this field and welcomed the possibility of collaborating in research, of using the results from research and of providing input to research agendas. Links between research and users provides knowledge for the public and improves impacts on policy. Research and evaluation can help in demonstrating the benefit of innovative activities, and give support and legitimacy. However, the cultures of, and incentives for, researchers and health civil society organisations are different, and collaboration requires building trust, a shared language, and for the power relations and objectives to match. Conclusions. Health civil society organisations contribute social innovation in organising services and activities such as advocacy that cannot be satisfactorily met by industry. Engaging civil society organisations in research and innovation will strengthen the European Research Area.

Introduction: Montenegro, a newly independent Balkan state with a population of 650,000, has a health care reform programme supported by the World Bank. This paper describes planning for integrated elderly and palliative care. Description: The current service is provided only through a single long-stay hospital, which has institutionalised patients and limited facilities. Broad estimates were made of current financial expenditures on elderly care. A consultation was undertaken with stakeholders to propose an integrated system linking primary and secondary health care with social care; supporting people to live, and die well, at home; developing local nursing homes for people with higher dependency; creating specialised elderly-care services within hospitals; and providing good end-of-life care for all who need it. Effectiveness may be measured by monitoring patient and carers' perceptions of the care experience. Discussion: Changes in provision of elderly care may be achieved through redirection of existing resources, but the health and social care services also need to enhance elderly care budgets. The challenges for implementation include management skills, engaging professionals and political commitment. Conclusion: Middle-income countries such as Montenegro can develop elderly and palliative care services through redirection of existing finance if accompanied by new service objectives, staff skills and integrated management.

The public & parliamentary campaign for the 1978 Child Protection Act in the UK is analyzed, highlighting the DofL between these spheres that facilitated the bill's passage. While proponents made extensive use of pending legislation & research from the US, little or no investigation appears to have been done on the extent of child pornography in the UK; the role of Mary Whitehouse's Viewers & Listeners Assoc (VALA) in orchestrating PO is discussed within the context of blacklash against the so-called "permissive statutes" of the late 1960s & 1970s. The cautious response of the Home Office & Government & its exploitation by the Conservative Opposition are examined; the "bulldozing" presentation of the bill to Parliment through the sponsorship of Cyril Townsend is also documented. The complementary role played by VALA & Townsend & the unusual speed with which the Act was passed are discussed, noting that further backlash legislation may be introduced through the same process. L. Whittemore.

Background: Within SPHERE (Strengthening Public Health Research in Europe), a collaborative study funded by the European Commission, we have assessed the support for public health research at ministry level in European countries. Methods: We surveyed the health and science ministries in 25 EU countries and 3 EEA countries, using a broad definition of public-health research at population level. We made over 600 phone calls and emails to identify respondents and to gain answers. We gained formal replies from 42 out of 56 ministries (73% response) in 25 countries. There were 22 completed questionnaires (from 25 ministries), 6 short answers and 11 contacts declaring that their ministries were not responsible for public health research, while in 14 ministries (both ministries in three countries) no suitable ministry contact could be found. Results: In most European countries, ministries of health, or their devolved agencies, were regarded as the leading organizations. Most ministries were able to specify thematic areas for public-health research (from three to thirty), and others ministries referred to policy documents, health plans or public-health plans to define research priorities. Ministries and their agencies led on decisions for financial support of public-health research, with less involvement of other external organisations compared with the process of identifying priorities. However, the actual funds available for public health were not easily identifiable. Most ministries relied on general academic means for dissemination of results of public-health research, while ministries get information on the use of public-health research usually through informal means. Ministries made suggestions for strengthening public-health research through initiatives of their own countries and of the European Union: as well as more resources, improving coordination was most frequently suggested. Conclusion: There is no common approach to support for public-health research across Europe, and significant gaps in organisation and funding. Health ministries and national agencies value exchange between researchers and policy-makers, civil society organizations, and academic and public authorities, and the application of public-health research results. There would be benefits from better processes of priority setting and improved coordination for research, at regional, national and European levels.