RT Journal Article
T1 Health assessments for health governance-concepts and methodologies
A1 Fehr, Rainer
A1 Alexanderson, Kristina
A1 Favaretti, Carlo
A1 de Jong, Judith
A1 La Torre, Giuseppe
A1 Lim, Tek-Ang
A1 Martin-Olmedo, Piedad
A1 Mekel, Odile C. L.
A1 Michelsen, Kai
A1 Rosenkoetter, Nicole
A1 Verschuuren, Marieke
A1 de Waure, Chiara
A1 Paget, Dineke Zeegers
K1 Public-health
K1 Performance
K1 Future
AB Background: For better supporting the science-governance interface, the potential of health assessments appears underrated. Aims: To identify what various types of health assessment have in common; how they differ; which assessment(s) to apply for which purpose; and what needs and options there are for future joint development. Methods: This review is based on five types of health assessment: monitoring/surveillance/reporting, assessment of health impact, of health technology, of health systems performance, health-related economic assessment. The approach is exploratory and includes: applying an agreed set of comparative criteria; circulating and supplementing synoptic tables; and interpreting the results. Results: Two of the assessments deal with the question 'Where do we stand?', two others with variants of 'What if' questions. Economic Assessment can take place in combination with any of the others. The assessments involve both overall 'procedures' and a variety of 'methods' which inescapably reflect some subjective assumptions and decisions, e.g. on issue framing. Resources and assistance exist for all these assessments. The paper indicates which type of assessment is appropriate for what purpose. Conclusions: Although scientific soundness of health assessments is not trivial to secure, existing types of health assessment can be interpreted as a useful 'toolkit' for supporting governance. If current traces of 'silo' thinking can be overcome, the attainability of a more unified culture of health assessments increases and such assessments might more widely be recognized as a prime, 'tried and tested' way to voice Public Health knowledge and to support rational governance and policy-making.
PB Oxford univ press
SN 1101-1262
YR 2017
FD 2017-08-01
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/18951
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/18951
LA en
DS RISalud
RD Apr 7, 2025