Implementing health policy: lessons from the Scottish Well Mens policy initiative

Flora Douglas; Edwin van Teijlingen; Cairns Smith; Mandy Moffat; Flora Douglas; Edwin van Teijlingen; Cairns Smith; Mandy Moffat

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2015.4.887

AIMS Public Health

2015, Volume 2, Issue 4: 887-905. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2015.4.887

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Research article Special Issues

Implementing health policy: lessons from the Scottish Well Mens policy initiative

1.
Public Health Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland;
2.
Health and Social Care, University of Bournemouth, Bournemouth, England;
3.
Public Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland;
4.
Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Received: 14 September 2015 Accepted: 11 December 2015 Published: 21 December 2015

Background: Little is known about how health professionals translate national government health policy directives into action. This paper examines that process using the so-called Well Men's Services (WMS) policy initiative as a ‘real world’ case study. The WMS were launched by the Scottish Government to address men's health inequalities. Our analysis aimed to develop a deeper understanding of policy implementation as it naturally occurred, used an analytical framework that was developed to reflect the ‘rational planning' principles health professionals are commonly encouraged to use for implementation purposes. Methods and materials: A mixed-methods qualitative enquiry using a data archive generated during the WMS policy evaluation was used to critically analyze (post hoc) the perspectives of national policy makers, and local health and social care professionals about the: (a) ‘policy problem’, (b) interventions intended to address the problem, and (c) anticipated policy outcomes. Results and conclusions: This analysis revealed four key themes: (1) ambiguity regarding the policy problem and means of intervention; (2) behavioral framing of the policy problem and intervention; (3) uncertainty about the policy evidence base and outcomes, and; (4) a focus on intervention as outcome. This study found that mechanistic planning heuristics (as a means of supporting implementation) fails to grapple with the indeterminate nature of population health problems. A new approach to planning and implementing public health interventions is required that recognises the complex and political nature of health problems; the inevitability of imperfect and contested evidence regarding intervention, and, future associated uncertainties.
- Policy implementation,
- health inequalities,
- men's health,
- planning frameworks,
- Scotland
Citation: Flora Douglas, Edwin van Teijlingen, Cairns Smith, Mandy Moffat. Implementing health policy: lessons from the Scottish Well Mens policy initiative[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2015, 2(4): 887-905. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2015.4.887

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Abstract

Background: Little is known about how health professionals translate national government health policy directives into action. This paper examines that process using the so-called Well Men's Services (WMS) policy initiative as a ‘real world’ case study. The WMS were launched by the Scottish Government to address men's health inequalities. Our analysis aimed to develop a deeper understanding of policy implementation as it naturally occurred, used an analytical framework that was developed to reflect the ‘rational planning' principles health professionals are commonly encouraged to use for implementation purposes. Methods and materials: A mixed-methods qualitative enquiry using a data archive generated during the WMS policy evaluation was used to critically analyze (post hoc) the perspectives of national policy makers, and local health and social care professionals about the: (a) ‘policy problem’, (b) interventions intended to address the problem, and (c) anticipated policy outcomes. Results and conclusions: This analysis revealed four key themes: (1) ambiguity regarding the policy problem and means of intervention; (2) behavioral framing of the policy problem and intervention; (3) uncertainty about the policy evidence base and outcomes, and; (4) a focus on intervention as outcome. This study found that mechanistic planning heuristics (as a means of supporting implementation) fails to grapple with the indeterminate nature of population health problems. A new approach to planning and implementing public health interventions is required that recognises the complex and political nature of health problems; the inevitability of imperfect and contested evidence regarding intervention, and, future associated uncertainties.

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