Developing a model for health determinants research within local government: lessons from a large, urban local authority

Wellcome Open Research

article

Jane West¹  John Wright¹  Sally Bridges¹  Chris Cartwright¹  Kayley Ciesla¹  Kate E. Pickett³  Robert Shore⁴  Phil Witcherley⁴  Mathew Flinders⁵  Rosemary R.C. McEachan¹  Mark Mon-Williams⁶  Pippa Bird⁴  Laura Lennon¹  Duncan Cooper⁴  Sarah Muckle⁴  Kersten England⁴  Trevor Sheldon⁷ 

[1] Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Hospitals National Health Service Trust;ScHARR, University of Sheffield;Health Sciences, University of York;Bradford Metropolitan District Council;Dept of Politics & International Relations, University of Sheffield;School of Psychology, University of Leeds;Institute of Population Health Sciences, Queen Mary University of London

关键词: Local Government;    research system;    public policy;    evidenced based policy;   

DOI  :  10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17195.2

学科分类：内科医学

来源: Wellcome

【 摘 要 】

Background: Socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions strongly affect health across the life course. Local government plays a key role in influencing these wider determinants of health and levels of inequality within their communities. However, they lack the research infrastructure and culture that would enable them to develop an evidence-based approach to tackling the complex drivers of those conditions.Methods: We undertook a scoping project using some research methods and some descriptive summaries to explore the potential for, and what would be needed to develop a local authority research system for the City of Bradford, UK. This included identifying the current research landscape and any barriers and enablers to research activity within the local authority using qualitative individual and focus group interviews, a rapid review of existing local research system models, scoping and description of the use of evidence in decision making and training opportunities and existing support for local government research.Results: We identified four key themes important to developing and sustaining a research system: leadership, resource and capacity, culture, partnerships. Some use of research in decision making was evident but research training opportunities within the local authority were limited. Health research funders are slowly adapting to the local government environment, but this remains limited and more work is needed to shift the centre of gravity towards public health, local government and the community more generally. Conclusions: We propose a model for a local authority research system that can guide the development of an exemplar whole system research framework that includes research infrastructure, data sharing, research training and skills, and co-production with local partners, to choose, use, generate, and deliver research in local government.

【 授权许可】

CC BY