Identifying public health policymakers' sources of information: comparing survey and network analyses
Identifying public health policymakers' sources of information: comparing survey and network analyses
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DOI：
10.1093/eurpub/ckv083
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发表时间：
2017-05-01
影响因子：
4.4
通讯作者：
Everett, Martin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Oliver, Kathryn A.;de Vocht, Frank;Everett, Martin
背景：研究表明，决策者经常利用个人联系来寻找信息和建议。然而，公共卫生决策者的主要信息来源尚不清楚。本研究旨在描述政策制定者的信息来源。方法：在大曼彻斯特（GM）的公共卫生政策制定者进行了问卷调查（回复率48%）。全球机制中所有参与公共卫生政策（发现、分析或产生信息，产生或执行政策）的主任级以上的政策行为者都包括在抽样框架内。向答卷人提供了一份信息来源清单，并询问他们使用哪些信息来源（分类数据），以及作为信息来源的具体个人的姓名（网络数据）。数据进行了分析，使用频率和网络analysis.Results：从分类数据的信息来源最常选择的是NICE，政府网站和公共卫生总监。然而，网络数据显示，网络中的主要信息来源实际上是NHS的中层管理人员，他们在公共卫生方面没有直接的专业知识。学者和研究人员没有在网络中的功能。结论：调查和网络分析提供了有用的见解，决策者如何获取信息。网络分析为循证政策辩论提供了实际和理论贡献。确定作为证据的主要使用者和制作者的个人，使学术界能够针对可能使用和传播其工作的行为者。
Background: Research suggests that policymakers often use personal contacts to find information and advice. However, the main sources of information for public health policymakers are not known. This study aims to describe policymakers' sources of information.Methods: A questionnaire survey of public health policymakers across Greater Manchester (GM) was carried out (response rate 48%). All policy actors above Director level involved in public health policy (finding, analyzing or producing information, producing or implementing policy) in GM were included in the sampling frame. Respondents were provided with a list of sources of information and asked which they used (categorical data) and to name specific individuals who acted as sources of information (network data). Data were analyzed using frequencies and network analysis.Results: The most frequently chosen sources of information from the categorical data were NICE, government websites and Directors of Public Health. However, the network data showed that the main sources of information in the network were actually mid-level managers in the NHS, who had no direct expertise in public health. Academics and researchers did not feature in the network.Conclusions: Both survey and network analyses provide useful insights into how policymakers access information. Network analysis offers practical and theoretical contributions to the evidence-based policy debate. Identifying individuals who act as key users and producers of evidence allows academics to target actors likely to use and disseminate their work.