health policy essay

75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on healthcare policy, ✍️ healthcare policy essay topics for college, 👍 good healthcare policy research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting healthcare policy research titles.

“The Importance of Healthcare Policy and Procedures”: The Significance of Policy
Nurse Activist: Healthcare Policy and Advocacy
Healthcare Policy, Leadership and Performance
Malnutrition and Patient Safety Healthcare Policy
Healthcare Collection Policies and Procedures
First Steps on Becoming a Grassroots Lobbyist or Advocate for Health Care Policy
ABC Hospital: Health Care Policy
Media in Healthcare Sector and Policy Speaking about the role of media in the relations between the healthcare sector and policy, one could say that it tends to revolve around various drawbacks peculiar to the given sector.
Patient Good Nutrition as a Healthcare Policy The paper identifies patient healthy nutrition as prioritized healthcare policy and defines an approach for communicating with a policymaker regarding this policy.
Advanced Practice Nurse: Healthcare Policy The paper states that advanced practice nurses could be a powerful asset to a medical organization and enhance the quality of provided healthcare.
Health Care Policy: Eliminating Systemic Racism The paper states that the policy can be considered a stepping stone for meaningful change in eliminating systemic racism from the healthcare industry.
Healthcare Policy Evaluation in the US vs. Mexico The implementation of healthcare programs aims to benefit the entire public. This paper seeks to evaluate the healthcare policy on central-line-associated bloodstream infection.
Health Care Policy for Veterans With Mental Illness The paper discusses The National Research Action Plan as the current policy designed in 2013 to improve the health services for veterans, service members, and their families.
The Significance of Healthcare Policy Healthcare policies significantly influence the quality of service rendered among patients since it is attributed to practitioners’ proficiency.
Health Care Fraud and Abuse Policies Fraud and abuse are concerning issues in the healthcare industry that involve unlawful billing practices and prohibited commercial arrangements.
Healthcare Policy Influences: COVID-19 Pandemic The research indicates that the impactful aspect of the economy of a nation became the most prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advice for Affordable Healthcare Policymakers There is a need for reforms that will make healthcare more affordable, yet not many solutions that have long-term effects on the issue are being implemented.
Healthcare Policy: Affordable Healthcare Act In 2010, President Barack Obama implemented the Affordable Care Act, which strived to provide access to medical services for most Americans.
PPACA: Healthcare Policy Analysis This paper explores and analyses the health care policy under the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Bush, Obama, and Trump: Healthcare Policy The following reflection will discuss how Bush, Obama, and Trump addressed the issues connected to AIDS and HIV.
Healthcare System Financing Policy Systems for financing healthcare are critical towards attaining health coverage universally. Raising funds can finance healthcare while focusing on significant barriers reduction.
The Importance of Health Care Policy in Society Health law, policies, and constitutional law are essential to society but when a conflict arises between the systems, it may cause complications in a patient’s health.
Healthcare Policy Change Implementation Plan The health care system should be continuously evolving. Nevertheless, in the USA, there are several legislation pieces that may provoke potential barriers.
Health Care: Public Policy Decisions As far as the value of human life is concerned, no dollar value can be placed on it. This can be attributed to an increase in the cost of health care.
National Dialogue on Healthcare Policies The national dialogue on healthcare policy provides a forum for physician-industry collaboration and discussion of critical issues to provide a way forward on emerging issues.
Healthcare Policy and Law Discussion Recap This paper is a revisit of the health care law to respond to certain raising issues regarding medical policies and legal regulations.
Are Nurses Becoming Influential in Health Care Policymaking? Many people associate politics with the government and political aspirants. However, politics exists in the healthcare systems.
The Healthcare Policy in the United States This essay looks at the current state of healthcare policies and the suitability of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Impact of Healthcare Policy Changes on Health Delivery Medical care systems are formed in order to meet medical. This paper will focus on the impact of the healthcare changes in the past and current health care delivery.
Healthcare Policy: Quality vs. Restrained Costs Trying to balance the healthcare budget while at the same time providing high-quality health services is a huge and challenging task for the US government.
America’s Healthcare Policy and Obamacare While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act does not consolidate America’s healthcare system, it plays a role in addressing inequalities and expanding public coverage.
Summary of My Health Care Policy Healthcare is a vital constituent in society. My healthcare policy entails the infusion of quality and affordability through increasing the availability of care processes.
Healthcare Dashboards: Potential Policies The function of dashboards has been expanding in the well-being area. They need to balance the visual viewpoints and the contained data to be essential for choice help.
The Healthcare Policy: Bill H.R. 3340 The bill will contribute to developing nurses’ ability to demonstrate cultural competence towards patients with different values, beliefs, and feelings.
Competing Interests in a Health Care Policy The selected issue is in the area of health care policy, as competing interests play a major role in the formulation of a health care policy.
Health Care Policy and Nurse Practitioner Practice Thus, this paper aims at explaining the meaning of health care policy and how it can impact the nurse practitioner practice.
Health Care Policy and Procedure Development Despite the new technologies implementation hospitals face the issue of elaborating on the process of patient transition from one care setting to another manually.
US Healthcare Policy: Obama’s Healthcare Reform President Barak Obama has a hard task ahead in making sure that the health situation of the country is addressed.
Healthcare Policy and Nursing: Affordable Care Act Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as a healthcare improvement initiative addresses multiple steps aimed at increased insurance and promotion of self-care
Home-Based Healthcare Policy and Clinical Practice The analysis of home-based healthcare service can help to consider this approach in detail and identify potential gaps with the goal of eliminating and avoiding them.
Healthcare Policy Issues: Health Equity One of the main healthcare policy issues that are currently in need of addressing is health equity (HE) (American Public Health Association).
Advocacy in Nursing: The Process of Healthcare Policymaking Nurses spend most of their time with patients, and thus they understand strengths and limitations of the healthcare system from a broad perspective based on firsthand experience.
Healthcare Policy Effects on Individual: Affordable Care Act This paper considers the effects of healthcare policy on individuals and policymaking implications using the example of the Affordable Care Act.
Health Care Policy: Florida House Bill 1277 The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze the data related to HB 1277 as a healthcare policy-priority issue for Florida and conclude regarding its importance for nursing.
Health Technologies in Healthcare Policy The selected public policy for this discussion is the use of health technologies in healthcare. Medical technologies and informatics are currently impacting the quality of medical care.
Healthcare Policy and Pfizer’s Nigeria Scandal The case of Pfizer’s scandal in Nigeria raises numerous ethical questions. The company was engaged in a number of research malpractices.
Healthcare Reform Policies in the United States Health care reform is an ongoing process whose aim is to transform or improve the quality of services available to different populations.
High-Quality Healthcare Access: Policy Change The selected policy change revolves around reinforcing the role of nurses as leaders to support the delivery of high-quality medical services to patients.
Health Care Policy in Mercy Miami Hospital This work is an interview with the employees at Mercy Miami Hospital, where underlines the importance of cultural differences as one of the main strengths of the organization.
Long-Term Care Facilities and Healthcare Policy The services included in long-term care are very diverse and involve such forms of care as assisted living, ADC (adult day health care), homemaker services, and nursing home care.
Health Care System: Cost Control Policy The main essence of the Michigan policy is that traditional payments for standard medical services are taken into account.
Medicaid and Michigan Healthcare Policy Medicaid is a program for medical insurance for all ages Americans with a low income funded not only by the federal but also a state government.
Nurses and New Health Care Policy Nursing roles have been already increased and developed considerably, and each new function is the possibility to improve health care for patients and speed up care delivery.
Childhood Vaccination as Healthcare Priority Policy Issue This essay presents the controversial issue of childhood vaccination as a healthcare priority policy issue that requires the immediate attention of legislators.
American Healthcare Policies and Nursing Role As the present case demonstrates, it is not always evident for nurses how the process of policy-making develops and correlates with public health stakeholders’ consideration.
Healthcare Advocacy and Its Impact on Healthcare Policy
Congressional Committees and Healthcare Policy
Healthcare Policy Affecting Access, Cost, and Quality
What Is Health Policy and What Role Does It Play in Nursing?
Defining Health and Identifying Influences on Healthcare Policy
What Is the Current Healthcare Policy in the US?
The Current Trends and Challenges Within the Healthcare Systems
Healthcare Policy and Improve Patient Care
What Is an Example of a Health Policy?
Healthcare Policy and Complications in the United States
Population-level Intervention and Information Collection in Dynamic Healthcare Policy
Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments
Market Competition: Implications for Healthcare Policy in the United States
The Importance of Healthcare Policy and Procedures
Healthcare Policy: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
What Is the Most Effective Healthcare System?
Healthcare Policy Bill and Changes to the Medicare
What Is the Purpose of a Health Policy?
Factors Influencing Nurse’s Participation in the Health Policy-making Process
Healthcare Policy and Economics in the Field of Nursing

Cite this post

Chicago (N-B)
Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2022, July 14). 75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-policy-essay-topics/

"75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 14 July 2022, studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-policy-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2022) '75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics'. 14 July.

1. StudyCorgi . "75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics." July 14, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-policy-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics." July 14, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-policy-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics." July 14, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-policy-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Healthcare Policy were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 8, 2024 .

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Health Care — Health Care Policy

Health Care Policy Essay Examples

What makes a good health care policy essay topics.

When it comes to writing a compelling health care policy essay, choosing the right topic is crucial. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, relevant, and informative. It should also provide a unique perspective on a pressing health care issue. Here are some recommendations on how to brainstorm and choose an essay topic, what to consider, and What Makes a Good essay topic.

To brainstorm for essay topics, start by considering current health care issues and controversies. Research recent developments and trends in health care policy, and consider the impact of these issues on society. Think about how these topics could be explored in an essay, and what unique angle you could take to analyze the issue.

When choosing an essay topic, consider the following factors: relevance, originality, and depth. A good health care policy essay topic should be relevant to current debates and discussions in the field. It should also offer a fresh perspective or unique take on an issue, rather than rehashing familiar arguments. Additionally, a good essay topic should allow for in-depth analysis and exploration, providing ample material for research and discussion.

In general, a good health care policy essay topic will be one that is both specific and broad enough to allow for comprehensive exploration. It should also be one that is of interest to you, as this will make the writing process more engaging and enjoyable.

Best Health Care Policy Essay Topics

When it comes to choosing the best health care policy essay topics, it's important to think outside the box. Here are some unique and thought-provoking essay topics that stand out from the ordinary:

The impact of technology on health care policy
The role of pharmaceutical companies in shaping health care policy
The ethics of health care rationing
The future of health care reform in the United States
The intersection of politics and health care policy
The influence of lobbyists on health care policy
The impact of globalization on health care policy
The role of social determinants in shaping health care policy
The implications of alternative medicine on health care policy
The role of public opinion in shaping health care policy

These topics offer a fresh perspective on health care policy and provide ample opportunity for in-depth analysis and discussion.

Health Care Policy essay topics Prompts

Looking for some creative prompts to inspire your health care policy essay? Here are five engaging prompts to get your creative juices flowing:

Imagine a world without health care policy. How would society function, and what would be the implications for public health?
If you could design your own health care policy, what would it look like? What principles would guide your policy, and how would it address current challenges in the health care system?
Consider a controversial health care issue, such as vaccination mandates or end-of-life care. Take a stance on the issue and defend your position with evidence and reasoning.
Explore the role of social media in shaping public perceptions of health care policy. How does social media influence public opinion, and what are the implications for health care advocacy and reform?
Reflect on a personal experience with the health care system, and consider how it relates to broader issues in health care policy. How has your experience shaped your perspective on health care policy, and what lessons can be drawn from it?

These prompts are designed to spark creativity and critical thinking, and to inspire unique and engaging essays on health care policy.

Pain in My Life: Lessons in Resilience and Healing

Informative paper about cancer, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Patch Adams Reflection Paper

The us healthcare policy: evaluation, analysis, and revision, why the american health care policy needs a reform, why nurses should be advocates of their patients, let us write you an essay from scratch.

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Service Development and Healthcare Policy

New medical policy & people's health, professional nursing holds a unique place in the american health care system, a fitness self-assessment to evaluate overall health and fitness status, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

The Negative Effects of The Current Health Care Reform Bill

Blending of technology and care, the importance of medical supplies, the role of the midwife in the healthcare, how to solve the problem of nursing turnover within the american healthcare system, an overview of elderly population assessments, analysis of immigration policy in health care of the us, the health care system in canada: overcrowding in hospitals, negative & positive ways food affect our health, impact of telemedicine in the health sector, importance of pain control measures for phlebotomy procedure, indiana's health challenges, social injustice of nurses and wound champions, a paper on the concept of ‘care’ in social responsibility and health practices, promoting public health and wellbeing, mobile devices in healthcare, a study of tobacco company's defiance on america's public health policies, health through muslim culture, safety management system: osha, development of health policy since 1945 as a result to welfare ideologies, relevant topics.

Affordable Care Act
Universal Health Care
Nursing Care Plan
Healthcare Crisis

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Healthcare Policy Essay

Healthcare Policy : Health And Healthcare

Simultaneously, health and healthcare policy plays a tremendous role in the quality of life of every American. Likewise, by the government constantly interceding, health and healthcare is significantly influenced by the political climate and undertakings of administration; therefore creating a conflictual split between republicans and democrats. Health care is regarded as a product rather than a human right shaped by policymaking. Policies establish healthcare service stipulations, which are rooted

Healthcare Policies

responsible for the formulation of healthcare policies in the United States. There are other non-governmental organizations such as professional and ethics bodies that provide rules and guidelines in some health care policies. The sources of law involved in judicial decisions for healthcare policy is known as the case or common law. The judiciary (Supreme Court, federal courts etc.) will be the least suited source of law to exact an impact on healthcare policies. The Judiciary has limited control

Public Healthcare Policy

problematic is that of healthcare coverage. The logic behind this fact is fairly simple; improved health care coverage can ameliorate many of the issues that stem from ineffective health promotion and health inequities. It is a widely confirmed fact that in certain parts of the world such as Israel in which "the law provides a standardized insurance package of medical services for all residents" (Machnes, 2006, p. 265) there are a number of countries in which universal healthcare is a reality. In these

The Current Healthcare Policy : A Stable Healthcare System

The current healthcare policy cannot be maintained in its current form due to a constantly increasing population/aging population and the decreasing of government funding. Healthcare is an important element and is used to promote the betterment of individuals within a country. Healthcare is essential to most individuals as it provides treatment of illness or injury, prevention of diseases and assists with other impairments (www.en.wikipedia.org). A stable healthcare system provides reliable care

Health Policy And Strategies Of Healthcare

Health Policy and Strategies In 2014, healthcare changed drastically as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed in legislation mandating health insurance coverage for an additional 50 million Americans. This influx of people into the healthcare delivery system would put pressure to provide quality care and decrease expenditures (Hamric, Hanson, Tracy, & O’Grady, 2014, p. 579). Advanced practice nurses (APNs) must be proactive in improving health policies at their institutions

Policy And Economics Of Healthcare Delivery

POLICY AND ECONOMICS OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: ASSIGNMENT PART B. Health System Sustainability is attracting unprecedented global attention, particularly from organisations such as the WHO and OECD. Discuss (i) Why sustainability is becoming an important health system objective in industrialised nations; and (ii) Two policies that could potentially alleviate the economic pressures faced by modern health care systems. COURSE: MSC. HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY MODULE: POLICY AND ECONOMICS

Healthcare Providers And Policy Makers

2012). This demographic transition is associated with a variety of implications on disease burden, disability and dependency, healthcare systems, and socioeconomic policies, especially for countries that are already strained in these resources. This systematic review yields four main conclusions in regards to addressing some of the issues that healthcare providers and policy makers in LDCs will have to act upon in order to avoid a drastic future for their ageing populations. First and foremost the

How Healthcare Policy Influences The Working Of The Healthcare Sector

Developing Collaborative Practice BANS Sept 12 Interprofessional Working and Healthcare Policy Charlotte Walker 19010944 3,187 words 22/06/2015 This essay will explore how healthcare policy influences interproferssional working in the healthcare sector. I will reflect upon a practice based situation related to a service user and discuss how this is linked to the policy 'Our health, our care, our say ' (Department of Health, 2006). I will also provide a self-assessment of my current

The Pros And Cons Of Healthcare Policy

• The healthcare policy in our country is taking things way too far, in my opinion. It may not be completely bad because a lot more people have healthcare, but at the same time it is a completely ridiculous policy that forces people to be on healthcare and penalizes those who won’t or can’t. We are supposed to be a free country, not a country that forces things upon its people. I have family that is in a sort of catch 22. They cannot afford to have health insurance because they are in poverty, yet

Healthcare Systems Are Influenced By Domestic Policy

With the world becoming increasingly focused on global health there are elements that must be addressed in order to effectively analyze a healthcare system. There are instances in which healthcare systems are influenced by both domestic policy as well as international policy. The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) is an international development agenda agreed upon by 189 countries worldwide focused on addressing the most urgent global development (Skolnik, 2012). By agreeing to this agenda, countries

Healthcare Policy Essays (Examples)

1000+ documents containing “healthcare policy” .

Filter by Keywords:(add comma between each)

Healthcare policy.

Healthcare Policy Analysis The objective of this study is to conduct a healthcare policy analysis and recommend changes. Presently, there is not an across-the-board implementation of Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) or prescriptions and this can be critical in reducing adverse drug events. This study argues that the use of the Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) should be implemented and utilized across the entire health care system. Review of Studies on the Use of CPOE The work of Steele and Derow (nd) states that computerized provider order entry (CPOE) is an electronic process "that allows a health care provider to enter orders electronically and to manage the results of those orders. CPOE has received increased attention, based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports, To Err Is Human: uilding a Safer Health System and Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, and the recommendation of the Leapfrog Group (a….

Bibliography

Steele, AM and DeBrow, M (nd0 Efficiency Gains with Computerized Provider Order Entry. Retrieved from: http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patient-safety-resources/resources/advances-in-patient-safety-2/vol4/Advances-Steele_100.pdf

Berger, RG and Kichak, JP (2004) Computerized Physician Order Entry: Helpful or Harmful. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2004 Mar-Apr 11(2) 100-103. PubMed. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC353014/

Walsh, KE et al. (2008) Effect of Computer Order Entry on Prevention of Serious Medication Errors in Hospitalized Children. Pediatrics 2008 Mar 121(3). Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18310162

Potts, A. (2004) Computerized physician order entry and medication errors in a pediatric critical care unit. Pediatrics. 2004 Jan;113(1 Pt 1):59-63. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14702449

Healthcare Policy: An Overview of the Uninsured and Underinsured in America An alarming number of people in the United States today do not have health-care coverage. Many of these people live in urban areas and their income is below the official government poverty line. However, some of them make up to 200% of the government poverty amount, and not all of these uninsured and underinsured individuals are inner-city minority individuals. According to a recent press release put out by the Kaiser family foundation, 75% of individuals in the United States who don't have health insurance or who recently had a gap or lapse in their health insurance were working families. These people can work full-time or part-time, and some of them are the husband or wife of someone who is working. These people are not uninsured because their health problems do not allow companies to provide them with insurance, or because they don't want….

Blumberg & Liska, 1996.

Ginsberg, E, 1994. Improving health care for the poor. Journal of the American Medical Association 464-467.

Healthcare Policy Systems Hong Kong Australia Vouchers

Healthcare Policy Systems: Hong Kong, Australia VOUCHERS FOR THE ELDERLY Healthcare Policy Systems in Hong Kong and Australia Primary Health Care for the Elderly in Hong Kong Primary care is the starting point in the healthcare process (PCO, 2011). A good one is made available to the public for a comprehensive, holistic, coordinated and in locations accessible to where people live or work. It also provides preventive care and optimal disease management. In Hong Kong, approximately 70% of clinical consultations are made with primary care practitioners belonging to the private sector. The public sector, on the other hand, acquires primary care from hospitals through outpatient services and the Department of Health for preventive public health services, health promotion and disease prevention and management programs and services (PCO; Woo, 2007). Primary care has been emphasized as a priority in international for a and reports, such as the 1978 International Conference on Primary Care, the World Health….

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Althaus, C., et al. (2007). The Australian Policy Handbook. Sydney: Allen & Unwin

BBC (20140. Australia profile. BBC News Asia. Retrieved on January 23, 2014 from http://bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15674351

Bridgman, et al. (2000). What use is a policy cycle? Plenty, if the aim is clear.

Controversy: National Cycle of the Institute of Public Administration. Retrieved on January 19, 2014 from http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au?_data/assets/pdf_policy_life_cycle.PDF

Healthcare System in South Africa Healthcare Policy

Healthcare System in South Africa Healthcare policy Influences on public health outcomes Critical analysis of the pressures on the health care delivery It is observed that there are numerous cultures, societies, political systems in the world. The governments regulate the social systems according to the political, cultural, and economic condition of a country. The structure of healthcare systems is also an extension of the country's political system. It is observed that the characteristics of each society and culture are major factors defining the healthcare system followed in a country. There are multiple models available in the world for healthcare systems. All have their own advantages and disadvantages for societies living in respective countries. An example can be quoted that United Sates healthcare system is different from most followed system in European countries. Similarly the systems followed in other parts of the world are also significantly different including Asia, Africa, and Middle East. These differences….

Bibliography:

Clark, D 2009, South Africa: The People, Crabtree Publishing, USA.

Cooper, D, Moodley, J, Zweigenthal, V, Bekker, LG, Shah, I & Myer, L 2009, Fertility intentions and reproductive health care needs of people living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa: implications for integrating reproductive health and HIV care services, AIDS and Behavior, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 38-46.

Coovadia, H, Jewkes, R, Barron, P, Sanders, D & McIntyre, D 2009, The health and health system of South Africa: historical roots of current public health challenges, The Lancet, Vol. 374, No. 9692, pp. 817-834.

De Haan, M, Dennill, K & Vasuthevan, S 2005, The health of southern Africa, Juta and Company Ltd.

Healthcare Policy Hospital Policy Issues

Even with health care that lies outside of government control, cost can be an issue when it affects voter decision-making. Usually, however, politicians are much less concerned about the costs of private enterprise transactions. Tax payers are always looking for value, especially in public services. Even when tax payers want health care -- and they usually do for seniors -- they still consider cost control to be an important aspect of that care. Board members are oriented towards controlling the cost of health care, because when costs are controlled, profits are increased. Staff members usually have little cost orientation, because they are not involved in the financial aspects of their jobs. Quality of care within an organized hospital system: Administrators usually are concerned about the quality of care, in balance with cost. Most organized systems like to offer a high standard of care, as this is a key point of competitive advantage. Most patients want….

Health Care Policy Issue Analysis

Lack of a comprehensive education and lack of knowledge in EBP could lead many of the nurses that work in hospitals around the country to make errors, which would negatively affect the patient care and predispose them to increased chances of litigation. This issue also has the potential to undermine the support for evidence-based practice among many health care providers (Gerrish & Clayton, 2004). Evidence-based practice is also not restricted to the context of the individual patient, but is extended to all areas of healthcare systems and healthcare policy-making. Evidence-based practice is therefore seen to be not only an important means to the improvement of the quality of medical care in this country, but also as an instrument to control the costs (Gerrish & Clayton, 2004). In view of the scarcity of health care resources that are seen in this country, the decisions on allocation of care will need to be….

Atkins, D., Siegal, J. & Slutsky, J.(2005). Making policy when the evidence is in dispute. Health Affairs, 24, 1, 102-113.

Brown, G.C., Brown, M.M. & Sharma, S. (2000). Health care in the 21st century: evidence-based medicine, patient preference-based quality, and cost effectiveness.

Quality Management in Health Care, 9, 1, 23-31.

Clancy, C.M. & Cronin, K. (2005). Evidenced-based decision making: global evidence, local decisions. Health Affairs,

Healthcare Policy Western Philosophical Thought and the

Healthcare Policy Western Philosophical Thought and the Delivery of the Public Health System Improving healthcare behaviors and access to public healthcare has been a key issue of debate among politicians and officials on all levels of the government for quite some time. The ability to improve individual behaviors that result in improved health have an impact on society. The healthcare system is already overwhelmed and there is an urgent need to convince people to take responsibility for their own health by making positive changes in their daily lifestyle. Access to healthcare among certain socioeconomic classes and cultural populations has been an ongoing problem in the public health arena as well. This research takes a multidisciplinary approach to developing public policies that will result in improvements in each of these areas. This research will result in recommendations for policies that will effectively achieve these goals. Introduction In the United States, we are fortunate to have….

Finnell, D. (2010). Transtheoretical Model. UB School of Nursing. Retrieved May 18, 2011 from http://nursing.buffalo.edu/Research/TranstheoreticalModel.aspx

Gutting, G. (2008). Michel Foucault. Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved May 18, 2011 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/foucault/ .

Jones, R. (2009). The Durkheim Pages. Retrieved May 18, 2011. from http://durkheim.uchicago.edu/

Lewis, H. (2001). Boas, Darwin, Science, and Anthropology. Current Anthropology. 42 (1): 381-406. Retrieved May 18, 2011 from http://www.anthropology.wisc.edu/pdfs/Boas,_Darwin.pdf

Health Care Policy in the United States

Health Care Policy in the United States Today Under the Obama Administration: The Issue of Abortion The objective of this study is to examine how well government's role in health care is working and how it may be improved and to evaluate the current health care policy in America and determine how it could be improved to please both the public and the government. Current Policies on Abortion Nine U.S. states including: (1) Alabama; (2) Georgia; (3) Idaho; (4) Kansas; (5) Louisiana; (6) Nebraska; (7) Indiana; (8) North Carolina; and (8) Arizona, has enacted laws prohibiting abortions at 20 weeks and in some states even earlier. The basis of these laws is the theory that a fetus "from 20 weeks onward can experience pain from an abortion procedure." (The Pew Forum, 2013, p.1) Arizona is reported to have enacted a fetal plan law that is very rigorous in that abortions are barred at….

Abortion Policy in the Absence of Roe (2013) State Policies Brief. Guttmacher Institute. 1 Mar 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_APAR.pdf

History of Abortion (2012) National Abortion Federation. Retrieved from: http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/history_abortion.html

Masci, D (2013) A History of Key Abortion Rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Pew Forum. 16 Jan 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.pewforum.org/Abortion/A-History-of-Key-Abortion-Rulings-of-the-U.S.-Supreme-Court.aspx

U.S. Abortion Law (2013) Abort73.com. Retrieved from: http://www.abort73.com/abortion_facts/us_abortion_law/

Healthcare Policy Formation Healthcare Policy

" (2007, p. 284) Smith asks if "the desire to eliminate health disparities by rooting out the social disease underlying them inspire nursing to find itself again?" (2007, p. 284) Smith also asks if health disparities, being despicable and laden with shame can somehow, through the response of nursing, actually "serve a higher purpose" through "reawakening the caring" aspect of nursing? (2007, p. 284) Indeed, it is held by Smith that nursing "the premier profession for caring" may have very well "become contaminated...infected by a selfishness that is gaining ground, credence and sanction" within the society of today. (Smith, 2007) Smith holds that selfishness is a disease that "...in a mild form" results in a "loss of social capital and community engagement in the United States." (2007, p. 284) Smith notes that the work of Krugman (2002) states very candidly that "we live in the new Gilded Age where 13,000….

Health Care Policy Bill Formulation

It is significantly affecting and endangering the future of millions of young people in the nation. Additionally, there are several challenges on the issue of the overall drug use in the United States. To understand the issue of drug and substance abuse fully, and the subsequent need for proper legislation to handle the challenge, it is crucial to assess the impacts of the issue in the country. According to the health expenditure report on the year 2011-2012 budget, the sectors spend a total of $29 billion on issues associated with drug and substance abuse treatment and care (Swartz, 2012). This is a gargantuan penalty to pay for a preventable case, only if the right provisions and regulations are in place. The impacts of substance abuse on the individual are an unending string of interrelated issues. For instance, the negative impacts associated with the substance abuse on the health of the….

Swartz, J. (2012). Substance abuse in America: A documentary and reference guide. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood.

Kleiman, M., Caulkins, J.P., & Hawken, a. (2011). Drugs and drug policy: What everyone needs to know. New York: Oxford University Press.

Hanson, G., Venturelli, P.J., & Fleckenstein, a.E. (2012). Drugs and society. Sudbury, MA:

Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Healthcare Policy and Financing

Healthcare Policy & Financing Obesity Prevention and Control Program -- eight atcher / alking Group ONE (a): Define the problem that will be addressed in this paper A significant proportion of the American public is becoming obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "…more than a third (34.9%) of adults was obese in 2011-2012" (CDC). That is approximately 78 million Americans that have put themselves at risk of diabetes, deteriorating heart conditions, cancer, and other diseases related to obesity. In particular, men between the age of 40 and 59 years have a higher rate of obesity (39.4%) than other sectors of the population. A healthy program for weight loss for men in the 40-59 age bracket is being promoted by a local clinic, thanks to grants totaling $344,000 from local foundations and from the federal government. TO (b): Provide basic budget data that reflects the cost of the health promotion Three Fixed….

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults:

United States, 2011-2012. Retrieved December 25, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov .

Landau, E. (2012). Health care costs to bulge along with U.S. waistlines. CNN. Retrieved

December 25, 2013, from http://www.cnn.com .

Health Care Policy

Governmental oles The political system and the medical profession are entangled in many ways. The serious nature of medicine and healing the sick and ill requires a collective guide in order to ensure that proper and sustainable care is offered at all times. When problems arise due to changes in the environment or culture, government officials are often asked to solve these problems that influence a great number of people. In essence, public policy is in the public's best interest according to the democratic functioning of our local, state and federal government agencies that overlook the medical profession in a variety of ways and methods. The purpose of this essay is to identify how problems become policy issues and how these issues result in the creation of health care policy. Additionally, this essay will address the controversial issue of abortion and provide an understanding of how this policy was created. This essay….

American Medical Association (nd). Developing AMA Policies. Viewed 21 Feb 2015. Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/house - delegates/developing-ama-policies.page?

Field, M.J., & Lo, B. (Eds.). (2009). Conflict of interest in medical research, education, and practice. National Academies Press.

Hyman, M. (2014). Money, Politics, and Health Care: A Disease-Creation Economy -- Part I.

Lo, B. (2010). Serving two masters -- conflicts of interest in academic medicine. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(8), 669-671.

Healthcare Policy Issues and Implications

In essence, it incentivizes both wellness and economic responsibility (Kennedy, 2006; eid 2009). Healthcare Information Technology in elation to Cost and Quality Control In my clinical experience, modern healthcare information technology has impacted my practice beneficially in two principal ways: (1) by helping to eliminate provider errors in medication administration, and (2) by providing quantitative data to help identify weaknesses in healthcare delivery. The use of computerized medication logging has frequently flagged errors in medication administration that, in all likelihood, would not have been prevented without the computer system. Typical examples in my experience have included instances of overmedication, incorrect selection of medications, and contraindicated combinations of medications that had escaped the attention of prescribing providers and nurses responsible for actual medication administration. With respect to the use of medical information systems to improve the quality of care, I have had the opportunity to see institutions use information systems successfully to address….

Kennedy, E. (2006). America: Back on Track. Viking: New York.

Reid, T. (2009). The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. New York: Penguin Group.

Health Care Policy Analysis

N isk prevention policy in practice The proposed study looks at lateral violence in U.S. healthcare institutions, through the scope of policy formation as it pertains to medical malpractice and organizational behavior in healthcare institutions. In recent years, investigations into lateral violence (LV) in the practice setting have become increasingly important as professional liability to 'duty' in patient care has been put under the microscope. In Tarasoff v. The egents of the University of California [S.F. No. 23042, Supreme Court of California, July 1, 1976], a wrongful death action filed against egents of the University of California, charged that psychotherapists at a university hospital and campus policemen, had failed to respond adequately to information of patient, Prosenjit Poddar's intention to murder Tatiana Tarasoff in October of 1969. Charges against the egents of University of California, alleged that Poddar confided homicidal ideation toward the victim Tatiana to Dr. Lawrence Moore, a psychologist employed….

American Nurses Association. (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD.: American Nurses Association.

Bartholomew, K. (2006). Ending nurse-to nurse hostility. Marblehead, MA 01945: HCPRO, Inc.

Camden, C. et al. (2009). SWOT analysis of a pediatric rehabilitation programme: A participatory evaluation fostering quality improvement. Center of Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Research and the Estrie Rehabilitation Center. Quebec: Universite de Montreal.

Center for American Nurses. (2007). Bullying in the workplace: Reversing a culture. Silver Spring, MD: Center for American Nurses.

Health Care Policy Development Process

Health Care Policy on Nurses' Delivery of Patient Care Health care policy is usually developed and enacted in order to address various issues relating to health care delivery with the aim of improving patient outcome. These policies are usually centered on addressing health care cost, quality or access, or a combination of these three factors. Given the nature of their interactions with patients, nurses are health care professionals who are well suited to be effective, knowledgeable advocates for their patients. Generally, health care policies have considerable impacts on nurses with regards to the provision of health care. This is primarily because competent nurses are required to show their commitment to action through being part of relevant decisions and policies that ensures effective patient care delivery in a cost-effective way (Milstead, 2013, p.1). An example of a health care policy that was recently developed and enacted and has considerable impacts on nursing….

Anderson, A. (2014, March 18). The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on the Health Care Workforce. Retrieved October 12, 2015, from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/03/the-impact-of-the-affordable-care-act-on-the-health-care-workforce

Milstead, J.A. (2013). Health policy and politics: a nurse's guide (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Could you guide me in selecting essay topics that cover puracebo effect?

Essay Topics on the Placebo Effect Introduction: The placebo effect, a fascinating phenomenon, arises when individuals experience significant health improvements after receiving an inactive or fake treatment. This effect highlights the power of the mind and its ability to influence physiological responses. Exploring the placebo effect offers valuable insights into the complexities of health and well-being. 1. The Mechanisms Behind the Placebo Effect Investigate the psychological and physiological processes that contribute to the placebo effect. Discuss the role of expectation, conditioning, and cognitive biases in shaping the experience. Explore the potential involvement of neurochemical pathways, such as the release of endorphins. 2. Placebo Effect....

I need some suggestions for health care policy essay topics. Can you offer any?

1. The impact of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) on access to healthcare in the United States 2. The effectiveness of Medicare and Medicaid in providing affordable healthcare to low-income and elderly populations 3. The future of universal healthcare in the United States 4. The role of pharmaceutical companies in rising healthcare costs 5. The importance of mental health coverage in healthcare policies 6. The debate over the privatization of healthcare services 7. The impact of electronic health records on patient care and privacy 8. The implications of genetic testing and personalized medicine on healthcare policy 9. The role of preventative care and public health initiatives in reducing....

Need help generating essay topics related to Universal Healthcare. Can you help?

1. The Ethical Imperative of Universal Healthcare Explore the moral obligation to provide healthcare to all citizens, regardless of their financial status or social background. Discuss the consequences of denying healthcare to vulnerable populations and the impact it has on society as a whole. Examine the ethical principles that should guide the design and implementation of universal healthcare systems. 2. The Economic Benefits of Universal Healthcare Analyze the potential economic advantages of universal healthcare, such as reduced healthcare costs, increased productivity, and reduced poverty. Consider the impact of universal healthcare on businesses and the economy at large. Evaluate the long-term economic....

Would you be able to provide me with ideas for essay topics on policy?

1. The impact of economic policy on income inequality 2. The effectiveness of gun control policies in reducing violence 3. The role of government in regulating technology and privacy 4. The implications of education policy on student success and equity 5. The benefits and drawbacks of implementing a universal basic income policy 6. The impact of climate change policies on the economy and environment 7. The role of immigration policies in shaping cultural diversity and economic growth 8. The importance of healthcare policy in addressing healthcare access and affordability 9. The debates surrounding criminal justice reform and policies on sentencing and rehabilitation 10. The challenges and opportunities of implementing....

Healthcare Policy: An Overview of the Uninsured and Underinsured in America An alarming number of people in the United States today do not have health-care coverage. Many of these people live…

Research Paper

Even with health care that lies outside of government control, cost can be an issue when it affects voter decision-making. Usually, however, politicians are much less concerned about…

Lack of a comprehensive education and lack of knowledge in EBP could lead many of the nurses that work in hospitals around the country to make errors, which…

Women's Issues - Abortion

Health Care Policy in the United States Today Under the Obama Administration: The Issue of Abortion The objective of this study is to examine how well government's role in health…

Research Proposal

Health - Nursing

" (2007, p. 284) Smith asks if "the desire to eliminate health disparities by rooting out the social disease underlying them inspire nursing to find itself again?" (2007, p.…

Sports - Drugs

It is significantly affecting and endangering the future of millions of young people in the nation. Additionally, there are several challenges on the issue of the overall drug…

Healthcare Policy & Financing Obesity Prevention and Control Program -- eight atcher / alking Group ONE (a): Define the problem that will be addressed in this paper A significant proportion of the…

Governmental oles The political system and the medical profession are entangled in many ways. The serious nature of medicine and healing the sick and ill requires a collective guide in…

N isk prevention policy in practice The proposed study looks at lateral violence in U.S. healthcare institutions, through the scope of policy formation as it pertains to medical malpractice and…

Health Care Policy on Nurses' Delivery of Patient Care Health care policy is usually developed and enacted in order to address various issues relating to health care delivery with…

Open access
Published: 23 September 2014

Health policy – why research it and how: health political science

Evelyne de Leeuw 1 ,
Carole Clavier 2 &
Eric Breton 3

Health Research Policy and Systems volume 12 , Article number: 55 ( 2014 ) Cite this article

48k Accesses

121 Citations

66 Altmetric

Metrics details

The establishment of policy is key to the implementation of actions for health. We review the nature of policy and the definition and directions of health policy. In doing so, we explicitly cast a health political science gaze on setting parameters for researching policy change for health. A brief overview of core theories of the policy process for health promotion is presented, and illustrated with empirical evidence.

The key arguments are that (a) policy is not an intervention, but drives intervention development and implementation; (b) understanding policy processes and their pertinent theories is pivotal for the potential to influence policy change; (c) those theories and associated empirical work need to recognise the wicked, multi-level, and incremental nature of elements in the process; and, therefore, (d) the public health, health promotion, and education research toolbox should more explicitly embrace health political science insights.

The rigorous application of insights from and theories of the policy process will enhance our understanding of not just how, but also why health policy is structured and implemented the way it is.

Peer Review reports

Background: policy is not an intervention

Systems perspectives on population health development entered research and practice agendas from the early 1980s. Two complementary traditions emerged; McLeroy et al. [ 1 ] consider health behaviour change as the resultant of the complex interaction between behavioural determinants and higher-level environmental and policy conditions. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion [ 2 ] emphasises the development of supportive environments, reorientation of health services, and building of health public policy to enable societies making healthier choices the easier choices. Neither tradition has managed to comprehensively shift research focus, nor has it generated evidence of effectiveness from individual behaviourist perspectives to deep insight in the workings of broader social determinants of health.

Yet, the capacity to develop and assess policy processes for health promotion has been appreciated and formalized across jurisdictions. For Europe, the CompHP Core Competencies Framework for Health Promotion Handbook ([ 3 ], p. 1) states that: " A competent workforce that has the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities in translating policy, theory and research into effective action is recognised as being critical to the future growth and development of global health promotion ". Paragraph 5.7 of the Australian Health Promotion Association’s Core Competencies for Health Promotion Practitioners [ 4 ] states that " an entry level health promotion practitioner is able to demonstrate knowledge of: health promotion strategies to promote health—health education, advocacy, lobbying, media campaigns, community development processes, policy development, legislation ". Interestingly, the most detailed listing of policy competencies is provided by the US National Commission for Health Education Credentialing under section ‘7.5 Influence Policy to Promote Health’ [ 5 ], as indicated below.

7.5.1 Use evaluation and research findings in policy analysis;

7.5.2 Identify the significance and implications of health policy for individuals, groups, and communities;

7.5.3 Advocate for health-related policies, regulations, laws, or rules;

7.5.4 Use evidence-based research to develop policies to promote health;

7.5.5 Employ policy and media advocacy techniques to influence decision-makers.

Yet, for many health educators and health promoters ‘policy’ is a critical yet elusive concept [ 6 ]. On the one hand, they recognise public policy as a critical element in shaping the opportunities for the profession and setting the parameters for its effectiveness [ 7 ]. On the other, they consider policy as an abstract construct best left to politicians, or as a distal determinant of health that can be changed following Cartesian heuristics. Those that have attempted the latter and have failed would claim that policy-making is not just abstract but obscure, without any appreciable logic.

Within the health promotion and health education realm the discourse around policy has been obfuscated further by lumping policy change together with ‘environmental’ perspectives on ‘(social) ecological’ approaches for promoting or improving health behaviour [ 8 ]. Most of the North American literature remains implicit and surprisingly limited in defining, describing, or operationalising what such policy change is or encompasses. For instance, Kahn-Marshall and Gallant [ 9 ] carried out a meta-analysis to assess whether there is demonstrable effect of environmental and policy change on workplace health. However, nowhere in the piece they operationalise what precisely constitutes ‘policy change’ (or for that matter, ‘environmental change’) – it appears to be some undefined notion of modification in organisational parameters.

In this paper, we contend that public health experts, health educators, and health promoters would benefit from considering public policy through the lens of political science rather than through the lens of intervention research. The key arguments are (a) that policy is not an intervention, but drives intervention development and implementation; (b) that understanding policy processes and their pertinent theories is pivotal for the potential to influence policy change; (c) that those theories and associated empirical work need to recognise the wicked, multi-level, and incremental nature of elements in the process; and, therefore, (d) that the health promotion and education research toolbox should more explicitly embrace health political science insights.

Health, policy

Although this is not the place to fully review the academic and practice-oriented discourse around the concepts of ‘health’ or ‘policy’, it seems important to delineate a few issues around the use and application of the expression ‘health policy’.

Policy is in itself a fuzzy concept for political science scholars, variably apprehended as " The actions of government and the intentions that determine those actions " [ 10 ], or rather " Anything a government chooses to do or not to do " ([ 11 ], p. 2). Some would simply see policy as ‘The Plan’ or ‘The Law’ [ 6 ]. Richards and Smith say that " ‘Policy’ is a general term used to describe a formal decision or plan of action adopted by an actor … to achieve a particular goal… ‘Public policy’ is a more specific term applied to a formal decision or a plan of action that has been taken by, or has involved, a state organisation " [ 12 ]. De Leeuw [ 13 ], and Breton and De Leeuw [ 14 ], follow a European tradition in political science that specifies public policy as " the expressed intent of government to allocate resources and capacities to resolve an expressly identified issue within a certain timeframe " . The latter clearly distinguishes between the policy issue, its resolution, and the tools or policy instruments that should be dedicated to attaining that resolution.

Health policy is possibly an even fuzzier term. It has been described unequivocally as " policy that aims to impact positively on population health " [ 15 ] and has been framed as equivalent to " healthy public policy " [ 16 ]. Milio [ 17 ], the first to coin the latter term, later developed a glossary in which she states that " Healthy public policies improve the conditions under which people live: secure, safe, adequate, and sustainable livelihoods, lifestyles, and environments, including housing, education, nutrition, information exchange, child care, transportation, and necessary community and personal social and health services. Policy adequacy may be measured by its impact on population health. " More recently, healthy public policies reincarnated as Health in All Policies [ 18 , 19 ]: " a collaborative approach to improving the health of all people by incorporating health considerations into decision-making across sectors and policy areas. " Variations on this theme have been compiled by Rudolph et al. [ 19 ].

HiAP conceptualisations (Appendix, Rudolph et al., 2013) [ 19 ]

" Health in All Policies is a collaborative approach that integrates and articulates health considerations into policy making across sectors, and at all levels, to improve the health of all communities and people. " – Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO).

" Health in All Policies is a collaborative approach to improving the health of all people by incorporating health considerations into decision-making across sectors and policy areas. " –California Health in All Policies Task Force.

" Health in All Policies is the policy practice of including, integrating or internalizing health in other policies that shape or influence the [Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)] …Health in All Policies is a policy practice adopted by leaders and policy makers to integrate consideration of health, well-being and equity during the development, implementation and evaluation of policies. " – European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

" Health in All Policies is an innovative, systems change approach to the processes through which policies are created and implemented. " – National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

" Health in All Policies aims to improve the health of the population through increasing the positive impacts of policy initiatives across all sectors of government and at the same time contributing to the achievement of other sectors’ core goals. " – South Australia.

‘Health policy’ , thus, is both Healthy Public Policy and Health in All Policy, and may include public health policy and health care policy. Public health policy can be conceived either as public sector (government) policy for population health (public health policy) or any policy (including corporate and other civil society approaches) concerned with the public’s health (public health policy).

‘Health care policy’ in principle focuses on health care as the organised enterprise of curing or caring for disease, disability, and infirmity, and includes efforts at regulating and organising health care professions, pharmaceuticals, financing of the healthcare system, and access to healthcare facilities. Health care in essence is disease care [ 20 ] and at its core focuses on individual outcomes rather than population issues. This is potentially confusing as in most nation-states the healthcare system includes the public health system, although efforts have been made to separate the two, for instance in Canada with the creation of the (short-lived) Health Promotion Directorate following the publication of the Lalonde Report [ 21 ], and in Kenya with a ministerial public health and sanitation portfolio [ 22 ].

When the literature refers to ‘health policy’, it usually convolutes several of the above demarcations. Most often, the phrase ‘health policy’ will be used to talk about health care policy, i.e., when actually disease or healthcare policy is meant. Admittedly, health care policy research is already a dominant and powerful driver of developments in health political science, both in terms of the number of studies and in terms of the theoretical developments it yields. However, in its scope and impact, healthcare policy research is less interested in the politics of population health. In analysing the impact and outcome of health policy, therefore, any scholar should conscientiously delineate what s/he (a) considers ‘policy’ to be, and (b) considers as the scope of ‘health’. In this paper, we use the phrase health policy in a broader way to designate all government action to improve population health, i.e., Healthy Public Policy and Health in All Policy.

The policy process

Studying health policy requires an understanding of its development process. This is particularly important if we want to have an impact on the direction of policy and its framed health objectives. The application of theories of the policy process would enable an appreciation of the range of stakeholders and determinants of policy choice. Mackenbach [ 23 ] recently called for the further development of a ‘political epidemiology’ identifying the causal effects of political variables (structures, processes, outputs) on population health. In fact, the political sciences have developed a powerful toolbox of theories of the policy process framing these political variables (notably the work of Sabatier [ 24 ] with recent updates by Nowlin [ 25 ] and Schlager and Weible [ 26 ]).

Some of the theories that have been tried and tested include the event-driven Multiple Streams Theory empirically developed by Kingdon [ 27 ]; the Punctuated Equilibrium framework by Baumgartner and Jones [ 28 ], in which long periods of policy stability are alternated by general shifts in policy perspectives and ambitions; the Advocacy Coalition Framework [ 29 , 30 ] that emphasises the importance of coalition formation of camps of proponents and opponents to new policy directions; the Policy Domains approach coming from different perspectives on network governance [ 31 , 32 ]; and Social Movement Theory [ 33 ] arguing that disenchanted people will join social movements in order to mobilise resources and political opportunity to change public policy to their advantage. The scope of political science theory relevant to studying public policy and public policy change is even broader [ 34 , 35 ], ranging from hybrid approaches that mix these perspectives [ 25 ] or address specific processes such as coalition structuring [ 36 ].

We were keen to explore to what extent this body of theories of the policy process has made in-roads into health promotion and health education research [ 37 ]. The outcome of our systematic review was no less than disappointing: we identified 8,337 health promotion and health education research articles since the ‘healthy public policy’ rhetoric became mainstream in 1986, of which only 21 explicitly and conscientiously applied a political science theory. A systematic review of the use of ‘commonly identified policy analysis theories’ to the study of social determinants of health and health equity public policy arrived at similar results, with seven articles making use of such theories out of a total of 6,200 articles [ 38 ].

The importance of rigorous application of theory to solving social problems has been proffered by Birckmayer and Weiss in their Theory-Based Evaluation approach [ 39 ], and is a key doctrine for health promotion and health education development and evaluation [ 40 ]. The selection of an appropriate theory would provide answers to questions that ask why things are (not) happening beyond a mere description that they are (not) happening. A recent example of a policy issue that was investigated without the appropriate application of theories of the policy process was authored by Gonzalez and Glantz [ 41 ]. The authors record an extensive case study of a policy failure in The Netherlands. The country is a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and passed comprehensive legislation regulating all aspects of its MPOWER strategy ( M onitor tobacco use and prevention policies; P rotect people from tobacco smoke; O ffer help to quit tobacco use; W arn about the dangers of tobacco; E nforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; R aise taxes on tobacco). In its implementation, however, The Netherlands failed to comprehensively ban smoking from all public drinking holes. Gonzalez and Glantz reach the conclusion that the legislative approach was unsuccessful because of " …poor implementation efforts and the failure to anticipate and deal with opposition to the law. " This is hardly a profound, or useful, political insight: " It didn’t work because it didn’t work. "

In a theory-based policy evaluation approach the authors might have made their assumptions of the phenomenon under study explicit and subsequently selected an appropriate theoretical framework. They may have already had some ‘gut feeling’ that policy implementation was to blame for the issue and applied a political science theory that claimed to identify relations between (Mackenbach’s) policy implementation structures, processes, and outputs. This may have led to the selection of Mazmanian and Sabatier’s policy implementation framework [ 42 ] – see below. Alternatively, they might have seen implementation failure as the result of a breakdown of governance arrangements between different policy levels and sectors, and selected, for instance, Hill and Hupe’s multi-level governance perspectives [ 43 ] to explain what went wrong, where, between whom and what, and how.

Assuming they would have selected the Mazmanian and Sabatier model (Figure 1 ) [ 42 ], this would have led to the careful operationalization of variables and data to be collected – rather than drawing on a fairly randomly selected collection of informants and media expressions. The conclusions, then, would have allowed for specific propositions as regards to the identification and management of the policy problem, the ability of the Dutch governments and its agents and structures to take measures leading to implementation, and measured descriptions of facilitators and barriers beyond the control of government that impact on the implementation process. One would assume that a carefully crafted methodology in which qualitative and quantitative approaches would supplement each other would yield a much more pointed analysis and conclusions that would provide evidence-based courses of action for policy entrepreneurs and smoking-or-health activists.

Variables involved in the implementation process (adapted from Figure 2 .1 in [ 42 ] ).

A similar theoretical naïveté can be observed in a recent, albeit slightly more astute, analysis of the determinants of tobacco excise tax in the USA [ 44 ]. The analysis is more astute as the authors find that ‘political’ determinants determine tax levels. That is, the level of tax is not dependent on economic considerations, but purely on ‘political characteristics’ – these being operationalised as Democratic-Mixed-Republican control of the executive and legislative branches of State government, governor time in office, and popular attitudes toward tax levels. The conclusion is that tobacco taxes in Republican states tend to be lower, and that there are many factors (and political variables) beyond the scope of the study. Should the recommendation to the policy entrepreneur and tobacco-or-health activist therefore be to join the campaign team of the Democratic Party for the next election? The answer, as Breton and colleagues have demonstrated for the tobacco control policy development in Quebec [ 36 ], is more complicated. In their description of the evolution of advocacy coalitions (based on Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith [ 30 ] and Lemieux [ 45 ]), they show how policy elites manage and manipulate events and pool resources, and tobacco control proponents break up emerging unification of opponent coalitions. Similar policy research, with foundations in Golden, Ribisl, and Perreira data [ 44 ], would potentially highlight vastly more astute political action to solidify and secure not just tobacco control but more broadly all health policy.

The stages heuristic and beyond

There seem to be a few barriers to the application of theories of the policy process to the health sciences in general. One is that few health scientists are trained in political science, and where they are, they do not seem to enter the health education and health promotion fields. Conversely, few students of public policy and public administration have taken an interest in health policy with the broad population and social determinant scope we described above. Most political science research is concerned with health care systems inquiry much more than with public health policy. Second, there is a lack of good benchmark studies that would set a standard for research applying theories of the policy process to public health policy, and consequently the kinds of superficial and uninsightful papers as discussed above find their way through editorial and peer-reviewed processes too easily. Third, we attribute the dearth of published studies inspired by theories of the policy process to a serious lack of (competitive) funding [ 14 ]. The proportion of grants devoted to public health is a fraction of the total medical research pool, and within the public health field funding for political research is virtually absent. Fourth, as Albert et al. demonstrated [ 46 ], members of health grant review panels do not regard social science research methods – and within that realm political science approaches – as a legitimate paradigm to study health matters. Fifth, the policy discourse in the health field is highly value-laden, intermingling debates about identity, equality [ 47 – 49 ], and – in the case of health care policy specifically – the role of technology and expertise [ 50 ], which clouds the legitimate application of the available evidence.

However, the two research examples given above highlight an issue that many health promotion and health education policy researchers seem to be struggling with most. This issue touches on the very nature of theories of the policy process. Theories applied in behavioural research are typically linear, at best with a feedback loop: a number of inputs (say, ‘attitudes’ and ‘beliefs’) are transformed through a number of conditioners (say, ‘social norm’ and ‘self-efficacy’) to produce intermediary (‘intention’) and final (‘behavioural’) change. In more complex behavioural systems there may be iterative and more incremental steps, and sometimes the models may take the shape of a cycle.

This, then, is also how policy development is typically modelled. Such a policy cycle can variably exist of as little as three steps (problem – solution – evaluation), four stages (agenda setting – policy formation – policy implementation – policy review) with as many as 15 sub-processes, to retrospective policy analyses that yield dozens of policy development instances, phases, and events.

All of these represent the policy process as displaying a curved linearity in which one stage –sometimes under conditions – leads to the next stage, just like the behavioural theories introduced above. While this representation of the policy process still permeates the health sciences – but also policy advice to governments [ 35 ] – policy students have now come to the realisation that policy making is a messy (some would say ‘wicked’) affair that does not neatly stick to stages.

It is not just that one stage or step coincides with another (for instance, the specification of policy alternatives may interface with the selection of policy instruments/interventions). In fact, often a step that comes ‘later’ in the stages heuristic in fact precedes an earlier phase in the cycle. A ‘real life’ example would be policy implementation. Implementation, as we have seen above, is driven by a wide array of contextual factors, including shifting power relations. Even when the policy problem is debated (as a first ‘agenda setting’ exercise), actors in the system implicitly, or by default, know that some implementation strategies will be impossible to develop. Regardless of how well-planned and analytical earlier stages in the policy process are, only certain types of interventions can be favoured. In a comprehensive review of the literature on policy instruments and interventions, Bemelmans-Videc, Rist, and Vedung formulate the ‘least coercion rule’ [ 51 ]: policy-makers choose the intervention that is least intrusive into individual choice of populations (as evidenced for obesity policy by, for instance, Allender et al. [ 52 ]). Thus, despite following the policy planning process conscientiously, the outcome in implementation terms favours communicative over facilitative or regulatory interventions. Steps in the cycle are therefore in reality rarely sequential or with feedback loops between sequential stages: often the process jumps a few steps ahead, to return to a previous step, or it finds itself going both clockwise and counter-clockwise for only sections of the cycle.

We were recently commissioned by WHO to develop a tool that would guide the development and application of Health in All Policies [ 53 ]. Through discussions with key stakeholders around the world we identified ten issues that need to be analysed and mapped in order to enhance the feasibility of Health in All Policies development. We drafted a Health in All Policies cycle (Figure 2 ) for discussion with Health in All Policies experts, showing both the clockwise and counter-clockwise sequential options for considering these options. The feedback on the figure demonstrated that the intuitive response to the graph was to diligently follow each of the stages, assuming there was a progressive logic to them. At the same time our panel agreed that the reality is that " everything happens at the same time ".

Proposed policy process cycle for developing Health in All Policies.

This is the essence of the critique that has been voiced by political scientist on the ‘stages heuristic’ [ 24 , 25 ] – that there is no causality between the different stages and therefore stages heuristic models defy theoretical testing mechanisms. The stages heuristic is useful as a mnemonic and an analytical visualisation of elements of the policy process, but does not describe the complex interactions within, between, and beyond its different features. Hassenteufel [ 54 ] furthermore argued that the analytical linearity of the stages heuristic clouds the symbolic nature of policy making in society as a sense-making activity rather than a purely methodical enterprise.We found that the best visual metaphor for this reality of the policy process is that of juggling (Figure 3 ).

Health in All Policies juggling process.

The juggling metaphor appears to ring true to policy entrepreneurs and activists at the coal face of policy development and change. It recognises that, although keeping all balls in the air virtually simultaneously creates an apparently hugely chaotic scene, systematic and disciplined action is required at all times. Juggling is decidedly not the same as the idea of policy making as a garbage-can process (most profoundly professed by March & Olsen [ 55 ]) – the application of theories highlighted above would aim at structuring and making sense of the logic, diligence, and structure of managing a chaotic process. Theory-led discussions between academics and practitioners have been suggested to work towards this end [ 35 ]. Is the ability to keep all balls in the air also predictive of policy effectiveness?

Assessing policy outcomes

Policies are formulated to address problems. In their ideal types, resources are allocated to develop evidence-based interventions and policy instruments and one would assume that, steeped in a validated body of knowledge, the policy will achieve its stated outcomes. However, as we have seen above, not all implementation strategies or policy ambitions are necessarily grounded in evidence. They follow the ‘least coercion rule’ [ 51 ]; are grounded in value-based rather than evidence-based policy ontologies [ 56 ]; are only symbolic to project an image of government concern [ 57 ]; or address a tangible yet insignificant element of the complexity of the real problem [ 58 ].

It is the responsibility of the policy analyst to expose such flaws through the systematic assessment of the policy process and its assumptions. Walt et al. [ 59 ] describe the multiple meanings and challenges in undertaking ‘proper’ health policy analysis. Following our argument above they contend that a conscientious, structured, and rigorous application of theories of the policy process to policy analysis is important. At the same time, however, the aims of policy analysis may be diffuse and its starting point should be to delineate its purpose. Paraphrasing a policy analysis training manual by the United Nations Environment Programme [ 60 ], the causal and final chains of drivers and consequences of policies and their contexts are hard to map, and many policies fail to include specific performance criteria or direct intervention parameters. Setting the boundaries of a policy analysis therefore becomes a negotiated process between many stakeholders, for which Pawson and Tilley [ 61 ] suggest a ‘realist’ approach that recognises the uniqueness of each policy issue and context. In showing policy ‘effectiveness’, evaluators therefore focus on intermediate policy effects rather than end-point health impact.

Case study: environments for health policy research – Environments for Health (E4H) policy effectiveness

In 2001, the government of the Australian State of Victoria adopted its E4H policy framework [ 62 ]. It connects with legislation that requires local governments in the State to develop Municipal Public Health Plans (MPHPs). E4H provides evidence-based guidance for the development of local policy that addresses social and environmental determinants of health in the overlapping domains of the social, built, economic, and natural environments. E4H explicitly embraces a social model of health, and the policy package provides local government with a comprehensive evidence base, capacity building for local health bureaucrats and communities, and exemplars of policy action.

Five years after adoption, the Victorian Department of Health commissioned an evaluation into E4H policy effectiveness. The evaluation objectives were to assess the extent to which the E4H Framework had:

Been incorporated by local governments in their policies and practices;

Contributed to greater consistency and quality in the scope and approach of municipal public health planning across the state;

Led to the integration of MPHPs with other council plans;

Increased the level of understanding among appropriate local government staff of the impact of the social, economic, natural, and built environments on health and wellbeing;

Created additional opportunities for health gain through strengthened intersectoral partnerships to address the social determinants of health; and

Been supported effectively by the Department of Human Services and other stakeholders [ 63 ].

The evaluation objectives were the outcome of negotiations between a range of stakeholders, including the Department of Human Services, local governments, and research sector representatives. The consequence was that hybridization of a number of political theories was required in a realist evaluation framework [ 61 ], notably policy diffusion theory [ 64 ], implementation theory [ 42 ], and Multiple Streams theory [ 27 ]. The resulting methodology drew on a range of data collection strategies:

Document analysis of Victorian Local Government Authorities’ MPHPs (62 plans);

Seventy-three individual and group interviews with key stakeholders in municipal public health planning;

Online survey of individuals involved in municipal public health planning (councillors, council staff, non-council organisations, and community members) (108 survey respondents);

Five community forums to present preliminary evaluation findings and obtain input from additional stakeholder groups.

In summary [ 65 ], the evaluation found that E4H had substantially changed the way local governments think about health; improved the way local governments plan for health; and started sectoral integration. However, developing a MPHP was frequently seen as a – statutorily required – means in itself, and implementation was often lagging. The Department of Health consequently launched programmes for implementation knowledge co-creation, capacity-building, and networking at the local level, case models for – especially economic – E4H development, and political skills.

Conclusions

Determining the evidence of effectiveness of policy change for health is an art and a science that is still in its infancy. A systematic and theory-driven approach needs to be applied. In this paper we have demonstrated that insights from political science would allow for better and more profound insights into the reasons why and how policies fail or succeed. This is a perspective that transcends a current tradition merely describing failure or success of policy initiatives.

Our empirical material shows that policy research, assessment, and analysis needs to be a negotiated process between stakeholders that is seemingly chaotic, but in reality must be driven by the appropriate – and often hybrid – application of theories from the social sciences, notably political science.

A conscientious and transparent approach to determining what policy is and entails is a critical starting point for the further development of this field. It is recognised that such a determination is frequently impossible as even policymakers, policy entrepreneurs, and decision makers themselves are deliberately equivocal about what they pursue – the eminent economist John Maynard Keynes pointed at the need to keep options open as long as possible by writing " There is nothing a Government hates more than to be well-informed; for it makes the process of arriving at decisions much more complicated and difficult " [ 66 ]. It is the responsibility of public health policy analysts to expose any efforts at purposely obscuring the strictures of policy making. Good scholarly process, rigour in research, and theory-based evaluation, should enable us to do exactly that.

McLeroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K: An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ Behav. 1998, 15: 351-377.

Article Google Scholar

World Health Organization, Canadian Public Health Association, Health Canada: The Ottawa charter for health promotion. Health Promot. 1986, 1: i-v.

Google Scholar

Dempsey C, Battel-Kirk B, Barry MM, the CompHP Project Partners: The CompHP Core Competencies Framework for Health Promotion Handbook. 2011, Paris: IUHPE

Australian Health Promotion Association: Core Competencies for Health Promotion Practitioners. 2009, Maroochydore: AHPA, University of the Sunshine Coast

Doyle E: A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists – 2010. 2010, Whitehall, PA: National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), American Association for Health Education (AAHE), Washington DC

Clavier C, de Leeuw E: Health Promotion and the Policy Process. 2013, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Book Google Scholar

CSDH: Closing the Gap in a Generation. Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. 2008, Geneva: World Health Organization

Lieberman L, Golden SD, Earp JAL: Structural approaches to health promotion: what do we need to know about policy and environmental change?. Health Educ Promot. 2013, 49: 520-525.

Kahn-Marshall JL, Gallant MP: Making healthy behaviors the easy choice for employees: a review of the Literature on environmental and policy changes in worksite health promotion. Health Educ Behav. 2012, 39: 752-776. 10.1177/1090198111434153.

Article PubMed Google Scholar

Cochran CE: American Public Policy: An Introduction. 1999, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 6

Dye TR: Understanding Public Policy. 1972, NJ, Englewood Cliffs

Richards D, Smith MJ: Governance and Public Policy in the United Kingdom. 2008, Oxford: Oxford University Press

de Leeuw E: Policies for Health. The Effectiveness of the Development, Adoption and Implementation. Global Perspectives on Health Promotion Effectiveness. Edited by: McQueen D, Jones CM. 2007, New York: Springer, 51-66.

Chapter Google Scholar

Breton E, de Leeuw E: Theories of the policy process in health promotion research: a review. Health Promot Int. 2011, 26: 82-90. 10.1093/heapro/daq051.

de Leeuw E: Health Policy. An Exploratory Inquiry into the Development of Policy for the New Public Health in The Netherlands. 1989, Maastricht, The Netherlands: Dissertation, University of Limburg

Milio N: Promoting Health through Public Policy. 1981, Philadelphia: FA Davis Company

Milio N: Glossary: healthy public policy. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001, 55: 622-623. 10.1136/jech.55.9.622.

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Ståhl T, Wismar M, Ollila E, Lahtinen E, Leppo K: Health in All Policies. Prospects and Potentials. In Health in All Policies. Prospects and Potentials. 2006, Helsinki: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health & European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Rudolph L, Caplan J, Ben-Moshe K, Dillon L: Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments. 2013, Washington, DC and Oakland, CA: American Public Health Association and Public Health Institute

de Leeuw E, Keizer M, Hoeijmakers M: Health policy networks: connecting the disconnected. Health Promotion and the Policy Process. Edited by: Clavier C, de Leeuw E. 2013, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 154-173.

Hancock T: Health promotion in Canada: 25 years of unfulfilled promise. Health Promot Int. 2011, 26: ii263-ii267. 10.1093/heapro/daq054.

Chuma J, Okungu V: Viewing the Kenyan health system through an equity lens: implications for universal coverage. Int J Equity Health. 2011, 10: 1-14. 10.1186/1475-9276-10-1.

Mackenbach J: Political determinants of health. Eur J Public Health. 2014, 24: 2-

Sabatier PA: The need for better theories. Theories of the Policy Process. Edited by: Sabatier PA. 2007, Cambridge, MA: Westview Press, 3-17.

Nowlin MC: Theories of the policy process: state of the research and emerging trends. Policy Stud J. 2011, 39: 41-60.

Schlager E, Weible CM: New theories of the policy process. Policy Stud J. 2013, 41: 389-396. 10.1111/psj.12030.

Kingdon JW: Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies. 1984, Boston: Little, Brown and Co

Baumgartner F, Jones B: Agendas and Instability in American Politics. 1993, Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Sabatier PA: An advocacy coalition framework of policy change and the role of policy-oriented learning therein. Policy Sci. 1988, 21: 129-168. 10.1007/BF00136406.

Sabatier PA, Jenkins-Smith HC: Policy Change and Learning: An Advocacy Coalition Approach. 1993, Boulder, CO: Westview Press

Laumann EO, Knoke D: The Organizational State. Social Choice in National Policy. 1987, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press

Börzel TA: Organizing Babylon - on the different conceptions of policy networks. Public Adm. 1998, 76: 253-273. 10.1111/1467-9299.00100.

McCarthy JD, Zald MN: Resource mobilization and social movements: a partial theory. Am J Sociol. 1977, 82: 1212-1241. 10.1086/226464.

Smith K: Beyond Evidence-based Policy in Public Health: The Interplay of Ideas. 2013, New York: Palgrave Macmillan

Cairney P: How can policy theory have an impact on policy making? The Role of theory-led academic–practitioner discussions. Teach Public Adm. 2014, 2014: 0144739414532284-

Breton E, Richard L, Gagnon F, Jacques M, Bergeron P: Health promotion research and practice require sound policy analysis models: the case of Quebec’s tobacco act. Soc Sci Med. 2008, 67: 1679-1689. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.07.028.

de Leeuw É, Breton E: Policy change theories in health promotion research: a review. Health Promotion and the Policy Process. Edited by: Clavier C, de Leeuw E. 2013, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 23-42.

Embrett MG, Randall GE: Social determinants of health and health equity policy research: exploring the use, misuse, and nonuse of policy analysis theory. Soc Sci Med. 2014, 108: 147-155.

Birckmayer JD, Weiss CH: Theory-based evaluation in practice: what do we learn?. Eval Rev. 2000, 24: 407-431. 10.1177/0193841X0002400404.

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Bartholomew LK, Parcel GS, Kok G, Gottlieb NH, Fernandez ME: Planning Health Promotion Programs: An Intervention Mapping Approach. 2011, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 3

Gonzalez M, Glantz SA: Failure of policy regarding smoke-free bars in the Netherlands. Eur J Public Health. 2013, 23: 139-145. 10.1093/eurpub/ckr173.

Mazmanian DA, Sabatier PA: Implementation and Public Policy. 1983, Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman

Hill M, Hupe P: Analysing policy processes as multiple governance: accountability in social policy. Policy Polit. 2006, 34: 557-573. 10.1332/030557306777695280.

Golden SD, Ribisl KM, Perreira KM: Economic and political influence on tobacco tax rates: a nationwide analysis of 31 years of state data. Am J Public Health. 2014, 0: e1-e8.

Lemieux V: Les Coalitions Liens, Transactions et Contrôles. 1998, Paris: Paris Presses Universitaires de France

Albert M, Laberge S, Hodges BD, Regehr G, Lingard L: Biomedical scientists’ perception of the social sciences in health research. Soc Sci Med. 2008, 66: 2520-2531. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.01.052.

Collovald A, Gaïti B: Discours sous surveillance: le social à l’Assemblée. Le "social" Transfiguré Sur la Représentation Politique des Préoccupations "Sociales". Edited by: Gaxie D, Collovald A, Gaïti B, Lehingue P, Poirmeur Y. 1990, Paris: CURAPP et PUF, 9-54.

Fassin D: L’espace Politique de la Santé. Essai de Généalogie. 1996, Paris: PUF

Oliver TR: The politics of public health policy. Annu Rev Public Health. 2006, 27: 195-233. 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.25.101802.123126.

Carpenter D: Is health politics different?. Annu Rev Polit Sci. 2012, 15: 287-311. 10.1146/annurev-polisci-050409-113009.

Bemelmans-Videc M-L, Rist RC, Vedung E: Carrots, Sticks & Sermons: Policy Instruments and their Evaluation. 1998, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers

Allender S, Gleeson E, Crammond B, Sacks G, Lawrence M, Peeters A, Loff B, Swinburn B: Policy change to create supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating: which options are the most realistic for local government?. Health Promot Int. 2012, 27: 261-274. 10.1093/heapro/dar018.

de Leeuw E, Peters D: Nine questions to guide development and implementation of health in all policies. Health Promot Int. 2014, In press

Hassenteufel P: Sociologie Politique: L’action Publique (2ème édition). 2011, Paris: Armand-Colin

March JG, Olsen JP: The new institutionalism: organizational factors in political life. Am Polit Sci Rev. 1984, 78: 734-749. 10.2307/1961840.

Milewa T, de Leeuw E: Reason, power and protest in the new urban public health movement: a basis for sociological analysis of political discourse in the ‘healthy city’. Br J Sociol. 1996, 47: 657-670. 10.2307/591078.

Fotaki M: Why do public policies fail so often? Exploring health policy-making as an imaginary and symbolic construction. Organization. 2000, 17: 703-720.

Blackman T, Hunter DJ, Marks L, Harrington B, Elliott E, Williams G, McKee L: Wicked comparisons: reflections on cross-national research about health inequalities in the UK. Evaluation. 2010, 16: 43-57. 10.1177/1356389009350016.

Walt G, Shiffman J, Schneider H, Murray SF, Brugha R, Gilson L: ‘Doing’ health policy analysis: methodological and conceptual reflections and challenges. Health Pol Plann. 2008, 23: 308-317. 10.1093/heapol/czn024.

UNEP: Training Manual - Module 5–6.5.1 Understanding Policy Effects and Policy Effectiveness. 2014, [ http://www.unep.org/ieacp/iea/training/manual/module5/1236.aspx ]. Accessed 3 February 2014

Pawson R, Tilley N: Realist Evaluation. 1997, Thousand Oaks: Sage

Department of Human Services: Environments for Health: Promoting Health and Wellbeing through Built, Social, Economic and Natural Environments. Municipal Public Health Planning Framework. 2001, Melbourne, Victoria: Department of Human Services

de Leeuw E, Butterworth I, Garrard J, Palermo J, Godbold T, Tacticos T: Evaluation of the Environments for Health Framework. 2006, Melbourne, Victoria: Deakin University and the University of Melbourne

Lindblom CE: The science of ‘Muddling Through’. Public Adm Rev. 1959, 19: 79-88. 10.2307/973677.

Department of Health: Local Government Planning for Health and Wellbeing - Resources. 2014, [ http://www.health.vic.gov.au/localgov/resources.htm ]. Accessed 4 February 2014

Keynes JM, Moggridge D: The Collected Writings of John Maynard Keynes. Volume 21. Activities 1931–1939; World Crisis and Policies in Britain and America. 1982, London and New York: Macmillan and Cambridge University Press for the Royal Economic Society

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

Evelyne de Leeuw

Département de Science Politique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case postale 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada

Carole Clavier

Ecole des Hautes Études en santé Publique (EHESP), Avenue du Professeur Léon-Bernard - CS 74312, 35043, Rennes cedex, France

Eric Breton

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evelyne de Leeuw .

Additional information

Competing interests.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

EdL conceived the argument for this paper and developed a first draft. CC and EB provided case material, further referencing and sections to the draft, and edited the work. The first submission was prepared by EdL, with resubmission editing provided by CC. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2, authors’ original file for figure 3, authors’ original file for figure 4, authors’ original file for figure 5, authors’ original file for figure 6, rights and permissions.

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

de Leeuw, E., Clavier, C. & Breton, E. Health policy – why research it and how: health political science. Health Res Policy Sys 12 , 55 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-12-55

Download citation

Received : 24 June 2014

Accepted : 02 September 2014

Published : 23 September 2014

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-12-55

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Health Research Policy and Systems

ISSN: 1478-4505

Submission enquiries: Access here and click Contact Us
General enquiries: [email protected]

Log In Username Enter your ACP Online username. Password Enter the password that accompanies your username. Remember me Forget your username or password ?
Privacy Policy
Career Connection
Member Forums

If you are unable to login, please try clearing your cookies . We apologize for the inconvenience.

Current Public Policy Papers

ACP public policy papers summarize and dissect published research and discussion on current issues involving clinical practice, medical education, bioethics, and health care financing and delivery, and make specific recommendations for internal medicine physicians, patients, and policy makers. Read about ACP's public policy development process .

Learn more about where ACP stands on important and timely issues:

Racial Health Disparities, Prejudice and Violence

Health care reform/access, payment/delivery system reform, health information technology, medicare and medicaid, controlling costs, improving effectiveness, prescription drugs and public health related topics, workforce and physician shortage, coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19), acp policy compendium, updated january 2024.

Download an up-to-date summary of ACP's policy positions.

^ Back to Top

The Integration of Care for Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Other Behavioral Health Conditions into Primary Care (August 2015)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Disparities (May 2015)
Full Paper
Assessing the Patient Care Implications of "Concierge" and Other Direct Patient Contracting Practices (November 2015)
Retail Health Clinics (October 2015)
Health Information Privacy, Protection, and Use in the Expanding Digital Health Ecosystem (April 2021)
Policy Recommendations to Guide the Use of Telemedicine in Primary Care Settings (September 2015)
Clinical Documentation in the 21st Century (January 2015)
Full Paper and Issue Brief
Full Paper
Appendix 1: Playbook
Principles Supporting Dynamic Clinical Care Teams (September 2013)
Full Paper and Issue Brief

All rights reserved. Individuals may reproduce all or parts of Public Policy Papers for educational, not-for-profit uses. These papers may not be reproduced for commercial, for-profit use in any form, by any means (electronic, mechanical, xerographic, or other) or held in any information storage or retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher.

For questions about the content of Public Policy Papers, please contact the ACP Division of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy , 25 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001-7401. 202-261-4500. To order copies of position papers, please contact us .

Health Policy: A Critical Analysis Report (Assessment)

Executive summary, introduction, proposed health policy: analytical perspective, good policy: winners and losers.

The Australian Health Care System faces many challenges that affect efficient delivery of services. The challenges range from lack of a clear distinction between the roles of the State, Commonwealth, and the private sector. Issues of persistent health insurance wrangles, influx of untested technologies, little emphasis on preventive health care, and prohibitive cost are the other challenges.

According to Palmer and Short (2000), the apparent lack of good policies has worsened the situation. With clearly spelt out responsibilities between the Commonwealth, State, and private sector, stakeholders in healthcare will contain the problems inherent in the system. Dr. Andrew Southcott, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Health Care, in the run-up to the 2013 election, proposed a raft of reforms in the health care sector.

If elected, the opposition coalition promised to review the structure upon which the State delivers primary care. The opposition was concerned that in spite of heavy funding, Medicare Locals do not deliver quality and uninterrupted services. The proposed health policy will inevitably have social, political, economic and epidemiological effects.

Socially, the policy will affect access to primary care especially by those in the low economic substratum. Economically, the health policy portends little expenditure by ensuring resources are spent in a transparent and accountable manner. The policy will however face resistance from health care providers and lobbyist who will see it as a threat to their economic lifeline.

Gardner and Barraclough (2002) identify the origin of Australia’s Health Care problems to the paradox of “the federal government financing a medical care system where most services are provided by private practitioners” (54). Like in other states, government ought to have high levels of control over a program that falls under its financial purview. It is against this background that the opposition coalition sought to exercise more authority in policymaking especially with Medicare locals.

Through its shadow parliamentary secretary for primary health care, the coalition expressed desire to ensure that Medicare locals follow the general medical practice. The proposed reforms also sought to ensure that more funding goes to clinical services rather than administrative functions of Medicare locals. Additionally, the federal government sought to oversee all tendering processes and ensure disruptions to clinical services are non-existent.

The Medicare Local spokesperson expressed displeasure with the move citing that the Medicare locals are the true essence of decentralized services. Further, the organization lambasted the opposition coalition for planning to deny local communities access to clinical services in spite of the strong benefits of scale in the Medicare locals’ favor.

This paper will demonstrate that the proposed health policy is not the panacea to challenges bedeviling health care system in Australia but the coalition needs to consult and circumspect before full adoption. To do so, the paper will apply economic, social, political, and epidemiological yardsticks.

Political Perspective

The originators of the Medicare Locals idea wanted to take clinical services closer to the communities. They gave local practitioners total control over the program despite the funding by federal governments (Barraclough & Gardner, 2008). Over years, the system has entrenched itself into Australia’s health care psyche to an extent that any disruption or change will elicit resistance.

From a political perspective, opposition coalition’s proposals will face resistance from professional monopolists, corporate rationalists, and community interests. The reaction by the Medicare Locals association fired the first salvo when it accused the opposition of “putting at risk the very real opportunity for communities to have, for the first time, health services tailored directly to their local demands” (Patrick, p.32, 2013). It is evident that medical professionals are for the retention of the status quo.

The other resistance came from corporate rationalists and community interests. A good example is insurance sector. Health care pundits cite insurance lobbyists as a great obstacle in reforming the sector, all over the world (Taylor, Foster, & Fleming, 2008). With the proposed reforms, insurance profits will plummet as they hide most of their cost within administrative rather than clinical functions.

Insurance cartels thrive through stringent bureaucracies in the health sector. If such bottlenecks diminish, federal government will force cartels out of business. Designers of Medicare Locals envisaged a devolved health care in which communities will have considerable control over clinical services and facilities within their neighborhood. Community interests will therefore oppose the move with all their might.

Economic Perspective

The proposal by the opposition coalition sought to minimize cost and maximize efficiency of Medicare Locals. This underpins the success of any health policy. By funding and auditing the locals, the federal government will ensure hegemony in clinical services and reduce disruption of services.

Rather than allow clinical services, there should be concerted efforts form the federal government to ensure that service providers do not treat health care as a commodity (Gauld, 2005). However, limiting federal funding to clinical services, and excluding administrative services, will be a financial burden to Medicare Locals and subsequently, the communities.

As it currently stands, Medicare Locals charge a fee for services they render to customers. Taylor, Foster, and Fleming (2008) indicate that in 2007, Medicare Locals charged a combined 16.5 billion Australian pounds. In contrast, the federal government managed a paltry 8.5 billion Australian pounds from levies on Medicare Locals.

In essence, therefore, practitioners at Medicare Locals make a lot of money by charging a fee, an aspect that can diminish quality of services in attempt to serve many people. Financial incentives are leading to poor services in what the initiators intended to be quality services closer to the people. The health policy by the opposition will exacerbate this situation. Medicare Locals will pass on this extra burden to consumers, further taking primary health care services beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

A great concern in Australian health care system is the little concern with preventive health. Rather, the system is reactive, focusing more on treatment of illness. Proponents of Medicare local structured it to take primary health services to the communities but the focus on “pay-for-service” has provided an incentive towards curative rather than preventive services. This perpetuates rather than curb the myriad challenges the paper referred to at the beginning.

Will the health policy by opposition coalition curb this malady? The answer is a resounding no. The new policy proposes to recognize “general practice as the cornerstone of primary care in the governance structures” (Development O. F. E. C. O. A., p.34, 2013). The policy effectively takes the health care system to where it was before 1980s. Decentralization of primary health aims to suit clinical and preventive services to the needs of the local communities.

The health policy intends to take this away. As much as there are challenges in the system, the coalition has gotten it wrong on how to fix it. Ramon (2005) criticized the reforms that the government initiated for “dumping” all services to the Medicare locals and thus setting them up for failure. The opposition is proposing this same path.

Epidemiology Perspective

Taylor, Foster, and Fleming (2008) propound that a sound health policy, from an epidemiology perspective, should “promote intersect oral collaboration, coordination, partnership, and community involvement” (54). Further, the designers and proponents should structure it in a way that places emphasis on preventive health.

The health policy that the opposition proposes is failing in this respect. Understandably, a press release cannot provide data to back up a supposition. However, the coalition, in subsequent debates, failed to provide evidence how imposing general practice in Medicare Locals will contribute to preventive health.

Sociological Perspective

Any policy, and more so a health policy, should be focused on promoting equality and be mindful of cultural value. The health policy by the opposition coalition is more inclined towards the financial perspective more than any other thing. The assumption seems so be that stringent financial discipline will improve health care system, which may not necessarily be the case.

The originators of the Medicare Locals wanted equality and accessibility in provision of primary health care. Any improvement would therefore go towards making health care even more affordable to many people. The Aborigines for instance are a marginalized group and Medicare Locals strife to provide tailor-made clinical services for the group (Bell, 2010).

Any health policy should be towards make it more accessible. The health policy therefore ought to go towards increasing funding to clinical services as well as catering for the administrative cost (Lofgren, De & Leahy, 2011). The current practice in which practitioners offer services based on the financial capabilities only serves to perpetuate the discrimination.

After analyzing the four perspectives, it is incumbent to review characteristics of a ‘good’ policy against the one the opposition coalition is proposed. The first one is access and affordability (Lewis, 2003). The health policy does not commit more resources to health care but it is refreshing to note they want accountability and transparency in the current amount. However, the policy fails to scrap the system that provides financial incentive to practitioners out of numbers served rather than quality.

A ‘good’ policy should be economically efficient and geared towards public interest accountability. One cannot help but feel a sigh of relief at the thought that the federal funding will go towards clinical services.

In spite of the apprehension that practitioners may pass the administrative cost burden to patients, it is refreshing that the quality may improve. The policy is, however, a blanket statement by an aspiring opposition and it would have been prudent for them to give an indication that they will invite various stakeholders for consultations and deliberations.

In conclusion, it is instructive to note that Australian health care system problems are many and only a multi-pronged solution will work. The solution should outline proper delineation of the roles of different stakeholders within the sector. The federal government, by dint of being the funder, should have its way when it comes to policy but it should consult other stakeholders (Enright & Petty, 2013).

Health care in many countries is struggling because of unscrupulous cartels that want to take advantage of unsuspecting patients. The government, including the opposition, should work out a formula that elevates the health of its citizens against corporate interests. However, there should be no attempt to reverse decentralization of health care in Australia.

Barraclough, S., & Gardner, H. (2008). Analysing health policy: A problem-oriented approach . Sydney: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.

Bell, E. (2010). Research for health policy . Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Development, O. F. E. C. O. A. (2013). Waiting time policies in the health sector: What works? . S.l.: Organization For Economic.

Enright, M. J., & Petty, R. (2013). Australia’s Competitiveness: From Lucky Country to Competitive Country . Hoboken: Wiley.

Gardner, H., & Barraclough, S. (2002). Health policy in Australia . South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.

Gauld, R. (2005). Comparative health policy in the Asia-Pacific . Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Lewis, M. J. (2003). The people’s health . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Lofgren, H., De, L. E. J. J., & Leahy, M. (2011). Democratizing Health: Consumer Groups in the Policy Process . Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub.

Palmer, G. R., & Short, S. D. (2000). Health care & public policy: An Australian analysis . South Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia.

Patrick, A. (2013). Downfall: How the Labor Party ripped itself apart . Sydney, N.S.W: HarperCollins Publishers.

Ramon, S. (2005). Mental health at the crossroads: The promise of the psychosocial approach . Aldershot [u.a.: Ashgate.

Sorensen, R., & Iedema, R. (2008). Managing clinical processes . Sydney, N.S.W: Elsevier.

Taylor, S., Foster, M., & Fleming, J. (2008). Health care practice in Australia: Policy, context and innovations . South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 19). Health Policy: A Critical Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/health-policy-a-critical-analysis/

"Health Policy: A Critical Analysis." IvyPanda , 19 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/health-policy-a-critical-analysis/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Health Policy: A Critical Analysis'. 19 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Health Policy: A Critical Analysis." December 19, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/health-policy-a-critical-analysis/.

1. IvyPanda . "Health Policy: A Critical Analysis." December 19, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/health-policy-a-critical-analysis/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Health Policy: A Critical Analysis." December 19, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/health-policy-a-critical-analysis/.

Medicare and its Mission
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Addressing an Obesity Problem: A Coalition Project
Medicare Program: Medicare Reimbursement
Medicare Impact on Healthcare Ecosystems
Building a Coalition: International Negotiations
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Medicare and Health Care Payer Solutions
Zika Virus: Professional Coalition
Impeding Medicare Problems
Implementing Security Policy at Dog Parks
Innovation in Brazil: Organizations and Institutions
Planning Law and Governance
Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting
Effects of the U.S. Government Shutdown on the African-American Communities

How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper : A Nursing/Med Student Guide

Healthcare practice has shifted to evidence-based decision-making, which nurses and other healthcare practitioners can achieve through policy analysis. Therefore, students pursuing health sciences such as nursing, pharmacy, and health sciences and medicine courses must understand the importance of evidence-based policymaking. In doing so, they are often assigned tasks where they critically appraise the policy processes and responses. Unfortunately, most students find completing a health policy document analysis paper, essay or report difficult.

The overarching purpose of a policy analysis paper is to investigate and integrate the knowledge of advanced nursing practice, scholarly research, and healthcare leadership through a critical examination of a policy at the level of clinical practice, social or public health, and healthcare systems policy.

Most policy analysis papers are above 2000 words, meaning their lower limit is 8 or 10 pages, giving you sufficient space to investigate a policy.

Writing a paper of such a scope is arduous and time-consuming. Therefore, we have compiled this ultimate guide to take you through the process and help you discover some tips for success when writing a policy analysis paper for your nursing class. But first, let's get solid on a policy analysis paper.

What is a Policy Analysis Paper?

Research shows that engaging nursing students in health policy prepare them for a holistic practice. So, if you are a medical or nursing student, expect to engage more in writing healthcare policy analysis papers or policy briefs.

Analyzing a policy helps identify the potential policy options that can sustainably, pragmatically, and feasibly address a health issue. It is a process that has evolved from a technical approach to a process that enables sharing of social meaning.

A Policy Analysis paper, sometimes referred to as a strategy paper or policy brief, is a document that entails a critical analysis of a healthcare policy at the level of clinical practice, healthcare systems, and public or social issues.

It entails in-depth research of a healthcare issue from a political perspective (analyzing a bill that touches on a healthcare issue). To better analyze a policy, it is imperative to reflect on the policy process (formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring and evaluation). You should then consider the policy analysis framework that can be applied to nursing and health policies because they shape your policy critique paper. You can choose the analysis framework from the legal, historical, social, ethical, economic, and cultural contexts.

When analyzing a policy, you need to define the problem or issue of interest, provide background and significance, and include a well-balanced assessment of the options that policymakers can pursue to resolve the issue.

The analysis should also include recommendations for the best course of action for the policymakers.

Now that we know what a policy analysis paper or essay entails, let's focus on how it is done. What steps does one follow when writing a policy analysis paper or doing a policy analysis? We answer these questions comprehensively in the next section.

Steps for Health Policy Analysis - How to Get it Right

P olicy analysis is a systematic and disciplined application where an individual defines a problem, gathers evidence, considers alternatives, selects a criterion, predicts the outcomes, confronts tradeoffs and makes or recommends a decision .

Writing a policy analysis paper is time-consuming, stressful, and demands attention and keenness. In most cases, given the possibility of problems arising when deciding which aspect of a policy to analyze, you must be meticulous.

You must distinguish between analyzing a policy process and a document or content. If it is process analysis, focus on the policy formulation process, and if it is content analysis, base your entire analysis on the composition or substance of the policy.

Our focus in this guide is on the analysis of the policy document or the contents of a policy. Policy analysis generally entails five processes: definition, prediction, prescription, description, and evaluation. It can further be condensed into policy making, cause and consequences, and policy prescription.

Step 1: Identify the Policy Issue

The first thing you need to do when assigned to write a policy paper is to determine the policy issue of interest. For instance, choose a topic that you find interesting to handle.

You can choose to focus on health promotion, mental health problems, stigmatization, drug and substance abuse, the opioid epidemic, adult obesity, road traffic accidents, chronic diseases, use of technology in healthcare, etc. look at the health policy issue from the political, social, cultural, spiritual, national, and economic lenses. To identify a problem, focus on a literature review, environmental scan, and survey the best practices.

The main aim of this step is to contextualize the issue. Look at the issue's broad and impactful and have a rationale for choosing it.

Consider the discrepancy between the status quo and the ideal or planned situation. You can also consider the reasons for the difference and the available solutions.

Defining the health issue or problem is like a typical problem statement and must to accompanied by a citation from credible scholarly sources. The statement should describe the problem and present a diagnosis of the causes of the problem using critical statistics such as mortality rates, live births, morbidity, and other statistics.

You should understand the problem conceptually and empirically for successful policy analysis. Then, with the problem stated, you should select a policy to evaluate the many alternatives and provide a rationale. Let's see how to do that in the next step.

Step 2: Select the Policy document for analysis

After identifying the problem, go ahead and search for the relevant evidence. First, collect data about the policies meant to address the health issue. You can access the relevant healthcare policies through research on government websites and publications. Next, look at the various policy options available to address the problem. Considering different policy options can entail adding a policy action that solves the issue or forgoing a policy alternative. Policy options can be described and determined through their health impact, cost of implementation, and feasibility. You should then rank the options and select the top choice.

When considering alternative policies, your focus should be on the outcomes of the alternative. Consider a feasible, practical, and relevant policy to your healthcare issue.

Step 3: Read the policy document and take notes

After choosing a policy of interest for the analysis, you must extract data further and compile excepts from the policy document. Here is where you apply your preferred evaluation criteria.

The evaluation criteria focus on assessing the suitability of an intervention. You need to have standards to measure the projected outcomes. The criteria will hugely depend on the issue of interest. When evaluating a policy, focus on its relevance, progress, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact on the health problem.

Consider the policy background, including its historical context, available evidence, its implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and strategies for stakeholder engagement. You need to take notes that will come in handy as you write the outline and later when compiling the entire policy analysis paper.

Step 4: Outline the Policy Analysis Paper

Given that you have defined the problem and are now conversant with the central policy of interest, the alternatives, and your evaluation criteria, it is time to outline your policy analysis report. The outline will depend on the selected framework or model for health policy analysis ( we have discussed choosing a framework/model elsewhere in this comprehensive guide ).

The outline should be based on the appropriate structure of a policy analysis paper. For example, plan what to include in the executive summary or abstract, introduction, problem statement, background information, policy alternatives, recommendations, and conclusion.

The outline is a roadmap that comes in handy as you begin to write the paper at the advanced stages of policy analysis. Remember, the focus is not on the policy but its outcomes. For instance, consider the improved health status of people with obesity after health promotion interventions versus improved knowledge of healthy lifestyle practices. Depending on its feasibility (resources, finance, human capital, etc.), you can then decide on the best policy to pursue.

Step 5: Write the Policy Analysis Paper

Assuming everything is in place, you need to take a break before resuming to write the policy paper.

When writing the paper, begin with the introduction. You can break this into separate sections as long as the underlying motivation of the report comes out clearly. For example, include the historical context and the current status quo of the healthcare problem or issue. Next, explain to your readers why you selected the problem or issue and why you settled on a specific policy option.

The next step is to write the methodology, which entails the evaluation criteria. You should also include a literature review where you contextualize the policy based o existing academic work. Next, explore the policy context or options by describing the current policy and the intervention efforts. Finally, look at case studies and best practice guidelines to get a good rationale for selecting a given policy.

Write down the policy options and recommendations before concluding the paper. Finally, include the reference pages and the appendices. When writing the first draft, focus on researching and writing. You should leave editing and proofreading for the final step.

Step 6: Review, Revise, and Polish the paper

Writing a policy analysis paper is the same task as critiquing a policy. It needs to be done in a professional and academic tone. After writing the sections of the policy paper, your next move is to edit it.

When editing, focus on the flow of information, paragraph structure, sentence structure, formatting, in-text citations, tenses, content, and the choice of words.

You should also proofread your policy analysis paper for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can use software such as Grammarly, Ginger, or Hemmingway Editor.

This step aims to convert the first draft into a final one you will submit to your instructor for grading. First, therefore, you must ensure that it Then, you can use the reverse outline method to uncover the inadequacies in your paper.

Check whether all the citations are represented in the reference list. Equally, ensure that the references are consistent with the selected formatting style.

You can read your paper loud so that you can spot the errors. Then, if you need further help, you can hire a proofreader and editor to check whether you omitted something or reduced the number of words but retained the message.

Structure of a Policy Analysis Paper in Nursing

When assigned to write a policy analysis paper, below is a standard structure to adopt. Note that some instructors will have a breakdown of how to do the policy analysis, but we share the standard structure here. Of course, the wording could differ depending on institutions, but these are the major sections or parts of a policy analysis paper or essay.

Contains information about yourself. Include:

Course name and code
Coordinator or instructor's name
Name of your institution (i.e., nursing school or university)
Date of submission

Abstract/Executive Summary

The abstract is a brief 200-word paragraph that condenses the entire policy analysis paper. It should elaborate on the chosen policy, its strengths and weaknesses, relevance to nursing or healthcare, implications, policy evidence, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, the target population, how the policy addresses healthcare's social and ecological determinants, and the areas of improvement. The abstract is never indented and is presented as a whole paragraph. Some instructors will ask for an executive summary instead, a summary of your entire policy document analysis paper.

Introduction

The introduction should begin with an attention grabber or hook statement that not only attracts the readers' attention but also announces the focus or direction of the policy paper. It should also generally define and describe the policy issue of interest. It further entails a few sentences that identify the purpose of the analysis, the targeted policy level (clinical, public/social health, or healthcare systems), the policy's scope, and the topic's significance. Finally, it also identifies the questions the policy intended to address.

Background and Significance

In the background section of a policy paper, you will include the details of the issue or problem. Identify the scope of the problem and present its context, then explore relevant literature that details its history. You should also describe the existing policy that addresses the issue. Expound on the policy you are about to analyze regarding the health issue. You should also examine the enforcement implications. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of the existing policy. It should also identify and describe the major stakeholders (groups or individuals) that are or will be affected by the policies, including the reasons. The background should be supported by evidence from credible scholarly sources. Consider the fiscal impact of the policy or issue, its impact on social justice, and the recommended policy's potential barriers and unintended consequences.

Methods and Analysis

This section of the paper is where you describe the policy analysis plan. First, establish the evaluation criteria to guide your analysis and the policy selection. You can also identify the various policy alternatives to help achieve objectives and evaluate each alternative. Next, demonstrate the potential impact of the policies based on the evaluation criteria. Finally, assess the tradeoffs between the options.

Recommendations

In the recommendations section, you must identify the best policy among the alternatives to address the current problem or issue (the policy scenario). You should follow it by explaining the rationale for selecting it among the alternatives. Next, you should describe the potential strategies that can be used to implement the policy successfully. Also, explore the barriers to the implementation of the selected alternative. Finally, explain the methods to monitor and control (evaluate) the effectiveness of policy implementation.

In this section of the policy analysis paper, you must discuss the analysis and recommendations relative to the policy level and the original questions in your introduction. Further, include the limitations of the analysis and discuss the implications for practice, research, policy formulation, implementation, and education.

The conclusion summarizes the findings and recommendations of the entire analysis. It should also feature the questions addressed in future policy analyses or studies.

This is where you list all the references cited in your policy analysis paper.

The appendices can be a table displaying the results of your analysis. You can include the list of policy alternatives you considered, the criteria you use, and the degree to which each alternative meets the criteria. You can also include illustrations such as graphs, tables, images, charts, etc. be sure to cite them appropriately in either ASA, AMA, APA, or Harvard referencing formats if they are sourced from other sources.

Format of a Policy Analysis Paper in Nursing

You must follow academic and professional writing conventions in nursing and most healthcare sciences. Below are some formatting requirements you need to achieve for this assignment:

Writing Style: Ensure that you use person-centered terminology in your analysis document. Write complete sentences and support your writing with appropriate references. Use the correct in-text citation format and limit the use of quotes. You should never include direct quotes unless asked to, so stick to the parenthetical citation.
Paper Size: You should write or type the paper on standard A4 (210 x 297mm) paper.
Margins. Set the margins to 1 inch or 2.0 cm around the document.
Font. Use at least 12 points and Times New Roman or Arial.
Line Spacing. 0 or double spacing, 1.5-line spacing, or single-spacing (1.0)
Do not include any graphics in the body, such as pictures, graphs, and diagrams. Those should go to the appendix and should only be relevant if specified by your instructor.
Tabulated information can be included if contained within the world limits provided by your instructor. Format, cite, and reference the tables appropriately.
Title Page. Include your credentials, such as student name and number, instructor's name, course name and code, and institution.
Header. Should include the relevant information as per the citation and formatting style chosen. Most instructors will prefer that it consists of the page number.
Footer. You should include your name, student number, and page number. But this depends on your instructor or course coordinator's preferences.

Use APA, Harvard, AMA, or ASA writing format for your policy analysis paper. In most cases, health sciences and nursing use APA, Harvard, and AMA. If unsure, ask your instructor for clarification.

How to Select a Policy Analysis Framework

A policy analysis framework informs the entire policy analysis paper. Therefore, you must select a plausible policy analysis framework after determining and defining the policy. A good policy analysis paper provides in-depth, reasoned, relevant, and evaluative information about a policy in the context of a health issue or problem.

The role of the framework is to guide the evaluation process. It provides the structure of the paper, allowing you to explore a policy issue logically. When selecting a framework, consider the assignment instructions and the policy focus you will analyze. It will depend on whether the policy is prescriptive or predictive.

Nursing practice and the consumers of healthcare have a social contract. Nurses should evaluate what is best for the consumers and promote/advocate for their best interests. Engaging in the policy process helps nurses influence healthcare, solve health issues, and promote social justice. One way to develop policy acumen is through using policy analysis frameworks to analyze policies.

In broad form, the policy analysis framework includes the stages of analyzing a policy. It could be done in many stages or a few steps. One of the most popular policy analysis models or frameworks advocates for an analysis process focusing on:

Defining the problem
Assembling evidence
Considering the policy alternatives
Selecting the evaluation criteria
Monitoring and evaluation of outcomes
Confronting tradeoffs
Decision making
Dissemination

Considering that health policy analysis is a social and political activity, the best healthcare policy framework to adopt (one that considers the contexts relevant to healthcare) entails:

Defining the context
Statement of the problem
Searching for evidence
Considering the alternative policy options
Projecting the outcomes
Applying the evaluative criteria
Weighing the outcomes
Making a decision.

The above framework is similar to CDC's Policy analytical framework ( PDF) . Therefore, you can use the model to analyze and prioritize policy.

You can also consider the data-driven policy-analysis model presented in 2003 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to assist in evaluating the impact of health policies. Consult your class resources to select the best policy analysis models or frameworks. Asking for instructor clarification is also highly encouraged to get everything right.

Related Reading: How to write a personal nursing philosophy.

Questions to ask yourself before and when analyzing a health policy

What is the context of the policy? Is it regulatory, administrative, legislative, ethical, etc.?
How does the policy work? What's its scope?
What are the aims and objectives of the policy?
What is the value of the policy?
What are the short, medium, and long-term outcomes of the policy?
What are the unforeseeable negative and positive impacts of the policy?
Who are the stakeholders? What are their interest and values?
What are the available resources, capacity, and technical requirements for implementing the policy?
What time frame is needed to formulate and implement the policy?
How does the policy address the problem or issue?
What are the populations of interest? How are they affected? What outcomes will affect them, and how?
How grave is the health issue of interest?
How does the policy relate to nursing practice and profession?
What are the cost and benefits of the policy?
How do the costs compare to the benefits (consider ROI, cost-to-benefit ratio, costs averted, cost savings, etc.)?
What is the distribution of the cost?
What are the timelines for the costs and benefits?
Can you tell if there are any gaps in the data?
Is there available local and national empirical data to support the policy?
A conceptual model of Nursing and health policy
CDC's Policy Analysis Framework (Website)
Health Policy Analysis by Wendy L. Thomson (DNP, MPH, PHN) (Demonstrative Video)
Healthcare Policy, Analysis, and Advocacy: Policy Initiative (Website)
Is there life after policy streams, advocacy coalitions, and punctuations: Using evolutionary theory to explain policy change?
Policy Analysis by CDC
Policy Analysis Examples (Issue Briefs) (Download Samples here)
Policy Analysis Format
Policy analysis paper Structure
Policy analysis: A framework for nurse managers
Putting policy theory to work: tobacco control in California
Sample Expert Policy analysis papers (download)
Theory and Methods in Comparative Policy Analysis Studies: Volume One
How to write a policy paper (extended version)

Struggling with

How to Fight Nursing Student Dismissal and Win

Tips to help you Succeed in Nursing School

Accelerated BSN vs. Traditional BSN (Know the Difference and Choose Wisely)

NurseMyGrades is being relied upon by thousands of students worldwide to ace their nursing studies. We offer high quality sample papers that help students in their revision as well as helping them remain abreast of what is expected of them.

an Excelsior University site

Health Policy Statements

Write | Read | Educators

Grumble... Applaud... Please give us your feedback!

Learn how to write a health policy statement.

Writing in the Disciplines »
Health Sciences Professions »
Health Policy Statements »

Faculty of Arts and Sciences
FAS Theses and Dissertations
Communities & Collections
By Issue Date
FAS Department
Quick submit
Waiver Generator
DASH Stories
Accessibility
COVID-related Research
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
By Collections
By Departments

Show simple item record

Essays on Health Policy Methods

Files in this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

FAS Theses and Dissertations [6136]

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Publications
Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

Advanced Search
Journal List
Health Res Policy Syst

Health policy – why research it and how: health political science

Evelyne de leeuw.

Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia

Carole Clavier

Département de Science Politique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case postale 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8 Canada

Eric Breton

Ecole des Hautes Études en santé Publique (EHESP), Avenue du Professeur Léon-Bernard - CS 74312, 35043 Rennes cedex, France

The rigorous application of insights from and theories of the policy process will enhance our understanding of not just how, but also why health policy is structured and implemented the way it is.

Background: policy is not an intervention

7.5.1 Use evaluation and research findings in policy analysis;

7.5.2 Identify the significance and implications of health policy for individuals, groups, and communities;

7.5.3 Advocate for health-related policies, regulations, laws, or rules;

7.5.4 Use evidence-based research to develop policies to promote health;

7.5.5 Employ policy and media advocacy techniques to influence decision-makers.

Health, policy

HiAP conceptualisations (Appendix, Rudolph et al., 2013) [ 19 ]

" Health in All Policies is a collaborative approach that integrates and articulates health considerations into policy making across sectors, and at all levels, to improve the health of all communities and people. " – Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO). " Health in All Policies is a collaborative approach to improving the health of all people by incorporating health considerations into decision-making across sectors and policy areas. " –California Health in All Policies Task Force. " Health in All Policies is the policy practice of including, integrating or internalizing health in other policies that shape or influence the [Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)] …Health in All Policies is a policy practice adopted by leaders and policy makers to integrate consideration of health, well-being and equity during the development, implementation and evaluation of policies. " – European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. " Health in All Policies is an innovative, systems change approach to the processes through which policies are created and implemented. " – National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). " Health in All Policies aims to improve the health of the population through increasing the positive impacts of policy initiatives across all sectors of government and at the same time contributing to the achievement of other sectors’ core goals. " – South Australia.

The policy process

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is 12961_2014_360_Fig1_HTML.jpg

Variables involved in the implementation process (adapted from Figure 2 2 .1 in [ 42 ] ).

The stages heuristic and beyond

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is 12961_2014_360_Fig2_HTML.jpg

Proposed policy process cycle for developing Health in All Policies.

We found that the best visual metaphor for this reality of the policy process is that of juggling (Figure 3 ).

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is 12961_2014_360_Fig3_HTML.jpg

Health in All Policies juggling process.

Assessing policy outcomes

Case study: environments for health policy research – Environments for Health (E4H) policy effectiveness

Been incorporated by local governments in their policies and practices;
Contributed to greater consistency and quality in the scope and approach of municipal public health planning across the state;
Led to the integration of MPHPs with other council plans;
Increased the level of understanding among appropriate local government staff of the impact of the social, economic, natural, and built environments on health and wellbeing;
Created additional opportunities for health gain through strengthened intersectoral partnerships to address the social determinants of health; and
Been supported effectively by the Department of Human Services and other stakeholders [ 63 ].

Document analysis of Victorian Local Government Authorities’ MPHPs (62 plans);
Seventy-three individual and group interviews with key stakeholders in municipal public health planning;
Online survey of individuals involved in municipal public health planning (councillors, council staff, non-council organisations, and community members) (108 survey respondents);
Five community forums to present preliminary evaluation findings and obtain input from additional stakeholder groups.

Conclusions

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

Contributor Information

Evelyne de Leeuw, Email: [email protected] .

Carole Clavier, Email: [email protected] .

Eric Breton, Email: [email protected] .

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Health Policy

Pursuing policies that improve the public health, including health economics, health services, advocacy, and preparedness

Health Policy Headlines

Explore the latest public health research and insights about health policy.

Woman in front of computer monitor displaying 8 people in an online course discussion

Summer Institute in Data to Policy

Registration now open for courses in strategic leadership, youth engagement, policy analysis, resource management, and evaluation of programs and/or research.

A collage of images, featuring fast food in packaging, nonstick pans, and a person getting a glass of water from a kitchen sink.

The Omnipresence of PFAS—and What We Can Do About Them

PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—are everywhere, but we don’t yet know the extent of their damage to the environment, or our health.

Two black women dressed in business attire smile at the camera as they stand next to each other.

Student Spotlight: Glendedora Dolce

For graduate students who are passionate about putting research and policy recommendations into action, the Johns Hopkins Health Policy Institute (HPI) is an invaluable experience. Among the Spring 2024 HPI Fellows is Glendedora Dolce, now in her second year as a Health and Public Policy doctoral student. Glendora's research aims to prevent injuries, illnesses, and health disparities as it pertains to child passenger safety.

HOPE Challenge: Heart of the Matter Recap

In observance of American Heart Month, HPM’s Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions (HCHDS) hosted discussions with leading policy and medical experts about equity in cardiovascular health and how to advance policies that can positively change the health destinies of marginalized communities in the U.S. today and for generations to come.

Multiple arms reaching up holding a speech bubble

Health Policy Analysis Webinar Series Brings Together Global Health Policy Scholars

The health policy analysis webinar series was launched in April 2020 with the aim of holding research and policy discussions around global health policy issues.

HPM Faculty Member Jeromie Ballreich, PhD, MHS, testifies before House Ways and Means Committee

On Tuesday, February 6, Jeromie Ballreich, PhD, testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, addressing the critical issue of chronic drug shortages in the United States. He highlighted the complexity of factors contributing to shortages and proposed four policy solution sets for Congress to consider.

View more Headlines

Health Policy Faculty Experts

Looking for prominent public health experts in the field of health policy? They’re here at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Joshua M. Sharfstein

Joshua Sharfstein, MD, works to develop and promote public health strategies, healthcare payment approaches, and regulatory policies that advance health and equity.

Rajiv N. Rimal

Rajiv N. Rimal, PhD, MA, works globally on social and behavior change interventions with a focus on women and children’s nutrition and well-being. He adopts a social norms-based approach to address health inequities in low- and middle-income countries.

Gerard Anderson

Gerard Anderson, PhD, works with policymakers to control health care spending.

Albert Wu, MD, MPH, studies the impact of safety problems on patients and health care workers.

Departments

Biostatistics

Health Policy and Management

Health, Behavior and Society

Centers & Institutes

Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health

Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI)

Early Childhood Services Research Program

Institute for Health and Social Policy (IHSP)

Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)

Upcoming Events

Addressing health care's carbon footprint: a conversation with u.s. health and human services secretary xavier becerra, international health regulations and the pandemic treaty, special conversation with former u.s. surgeon general dr. antonia novello, project learning in the context of wicked problems: a 40-year case study of health systems strengthening in uttar pradesh, india, global health symposium: funding restructuring and resource distribution in global health, global health symposium day 2: student poster presentations.

Language selection

Français fr

Call for papers: Generating stronger evidence to inform policy and practice: natural experiments on built environments, health behaviours and chronic diseases

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada Journal

HPCDP Journal Home

Call for papers: Generating stronger evidence to inform policy and practice: natural experiments on built environments, health behaviours and chronic diseases

Submit a manuscript

Information for authors

About HPCDP

About the Journal
Contact the Editors
Past issues

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.44.4.05

Recommended Attribution

This call for papers in the HPCDP Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Guest editors: Dr. Stephanie Prince Ware (Public Health Agency of Canada), Dr. Gavin McCormack (University of Calgary)

HPCDP Journal Editors: Robert Geneau and Margaret de Groh (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Where we work, learn, play, eat and live has important implications for health. The built environment has been associated with the development of chronic disease, and with health behaviours often seen as critical pathways for this relationship. Footnote 1 Footnote 2 Built environments refer to components of the physical environment that are human-made or human-modified and include structures and buildings, recreation facilities, green spaces and parks, transportation systems and community design.

Natural experiments are interventions that occur without a researcher’s ability to manipulate the intervention or exposure to the intervention. Footnote 3 Footnote 4 Natural experiments offer the opportunity to evaluate the effects of “naturally occurring” interventions such as changes to the built environment (e.g. creation of a new bike path, park improvements, infrastructure changes to schools or workplaces, construction of a new recreation facility or grocery store) on health behaviours and chronic disease risk. Natural experiments are often more practical for investigating the health impacts of environmental interventions when compared to traditional experimental studies (e.g. randomized controlled trials). Compared to cross-sectional studies, natural experiments provide a means to generate rigorous evidence to better establish causality, as well as to understand the implementation of interventions in “real-world” scenarios.

This special issue answers the 2017 Canadian Public Health Officer annual report’s call to further evaluate the health impacts of community design features in Canada. Footnote 5 This special issue resonates with the expanding scholarly and policy-oriented interest in the utility of natural experiments as a critical tool in advancing the body of evidence and for informing interventions to improve public and population health. Footnote 6 Footnote 7 Specifically, the objective of this special issue on natural experiments is to provide timely evidence to further understand the effectiveness of built environment interventions on health behaviours and chronic disease prevention in a Canadian context.

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice is seeking relevant topical research articles that present new findings or synthesize/review existing evidence on natural experiments of the built environment (or related policies) that influence health behaviours with implications for chronic disease prevention in Canada.

Relevant topic areas include, but are not limited to:

Built environments, including community or neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, transportation infrastructure, home environments, recreation environments, parks, playgrounds, green spaces, public open spaces, natural environments and seniors’ residences.
All health-related behaviours, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, food consumption, smoking and substance use.
Chronic diseases and health-related outcomes, including body mass index, fitness, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, injuries, falls, mental health, stress, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and lung disease.

International submissions will be considered if they include Canadian data, results (e.g. as part of multi-country studies or global comparisons) and/or evidence-based discussion of implications for community or population health in Canada.

Consult the Journal’s website for information on article types and detailed submission guidelines for authors . Kindly refer to this call for papers in your cover letter.

All manuscripts should be submitted using the Journal’s ScholarOne Manuscripts online system. Pre-submission inquiries and questions about suitability or scope can be directed to [email protected] .

Submission deadline: November 30, 2024

Page details

Personalize Your Experience

Already have an account? Log In

Free standard shipping is valid on orders of $45 or more (after promotions and discounts are applied, regular shipping rates do not qualify as part of the $45 or more) shipped to US addresses only. Not valid on previous purchases or when combined with any other promotional offers.

Register for an enhanced, personalized experience.

Receive free access to exclusive content, a personalized homepage based on your interests, and a weekly newsletter with topics of your choice.

Home / Healthy Aging / The power of neuroplasticity: How your brain adapts and grows as you age

The power of neuroplasticity: How your brain adapts and grows as you age

Please login to bookmark.

Over the summer, I spent an evening with my wife’s family, many of whom had recently flown in from France for their annual visit. All crammed on the back patio, we were quite the crowd: my wife and I, her mother, her sister, her nephew, her aunt, and family friends all catching up while sharing drinks. By convenience and habit, the majority of the conversation was in French, which I don’t speak. However, I’d known the visit was coming and had done my best to prepare. I enlisted my wife for tutoring sessions, changed all my favorite shows to French subtitles and dubs, and practiced with a language learning app every day for months.

Of course, aside from courtesies and a few phrases here and there, the conversation was too fast and too complex for me to keep up with. Mostly, I just enjoyed the challenge and quick translations from my mother-in-law.

However, what really struck me was how effortlessly my 4-year-old nephew worked the crowd. As the two most recent additions to the family — through birth in my nephew’s case and marriage in mine — he and I were both still learning the language. Though he was often too shy to speak, it was clear he knew what was going on and was able to adapt to the language much more quickly.

Unlike me, my nephew is not poring over grammar books or language apps — he simply has the advantage of a younger brain with incredible neuroplasticity.

“The ability of the brain to change — to adapt based on the environment, stimuli or experiences — is termed broadly as neuroplasticity,” says Mayo Clinic expert Prashanthi Vemuri, Ph.D., who researches the brain and neurodegenerative disorders.

Though it’s true that people of any age can benefit from the power of neuroplasticity, the brain does change as you get older, meaning it’s important to understand how to care for your cognitive health.

Below, Dr. Vemuri discusses exactly what neuroplasticity is, why it matters and how to optimize your brain’s potential.

Understanding neuroplasticity, even as you age

To understand neuroplasticity, it’s important to get familiar with the basic functioning of the brain. The brain is composed of billions of neurons — nerve cells that collect, process and send information — as well as a complex network of electrical circuits that allow these neurons to “talk” with one another. These connections are crucial, as neurons in the brain also can send messages to other parts of the body through the nervous system. In short, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to form and adapt this vast network of neural connections.

When you’re younger, your brain has an abundance of young neurons, which helps your brain take in new information quickly and form new neural connections. And this greater plasticity is exactly why kids have a much easier time learning a new language than adults do, explains Dr. Vemuri.

“Your brain is still developing when you are young — the brain volume is increasing, the brain connectivity is still maturing and the brain development hasn’t yet peaked,” says Dr. Vemuri. “Your brain is still growing and because of that, you can learn new things and the brain adapts much more easily.”

Dr. Vemuri says brain development continues to mature into mid-to-late 20s. From there, the brain slowly shrinks, with the rate of shrinkage increasing after 60 years of age. This change can affect cognitive functions like memory, processing speed, decision-making and learning — all the areas that may leave you feeling a little less sharp as you get older.

However, the brain still has an incredible capacity for change, in large part due to neuroplasticity. Though the number of neurons may decline with age, emerging research has shown that neuroplasticity helps the brain retain its ability to adapt both structurally and functionally throughout life. In short, neuroplasticity means you can retrain your brain, tap into new skills and maybe even learn a new language, no matter your age.

How neuroplasticity can help heal the brain after damage

Interestingly, neuroplasticity can play a key role in helping people bounce back from serious conditions like stroke and even COVID-19.

During a stroke, adequate blood supply doesn’t reach a portion of the brain or bleeding occurs in the brain, typically due to a blocked or burst blood vessel. As a result, brain cells become damaged or die. However, the brain can sometimes recover from this damage, says Dr. Vemuri.

“Let’s say you experience motor or speech symptoms with the stroke — that is, difficulty with mobility or speech. You could, over time with a lot of practice, recover that function because the brain functionally reorganizes itself.”

Additionally, neuroplasticity is helping some people recover from COVID-19. An estimated 20% of those who acquire the illness experience a change in their sense of taste and smell, with another 20% experiencing prolonged changes lasting for weeks to months. But in an estimated 95% of people with these changes, neuroplasticity helps senses improve in less than a year — most effectively through olfactory retraining , which involves smelling scents like clove or lemon to train the nerves to heal and adapt.

How to maintain your neuroplasticity

There are a number of strategies to maintain, and potentially even improve, your brain health.

Dr. Vemuri says sleep is one of the most important — though often overlooked — strategies to maintain your brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Researchers believe that sleep disruption is associated with beta-amyloid, a protein that can harden into plaque — an early sign of the Alzheimer’s cascade.

During sleep, the brain clears itself of toxins like the amyloid protein, Dr. Vemuri explains, potentially lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s. In fact, studies show that people who don’t sleep enough may be twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to having an increased risk of dementia.

Other lifestyle factors like regular exercise, managing stress and blood pressure, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking, and maintaining a strong social network all play a role in maintaining brain health.

And research suggests that the phrase “use it or lose it” applies to your brain and cognitive abilities. To use neuroplasticity to your advantage, especially as you age, Dr. Vemuri recommends regularly stimulating your brain with puzzles and challenges like sudoku, Wordle, or family game night. The more you cultivate this habit, the better. Research suggests that the benefits of these activities accrue over your lifetime.

Likewise, research suggests that you can build up your cognitive reserve — or how your brain copes with certain changes or even cognitive decline — through moderately challenging activities like reading, playing an instrument or learning a new skill. In fact, people who spend more time learning tend to have neural networks better equipped to adapt to the changes brought on by brain disorders.

Retirement is an especially important time to focus on neuroplasticity, says Dr. Vemuri, as many people experience a significant shift in lifestyle at this time.

Often, “cognitive function can decline because you’re doing less complicated tasks and the demands on the brain are lower,” she says. “Retirement therefore presents an opportunity to continue using it to keep it.”

Relevant reading

Man Overboard!

For every man – regardless of hair pattern, shoe size or IPA preference – Man Overboard! by Mayo Clinic Press helps you understand your health and live your best life with this humorous but authoritative manual for the aging male.

Discover more Healthy Aging content from articles, podcasts, to videos.

You May Also Enjoy

Privacy Policy

We've made some updates to our Privacy Policy. Please take a moment to review.

Three Rhode Island power players just launched a political nonprofit

The group’s goal is to “influence policy makers and constituents to work for progressive change in housing, education, labor, and health care, particularly women’s health care,” according to incorporation papers.

We’re still a few months away from Rhode Island’s elections taking center stage, but three of the best-known insiders in the state have just launched a new nonprofit “social welfare” organization that they believe will play a big role in local politics for years to come.

Kate Coyne-McCoy, a former executive director of the state Democratic Party, George Zainyeh, who was chief of staff to former governor Lincoln Chafee and is now one of the most influential lobbyists on Smith Hill, and Patti Doyle, a top communications pro for just about everyone, formed Better RI NOW on April 8.

The group’s plans are still vague, but its goal is to “influence policy makers and constituents to work for progressive change in housing, education, labor, and health care, particularly women’s health care,” according to incorporation papers.

Asked to expand on the group’s goals, Doyle said the group plans to raise money, but won’t directly endorse candidates for office. She said “we can let voters know which candidates stand for issues important to them.”

”The three of us have been active in public policy for a while, we witness the ongoing national dialogue, and just want to be additive to a local conversation on a variety of key issues,” Doyle said.

Stepping back: Coyne-McCoy, Zainyeh, Doyle aren’t necessarily household names to the average Rhode Islander, but they’re a powerful trifecta in political circles. Doyle said the group plans to focus on the congressional delegation and statewide offices.

US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and US Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo are all on the ballot this year, although all three are heavy favorites to be reelected (especially in a presidential election year). It’s more intriguing to think about the role Better RI NOW might play in 2026 in Rhode Island.

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Dan McGowan can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him @danmcgowan .

Three Rhode Island power players just launched a political nonprofit

W e’re still a few months away from Rhode Island’s elections taking center stage, but three of the best-known insiders in the state have just launched a new nonprofit “social welfare” organization that they believe will play a big role in local politics for years to come.

IMAGES

Health Policy Analysis Paper Example Free Essay Example
👍 Health care essay. Research Paper on Healthcare. 2019-01-26
Health Policy Analysis Paper Sample
Health policy essay examples in 2021
Health Essay Sample
Research paper: Essay about good health

VIDEO

MSc Health Economics and Health Policy
New Education Policy Analysis for GS2
Essay On Iran With Easy Language In English
Health is wealth • a short speech about health by Rupak Karki #Hscus
Good Health Essay
Essay on Good Health |Essay on The Value of Health|Essay writing in English|English essay|Eng Teach

COMMENTS

88 Healthcare Policy Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
This essay discusses health policies, the determinants of health, and the connections between the two. The determinants of health are individual and environmental factors that affect people's physical and mental well-being and the ability to […] The Replacement for the ACA Healthcare Insurance Policy. For example, the AHCA policy allows a ...
75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics
The Healthcare Policy in the United States. This essay looks at the current state of healthcare policies and the suitability of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Impact of Healthcare Policy Changes on Health Delivery. Medical care systems are formed in order to meet medical.
Health Care Policy Essay Examples
Best Health Care Policy Essay Topics. When it comes to choosing the best health care policy essay topics, it's important to think outside the box. Here are some unique and thought-provoking essay topics that stand out from the ordinary: The impact of technology on health care policy; The role of pharmaceutical companies in shaping health care ...
Health Policy Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines
Health Policy Current Events Health Policy Final Rules for the Accountable Care Organizations have been Published Section 3022 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 provides a provision for care providers to form organizations focused on improving and lowering the cost of patient care (Berwick, 2011). ACOs are structured such that care providers will be able to share in any ...
Healthcare Policy Essay
Health Policy and Strategies In 2014, healthcare changed drastically as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed in legislation mandating health insurance coverage for an additional 50 million Americans. ... Interprofessional Working and Healthcare Policy Charlotte Walker 19010944 3,187 words 22/06/2015 This essay will ...
Healthcare Policy Essays (Examples)
Healthcare Policy. PAGES 4 WORDS 1223. Healthcare Policy Analysis. The objective of this study is to conduct a healthcare policy analysis and recommend changes. Presently, there is not an across-the-board implementation of Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) or prescriptions and this can be critical in reducing adverse drug events.
PDF How to Write a Health Policy Brief
This article offers guidance on how to write a policy brief by outlining 4 steps: (a) define the problem, (b) state the policy, (c) make your case, and (d) discuss the impact. The steps and tips offer a starting point for health care professionals interested in health policy and translating research or clinical experience to impact policy.
Health policy
The establishment of policy is key to the implementation of actions for health. We review the nature of policy and the definition and directions of health policy. In doing so, we explicitly cast a health political science gaze on setting parameters for researching policy change for health. A brief overview of core theories of the policy process for health promotion is presented, and ...
Current Public Policy Papers
ACP public policy papers summarize and dissect published research and discussion on current issues involving clinical practice, medical education, bioethics, and health care financing and delivery, and make specific recommendations for internal medicine physicians, patients, and policy makers. Read about ACP's public policy development process.
Thoughts About Health Policies
Abstract. This essay is about health policies. Included are the definition of health policy, the descriptions of the concepts of a conceptual model of nursing and health policy, and examples of various sources of health policies. A central thesis of this essay is that practice guidelines are largely unrecognized as health policies.
Health Policy: Health Policymaking
We will write a custom essay on your topic. Several arguments can be used to make a case for the proposed policy. First, consuming sugared beverages harms human health by leading to weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes (Allcott et al., 2019). Although many foods include sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages are the most harmful ...
Health Policy Briefs
Health Policy Briefs examine complex questions currently being debated in health policy and health services research. The health policy briefs provide a clear, comprehensive, and impartial ...
Health Policy: A Critical Analysis
The proposed health policy will inevitably have social, political, economic and epidemiological effects. Socially, the policy will affect access to primary care especially by those in the low economic substratum. Economically, the health policy portends little expenditure by ensuring resources are spent in a transparent and accountable manner.
How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper (A Guide)- NurseMyGrade
Step 2: Select the Policy document for analysis. After identifying the problem, go ahead and search for the relevant evidence. First, collect data about the policies meant to address the health issue. You can access the relevant healthcare policies through research on government websites and publications.
PDF Influencing Health Policy: How to Write Health Policy Briefs
•Health Policy Council at Society for Health Psychology, American Psychological Association (APA) •Dr. Jonathan Purtle, reviewer and researcher in health policy communication •APA Policy •Society for Behavioral Medicine
How to write a health policy brief.
Although many health care professionals are interested in health policy, relatively few have training in how to utilize their clinical experience and scientific knowledge to impact policy. Developing a policy brief is one approach that health professionals may use to draw attention to important evidence that relates to policy. This article offers guidance on how to write a policy brief by ...
Health Policy Topics
The latest health policy news featured on Forefront, briefs, and podcasts ; Subscribe today. 1220 19th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036. T 202 408 6801. F 301 654 2845
The Formulation of Health Policy by the Three Branches of Government
Health policy encompasses a vast range of issues in health care, public health, and biotechnology. This essay selects illustrations from several areas that, over a period of time, have generated a great deal of policy formulated by each branch of government. These include reproductive rights, the right to die, and mental health.
Health Policy Statements
The more complex the health problem is, the more likely a longer policy statement will be required. 0:45 : Examples of health policy statements range from position papers on treatment protocols to comprehensive assessments of community health problems and proposed solutions. 0:55: The American Public Health Association publishes health policy ...
Essays on Health Policy Methods
Essays on Health Policy Methods. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. This dissertation includes 4 chapters on methods for health policy research. In the first 3 chapters, we consider common approaches to observational policy analyses. We discuss statistical and practical problems with the parallel ...
Health Policy
It intends to enhance communication between (1) researchers analysing health systems, health policies, and health reforms and (2) legislators, decision-makers and professionals concerned with developing and implementing these policies. Health Policy is an interdisciplinary journal at the interface between health policy, health systems research ...
Health Reform Plan Final Essay for HCA255
Regulatoryand Policy Impact Essay. Water quality essay-6 - good. GCU week one paper - hbgjubvhjuv. Redone week - uihiubgi. Health Reform Plan Essay. Health Reform Plan Final Essay for HCA255 class. health reform plan alexander siufua grand canyon university health policy and economic analysis care professor.
Health policy
The establishment of policy is key to the implementation of actions for health. We review the nature of policy and the definition and directions of health policy. In doing so, we explicitly cast a health political science gaze on setting parameters for researching policy change for health. A brief overview of core theories of the policy process ...
Health Policy and Public Health
March 20, 2024. For graduate students who are passionate about putting research and policy recommendations into action, the Johns Hopkins Health Policy Institute (HPI) is an invaluable experience. Among the Spring 2024 HPI Fellows is Glendedora Dolce, now in her second year as a Health and Public Policy doctoral student.
Call for papers: Generating stronger evidence to inform policy and
Guest editors: Dr. Stephanie Prince Ware (Public Health Agency of Canada), Dr. Gavin McCormack (University of Calgary) HPCDP Journal Editors: Robert Geneau and Margaret de Groh (Public Health Agency of Canada) Where we work, learn, play, eat and live has important implications for health. The built environment has been associated with the development of chronic disease, and with health ...
The power of neuroplasticity: How your brain adapts and grows as you
To use neuroplasticity to your advantage, especially as you age, Dr. Vemuri recommends regularly stimulating your brain with puzzles and challenges like sudoku, Wordle, or family game night. The more you cultivate this habit, the better. Research suggests that the benefits of these activities accrue over your lifetime.
3 Rhode Island power players just launched a political nonprofit
The group's goal is to "influence policy makers and constituents to work for progressive change in housing, education, labor, and health care, particularly women's health care," according ...
3 Rhode Island power players just launched a political nonprofit
The group's goal is to "influence policy makers and constituents to work for progressive change in housing, education, labor, and health care, particularly women's health care," according ...

75 Healthcare Policy Essay Topics

Health Care Policy Essay Examples

Best Health Care Policy Essay Topics

Health Care Policy essay topics Prompts

Pain in My Life: Lessons in Resilience and Healing

Patch Adams Reflection Paper

Service Development and Healthcare Policy

The Negative Effects of The Current Health Care Reform Bill

Healthcare Policy Essay

Healthcare Policy : Health And Healthcare

Healthcare Policies

Public Healthcare Policy

The Current Healthcare Policy : A Stable Healthcare System

Health Policy And Strategies Of Healthcare

Policy And Economics Of Healthcare Delivery

Healthcare Providers And Policy Makers

How Healthcare Policy Influences The Working Of The Healthcare Sector

The Pros And Cons Of Healthcare Policy

Healthcare Systems Are Influenced By Domestic Policy

Popular Topics

Healthcare Policy Essays (Examples)

Filter by Keywords:(add comma between each)

Healthcare Policy Systems Hong Kong Australia Vouchers

Healthcare System in South Africa Healthcare Policy

Healthcare Policy Hospital Policy Issues

Health Care Policy Issue Analysis

Healthcare Policy Western Philosophical Thought and the

Health Care Policy in the United States

Healthcare Policy Formation Healthcare Policy

Health Care Policy Bill Formulation

Healthcare Policy and Financing

Health Care Policy

Healthcare Policy Issues and Implications

Health Care Policy Analysis

Health Care Policy Development Process

Could you guide me in selecting essay topics that cover puracebo effect?

I need some suggestions for health care policy essay topics. Can you offer any?

Need help generating essay topics related to Universal Healthcare. Can you help?

Would you be able to provide me with ideas for essay topics on policy?

Research Paper

Research Proposal

Health policy – why research it and how: health political science

Background: policy is not an intervention

Health, policy

HiAP conceptualisations (Appendix, Rudolph et al., 2013) [ 19 ]

The policy process

The stages heuristic and beyond

Assessing policy outcomes

Case study: environments for health policy research – Environments for Health (E4H) policy effectiveness

Conclusions

Author information

Corresponding author

Additional information

Authors’ contributions

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Authors’ original file for figure 1

About this article

Share this article

Health Research Policy and Systems

Current Public Policy Papers

Racial Health Disparities, Prejudice and Violence

Health Policy: A Critical Analysis Report (Assessment)

Political Perspective

Economic Perspective

Epidemiology Perspective

Sociological Perspective

How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper : A Nursing/Med Student Guide

What is a Policy Analysis Paper?

Steps for Health Policy Analysis - How to Get it Right

Step 1: Identify the Policy Issue

Step 2: Select the Policy document for analysis

Step 3: Read the policy document and take notes

Step 4: Outline the Policy Analysis Paper

Step 5: Write the Policy Analysis Paper

Step 6: Review, Revise, and Polish the paper

Structure of a Policy Analysis Paper in Nursing

Abstract/Executive Summary

Introduction

Background and Significance

Methods and Analysis