Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?

Document Type : Editorial

Authors

Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Abstract

A range of conceptual models for understanding the policy process have been applied to the health policy process, largely in particular sub areas or policy domains such as public health. However, these contributions appear to offer different rationales and present different frameworks for understanding the policy process. This Editorial critically examines articles that explore the health policy process with models from wider public policy and from health policy. It can be seen that very few of the wider models have been applied in studies of the health policy process. Conversely, some models feature in studies of the health policy process, but not in the wider policy process literature, which suggests that literature on the health policy process is semi-detached from the wider policy process literature. There seem to be two very different future research directions: focusing on ‘home grown’ models, or taking greater account of the wider policy process literature. Does ‘one size fit all’ or is it ‘horses for courses’?

Highlights

 

Commentaries Published on this Paper

 

  • Is It Time to Explore the Health Policy Process Within Governance and Health Systems Frameworks?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Using a Stages Model to Reveal the Politics in the Health Policy Process; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • A Social, Not a Natural Science: Engaging With Broader Fields in Health Policy Analysis; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Health Policy Analysis Requires Attending to Institutions; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Policy Makes Politics; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Doing Health Policy Analysis: The Enduring Relevance of Simple Models; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses”

        Abstract | PDF

 

Keywords

References

  1. Exworthy M. Policy to tackle the social determinants of health: using conceptual models to understand the policy process. Health Policy Plan. 2008;23(5):318-327. doi:1093/heapol/czn022
  2. Moloughney B. The Use of Policy Frameworks to Understand Public Health-Related Public Policy Processes: A Literature Review. Peel Public Health; 2012.
  3. Breton E, De Leeuw E. Theories of the policy process in health promotion research: a review. Health Promot Int. 2011;26(1):82-90. doi:1093/heapro/daq051
  4. Browne J, Coffey B, Cook K, Meiklejohn S, Palermo C. A guide to policy analysis as a research method. Health Promot Int. 2019;34(5):1032-1044. doi:1093/heapro/day052
  5. Cairney P. A ‘Multiple lenses’ approach to policy change: the case of tobacco policy in the UK. British Politics. 2007;2(1):45-68. doi:1057/palgrave.bp.4200039
  6. Arabloo J, Tourani S, Ravaghi H. Application of policy analysis frameworks in tobacco control research: a systematic review of qualitative literature. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2018;32:52. doi:14196/mjiri.32.52
  7. Clarke B, Swinburn B, Sacks G. The application of theories of the policy process to obesity prevention: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):1084. doi:1186/s12889-016-3639-z
  8. Baum F, Graycar A, Delany-Crowe T, et al. Understanding Australian policies on public health using social and political science theories: reflections from an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop. Health Promot Int. 2019;34(4):833-846. doi:1093/heapro/day014
  9. Gilson L, Raphaely N. The terrain of health policy analysis in low and middle income countries: a review of published literature 1994-2007. Health Policy Plan. 2008;23(5):294-307. doi:1093/heapol/czn019
  10. Qudsiah S, Kang C, Fatimah A, et al. Methodological approaches of health policy analysis in developing countries. Int J Public Health Clin Sci. 2007;4(2):19-36.
  11. Jones CM, Gautier L, Ridde V. A scoping review of theories and conceptual frameworks used to analyse health financing policy processes in sub-Saharan Africa. Health Policy Plan. 2021;36(7):1197-1214. doi:1093/heapol/czaa173
  12. Walt G, Gilson L. Reforming the health sector in developing countries: the central role of policy analysis. Health Policy Plan. 1994;9(4):353-370. doi:1093/heapol/9.4.353
  13. John P. Analyzing Public Policy. 2nd ed. London: Routledge; 2012.
  14. Weible C, Sabatier P. Theories of the Policy Process. 4th ed. New York: Westview Press; 2018.
  15. Walt G, Shiffman J, Schneider H, Murray SF, Brugha R, Gilson L. 'Doing' health policy analysis: methodological and conceptual reflections and challenges. Health Policy Plan. 2008;23(5):308-317. doi:1093/heapol/czn024
  16. Cullerton K, Donnet T, Lee A, Gallegos D. Using political science to progress public health nutrition: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19(11):2070-2078. doi:1017/s1368980015002712
  17. Grindle MS, Thomas JW. Public Choices and Policy Change: The Political Economy of Reform in Developing Countries. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press; 1991
  18. Moran M. Understanding the welfare state: the case of health care. Br J Polit Int Relat. 2000;2(2):135-160. doi:1111/1467-856x.00031

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 29 July 2022
  • Revise Date: 07 November 2022
  • Accept Date: 13 November 2022
  • First Publish Date: 19 November 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics