Government-led interventions for healthier populations: Successful policy and implementation strategies

Peter Bragge, Alex Waddell, Paul Kellner, Veronica Delafosse, Robert Marten, Anders Nordström, Sandro Demaio

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives/aims
The Healthier Societies for Healthy Populations initiative (convened by WHO’s
Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research; the Government of Sweden; and
the Wellcome Trust) aims to address complex public health challenges, such as
communicable and non-communicable diseases and health inequities. One starting
point is to build understanding of the characteristics of successful government-led
interventions to understand policy implementation strategies and enable translation
of evidence-based programs to support healthier populations. To this end, this study
explored five purposefully sampled, successful public health initiatives: 1) front-ofpackage warnings on food labels containing high sugar, sodium or saturated fat
(Chile); 2) healthy food initiatives (trans fats, calorie labelling, cap on beverage size;
New York); 3) the alcohol sales and transport ban during COVID-19 (South Africa);
4) the Vision Zero road safety initiative (Sweden) and 5) establishment of the Thai
Health Promotion Foundation.
Methods
The review utilised established methodologies including rapid reviews and practice
interviews to synthesise knowledge. This study adapted these methods and
conducted a series of "mini-reviews" focusing on government-led interventions with
documented successful outcomes in promoting healthier populations. Positive
examples were selected in consultation with Healthier Societies for Healthy
Populations group (authors AN, RM and SD shortlisted candidates based on their
involvement with meetings). Five purposefully selected examples represented
different geographical regions, included low- and middle-income countries and
addressed key population health issues (tobacco and alcohol use, obesity and
preventable injuries). Interviews were conducted with key-leaders involved in the
development, adoption, and dissemination of the successful public health initiatives
through key policy changes. Interviews focused on gathering high-level reflections
the intervention including success factors and barriers to implementation. A literature
scan using Google Scholar search strings informed by the interviews identified
relevant articles in consultation with a specialist librarian. The analysis examined
cross-cutting themes within the examples, specifically identifying barriers and
facilitators to successful interventions across different interventions and settings. Key
themes and information on the intervention characteristics were consolidated into
short reports for each example.
Main findings
This study presents an innovative approach to identifying the facilitators and barriers
in successful government-led interventions for healthier populations. Thematic
analysis of interviews and relevant studies across five examples revealed key
facilitators, such as political leadership, public education, multifaceted approaches,
stable funding, and opposition planning. Barriers included industry opposition,
complex public health challenges, and inadequate interagency coordination.
Expanding this global portfolio with additional examples will deepen our
understanding of success factors and failures over time in this critical area.
Ultimately, this comprehensive portfolio will empower practitioners to address
pressing public health challenges worldwide.
The author team hope to spark reflections and suggestions for further development
of this approach. This talk will encourage audience members to discuss their own
reflections of successful government-led interventions through think-pair-share.
Audience members will be asked to 1) think about the how presented policies and
implementation strategies match or differ from their own experience and how they
might be adapted within their own context, 2) pair or group up with others and share
their reflections, 3) if comfortable, share back with the larger group.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages2
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023
EventEvidence and Implementation Summit 2023 - Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 9 Oct 202311 Oct 2023
https://www.eisummit.org/

Conference

ConferenceEvidence and Implementation Summit 2023
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityMelbourne
Period9/10/2311/10/23
Internet address

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