Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Evidence informed policymaking asks for supportive tools in the policy making process. In the Netherlands public health policy making and implementation mainly takes place at local level. By the Public Health Act local authorities are responsible for writing and implementing Local Health Memoranda within the framework of national public health priorities as set by the Ministry of Health. Both national and local priorities need to be based on epidemiological evidence with regards to the population’s health and main health determinants. To date explicit included evidence in policy making is limited though. However, in addition to epidemiological information other sources of information and evidence as well as specific contextual aspects are also of influence on the decision making in local public health policy making.ss To enhance evidence-informed policy making on national level the National Institute on Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) every four years produces the Public Health Status and Foresight report (PHSF), containing epidemiological and other research evidence on health status and determinants of health. To stimulate this evidence to be taken up in policy making at the local levels a serious game was developed together with the latest PHSF report ( http://www.eengezondernederland.nl/en/English_version ). The game is meant for stakeholders and public health decision makers on different levels (national, regional and local) and from all relevant disciplines (policymakers, professionals and researchers). The focus is mainly strategically oriented on the four societal challenges that can underpin the prioritization of public health policy decisions. An integrated, cross-sectoral approach using the best evidence available is seen in literature as most effective. To stimulate evidence-informed policy implementation on municipality level networking and collaboration between all relevant stakeholders is a necessary condition. To enhance this, a serious game In2Action was developed in the context of a FP-7 project (REPOPA; www.repopa.eu ). Both games, that focus on different levels of decision making and on different stages, are now being integrated into one game. It will be piloted in five Dutch municipalities where both prioritizing followed by the implementation of policy is tested among stakeholders involved in the real life policy context. Key messages Serious games can facilitate collaboration in the development and effectuation of health policy
Authors: F den Hertog, I van de Goor, H van Oers, H Spitters, J van Loon, J Jansen, C Schoemaker, A Dorgelo
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2587438006