Lauren M Dinour1, Amy Kwan, Nicholas Freudenberg. 1. Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey (Dr Dinour); Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, City University of New York School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, New York (Ms Kwan and Dr Freudenberg).
Abstract
CONTEXT: There is growing recognition that policies influence population health, highlighting the need for evidence to inform future policy development and reform. OBJECTIVES: This review describes how comparative case study methodology has been applied to public health policy research and discusses the methodology's potential to contribute to this evidence. METHODS: English-language, peer-reviewed articles published between 1995 and 2012 were sought from 4 databases. Articles were included if they described comparative case studies addressing US public health policy. Two researchers independently assessed the 20 articles meeting review criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Case-related characteristics and research design tactics utilized to minimize threats to reliability and validity, such as the use of multiple sources of evidence and a case study protocol, were extracted from each article. RESULTS: Although comparative case study methodology has been used to analyze a range of public health policies at all stages and levels, articles reported an average use of only 3.65 (out of 10) research design tactics. CONCLUSION: By expanding the use of accepted research design tactics, public health policy researchers can contribute to expanding the evidence needed to advance health-promoting policies.
CONTEXT: There is growing recognition that policies influence population health, highlighting the need for evidence to inform future policy development and reform. OBJECTIVES: This review describes how comparative case study methodology has been applied to public health policy research and discusses the methodology's potential to contribute to this evidence. METHODS: English-language, peer-reviewed articles published between 1995 and 2012 were sought from 4 databases. Articles were included if they described comparative case studies addressing US public health policy. Two researchers independently assessed the 20 articles meeting review criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Case-related characteristics and research design tactics utilized to minimize threats to reliability and validity, such as the use of multiple sources of evidence and a case study protocol, were extracted from each article. RESULTS: Although comparative case study methodology has been used to analyze a range of public health policies at all stages and levels, articles reported an average use of only 3.65 (out of 10) research design tactics. CONCLUSION: By expanding the use of accepted research design tactics, public health policy researchers can contribute to expanding the evidence needed to advance health-promoting policies.
Authors: France Gagnon; Pierre Bergeron; Carole Clavier; Patrick Fafard; Elisabeth Martin; Chantal Blouin Journal: Int J Health Policy Manag Date: 2017-09-01