Public health matters reach political decision makers thanks to research

PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES REACH POLITICAL DECISION MAKERS THROUGH RESEARCH

 The Lea-Roback Research Centre on social inequalities in health makes a difference in public health by exchanging information with political decision makers using direct and efficient methods. The Centre’s mission is to provide decision makers with scientific knowledge to help them in the decision making process.

 The Centre carried out a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the different political options for child day care centres included in the programmes of Québec’s major political parties: semi-public day care, family day care, private day care, and money transferred directly to parents. We evaluated how these different options can affect children’s health and development by analyzing data from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development and by conducting a literature review.

 Using HIA methodology, we invited major decision makers in the area of child day care to get involved in the research process so they could contribute to our knowledge. Participants included the president of the Québec family and childhood council, day care union presidents, members of parliaments responsible for childhood policies, and day care centre associations. Research results were presented during a workshop held to inform them of possible policy changes that could have positive impacts on children’s health. Even though decision makers in attendance had divergent interests (different political parties, unions, employers), the focus on research results made discussions easier and more harmonious.

 We are now evaluating how our HIA results were received and understood by targeted users. While many countries have used HIA methodology, few studies have assessed whether HIA modifies public policy development. It is important to perform such assessments to justify the monies invested in HIA studies and to make HIA procedures easier for policy makers to manage.