Profile
International Journal of Community & Family Medicine Volume 1 (2016), Article ID 1:IJCFM-115, 6 pages
https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-3498/2016/115
Research Article
Adaption of Knowledge and Participation of Stakeholders in Three Public Health Interventions at Local Government Level in Denmark

Maja Bertram1*, Anne Wiechmann2, Arja R Aro1 and Gabriel Gulis1

1Unit for Health Promotion Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
2Department of Health and Nursing, HFH ∙ Hamburger Fern-Hochschule University of Applied Science, Hamburg, Germany
Dr Maja Bertram, Unit for Health Promotion Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Vej 9, Esbjerg 6700, Denmark, Tel: +45 6550 4268; E-mail: mbertram@health.sdu.dk
28 June 2016; 14 August 2016; 16 August 2016
Bertram M, Wiechmann A, Aro AR, Gulis G (2016) Adaption of Knowledge and Participation of Stakeholders in Three Public Health Interventions at Local Government Level in Denmark. Int J Community Fam Med 1: 115. doi: https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-3498/2016/115

Abstract

Background:When implementing public health interventions in practice, it is recommended to use research evidence and to include relevant stakeholders. This should ensure effective interventions but it can be challenging. This study investigates the use of knowledge and inclusion of stakeholders in three different public health interventions at the local government level in Denmark and discusses strategies for future improvements in the use of research evidence.
Method:Based on a previous assessment of all public health interventions in Varde Municipality using the European Community Health Promotion Indicator Development Model (EUHPID model), three different types of interventions (one Health Promotion, one Health Protection, and one Disease Prevention) were chosen for a case study analysis. The data consisted of document reviews and interviews. Data were analysed by content analysis using a framework for Evidence Based Practice as a guiding tool. Discussion of strategies for future improvements was based on experiences from previous studies.
Results:In the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention interventions, knowledge of community characteristics and knowledge based on practitioners’ expertise were the most applied types of knowledge. In the Health Protection intervention, evidence from research was also used. Various stakeholders were included in all interventions. Barriers for the use of research evidence were lack of access to reported research, lack of time and competences to identify, adapt and apply the most relevant research evidence. The perceived facilitators for using evidence from research were access to summaries of research results or guidelines based on research and collaboration with researchers.
Conclusion:Very limited knowledge on how to improve the use of research evidence in such interventions exists, however it seems like an active collaboration between research and practice is a promising strategy. There is a need for more research on this topic taking the role of various stakeholders into account.