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Tensions in public health policy: patient engagement, evidence-based public health and health inequalities

¹ School of Population and Health Sciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
² National Patient Safety Agency, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Professor R Thomson
School of Population and Health Sciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; richard.thomson{at}ncl.ac.uk
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the proposition that there are considerable tensions between key strategies in health policy—namely, evidence-based approaches to population health improvement, reduction of health inequalities, and public and patient engagement—using (1) a critical analysis of the intersection of evidence-based public health, patient and public engagement, and health inequalities policies from a social constructionist perspective and (2) mathematical modelling of paternalistic and shared decision making in the management of hypertension in a random age and sex stratified community sample of residents of south east Northumberland, UK. It is concluded that there may be unintended effects on population health of incongruities in major components of public health policy. Greater public and patient engagement may militate against the disease prevention goals of evidence-based policy, and may better engage sections of the population who already benefit from greater access and better health associated with social status and opportunity, serving to increase inequalities by further marginalising those already suffering from relative exclusion.

Keywords: evidence-based public health; patients’ views; health inequalities; public health policy; decision making

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Quality Lines
Qual. Saf. Health Care 2005 14: 393. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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