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European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 24, Supplement 2, 2014
I.2. Study methods and the environment The employment of a knowledge broker as a means to make health an integral part of the local policy: A case study in the city district of Amsterdam New West, The Netherlands, 2011-2013 Kirsten Langeveld K Langeveld, J Harting, K Stronks Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Contact:
[email protected]
Background Healthy public policy (HPP) is considered a promising way of improving public health. There is a gap between theory on HPP and development of this kind of policies. One of the barriers for making health an integral part of local policies is a lack of awareness and knowledge among civil servants of the way health is related to their policy domain. That is why we positioned a knowledge broker in the city district of Amsterdam New West to promote the integration of health issues in policies on the social determinants of health (SDH) at the local level. Method In order to facilitate the knowledge transfer process the knowledge broker was positioned partly at the university and the city district. As a means to knowledge transfer the knowledge broker worked on the agenda setting of health and specifying policy alternatives to policy documents. The knowledge broker used the participant observation method to overcome the insider-outsider tension. We based our data collection on interviews, observations and policy documents. Results Health became a policy theme at the official level and to a lesser extend at the administrative level. This is illustrated by the following three developments: Firstly, health was integrated in several policy documents. For example the knowledge broker specified alternatives to the policy document on poverty. The result was that the civil servant added a section on health to this document. Secondly, health was mentioned in the mid term review. This document was written in the middle of the administration period and justified the past two years and gave an overview of the second half of the period. Thirdly, a policy analyst was appointed to answer the question in what way health could be promoted in the policy of the city district. Important aspects of the participant observation method were the presence at the working location, participating at all activities and creating trust. Conclusion The participant observation method offers valuable tools the knowledge broker could use. The employment of a knowledge broker by transferring knowledge on the SDH among civil servants is a promising way to make health an integral part of local policy and in this way we aim to bridge the gap between theory on HPP and its practice. Key messages The participant observation method offers valuable tools for the knowledge broker. The employment of a knowledge broker is a promising way to bridge the gap between theory on HPP and practice.
