http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/

Development of effective policy responses to address complex public health problems can be challenged by a lack of clarity about the interaction of risk factors driving the problem, differing views of stakeholders on the most appropriate and effective intervention approaches, a lack of evidence to s...

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Main Authors: Jo-An Atkinson, Eloise O'Donnell, John Wiggers, Geoff McDonnell, Jo Mitchell, Louise Freebairn, Devon Indig, Lucie Rychetnik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sax Institute 2017-02-01
Series:Public Health Research & Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
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author Jo-An Atkinson
Eloise O'Donnell
John Wiggers
Geoff McDonnell
Jo Mitchell
Louise Freebairn
Devon Indig
Lucie Rychetnik
author_facet Jo-An Atkinson
Eloise O'Donnell
John Wiggers
Geoff McDonnell
Jo Mitchell
Louise Freebairn
Devon Indig
Lucie Rychetnik
author_sort Jo-An Atkinson
collection DOAJ
description Development of effective policy responses to address complex public health problems can be challenged by a lack of clarity about the interaction of risk factors driving the problem, differing views of stakeholders on the most appropriate and effective intervention approaches, a lack of evidence to support commonly implemented and acceptable intervention approaches, and a lack of acceptance of effective interventions. Consequently, political considerations, community advocacy and industry lobbying can contribute to a hotly contested debate about the most appropriate course of action; this can hinder consensus and give rise to policy resistance. The problem of alcohol misuse and its associated harms in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, provides a relevant example of such challenges. Dynamic simulation modelling is increasingly being valued by the health sector as a robust tool to support decision making to address complex problems. It allows policy makers to ask ‘what-if’ questions and test the potential impacts of different policy scenarios over time, before solutions are implemented in the real world. Participatory approaches to modelling enable researchers, policy makers, program planners, practitioners and consumer representatives to collaborate with expert modellers to ensure that models are transparent, incorporate diverse evidence and perspectives, are better aligned to the decision-support needs of policy makers, and can facilitate consensus building for action. This paper outlines a procedure for embedding stakeholder engagement and consensus building in the development of dynamic simulation models that can guide the development of effective, coordinated and acceptable policy responses to complex public health problems, such as alcohol-related harms in NSW.
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spelling doaj.art-84cb311b9bed41aca5b7a58d92830e8b2022-12-21T22:46:28ZengSax InstitutePublic Health Research & Practice2204-20912017-02-0127110.17061/phrp2711707http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/Jo-An Atkinson0Eloise O'Donnell1John Wiggers2Geoff McDonnell3Jo Mitchell4Louise Freebairn5Devon Indig6Lucie Rychetnik7The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW; School of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW, AustraliaThe Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSWThe Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW; Hunter New England Population Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, AustraliaThe Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSWCentre for Population Health, NSW Ministry of Health, Sydney, AustraliaThe Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW; Knowledge Translation and Health Outcomes, Epidemiology Section, ACT Health, Canberra, AustraliaThe Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW; School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, AustraliaThe Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW; School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaDevelopment of effective policy responses to address complex public health problems can be challenged by a lack of clarity about the interaction of risk factors driving the problem, differing views of stakeholders on the most appropriate and effective intervention approaches, a lack of evidence to support commonly implemented and acceptable intervention approaches, and a lack of acceptance of effective interventions. Consequently, political considerations, community advocacy and industry lobbying can contribute to a hotly contested debate about the most appropriate course of action; this can hinder consensus and give rise to policy resistance. The problem of alcohol misuse and its associated harms in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, provides a relevant example of such challenges. Dynamic simulation modelling is increasingly being valued by the health sector as a robust tool to support decision making to address complex problems. It allows policy makers to ask ‘what-if’ questions and test the potential impacts of different policy scenarios over time, before solutions are implemented in the real world. Participatory approaches to modelling enable researchers, policy makers, program planners, practitioners and consumer representatives to collaborate with expert modellers to ensure that models are transparent, incorporate diverse evidence and perspectives, are better aligned to the decision-support needs of policy makers, and can facilitate consensus building for action. This paper outlines a procedure for embedding stakeholder engagement and consensus building in the development of dynamic simulation models that can guide the development of effective, coordinated and acceptable policy responses to complex public health problems, such as alcohol-related harms in NSW.http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/alcohol and other drugshealth information and technology
spellingShingle Jo-An Atkinson
Eloise O'Donnell
John Wiggers
Geoff McDonnell
Jo Mitchell
Louise Freebairn
Devon Indig
Lucie Rychetnik
http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
Public Health Research & Practice
alcohol and other drugs
health information and technology
title http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
title_full http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
title_fullStr http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
title_full_unstemmed http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
title_short http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
title_sort http www phrp com au issues february 2017 volume 27 issue 1 2 dynamic simulation modelling of policy responses to reduce alcohol related harms rationale and procedure for a participatory approach
topic alcohol and other drugs
health information and technology
url http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/february-2017-volume-27-issue-1-2/dynamic-simulation-modelling-of-policy-responses-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harms-rationale-and-procedure-for-a-participatory-approach/
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