TY - JOUR
T1 - Avenues of Influence
T2 - the Relationship between Health Impact Assessment and Determinants of Health and Health Equity
AU - Sohn, Elizabeth Kelley
AU - Stein, Lauren J.
AU - Wolpoff, Allison
AU - Lindberg, Ruth
AU - Baum, Abigail
AU - McInnis-Simoncelli, Arielle
AU - Pollack, Keshia M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The investigators first conducted an online questionnaire of key stakeholders involved in HIAs conducted in the USA in multiple sectors to identify perceived direct and indirect impacts of HIAs, and the mechanisms by which those impacts may occur. Building on information gathered in the online questionnaire, the investigators conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from HIAs that sought to inform decisions related to the built environment. Built environment HIAs focused on decisions regarding community and regional planning, housing, recreational spaces, and transportation. The interviews provided an opportunity to explore in greater depth the themes that arose from the questionnaire data. Harder+Company Community Research designed the study and data collection instruments with input from the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, as well as an Expert Panel of over a dozen experts from universities, philanthropic organizations, and HIA-focused organizations. This study was reviewed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institutional Review Board and determined not to qualify as human subjects research.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, The New York Academy of Medicine.
PY - 2018/10/15
Y1 - 2018/10/15
N2 - This study aims to identify perceived impacts of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on decision-making, determinants of health, and determinants of health equity and outline the mechanisms through which these impacts can occur. The research team conducted a mixed-methods study of HIAs in the USA. First, investigators collected data regarding perceived HIA impacts through an online questionnaire, which was completed by 149 stakeholders representing 126 unique HIAs. To explore in greater depth the themes that arose from the online survey, investigators conducted semi-structured interviews with 46 stakeholders involved with 27 HIAs related to the built environment. This preliminary study suggests that HIAs can strengthen relationships and build trust between community and government institutions. In addition, this study suggests that HIA recommendations can inform policy and decision-making systems that determine the distribution of health-promoting resources and health risks. HIA outcomes may in turn lead to more equitable access to health resources and reduce exposure to environmental harms among at-risk populations. Future research should further explore associations between HIAs and changes in determinants of health and health equity by corroborating findings with other data sources and documenting potential impacts and outcomes of HIAs in other sectors.
AB - This study aims to identify perceived impacts of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on decision-making, determinants of health, and determinants of health equity and outline the mechanisms through which these impacts can occur. The research team conducted a mixed-methods study of HIAs in the USA. First, investigators collected data regarding perceived HIA impacts through an online questionnaire, which was completed by 149 stakeholders representing 126 unique HIAs. To explore in greater depth the themes that arose from the online survey, investigators conducted semi-structured interviews with 46 stakeholders involved with 27 HIAs related to the built environment. This preliminary study suggests that HIAs can strengthen relationships and build trust between community and government institutions. In addition, this study suggests that HIA recommendations can inform policy and decision-making systems that determine the distribution of health-promoting resources and health risks. HIA outcomes may in turn lead to more equitable access to health resources and reduce exposure to environmental harms among at-risk populations. Future research should further explore associations between HIAs and changes in determinants of health and health equity by corroborating findings with other data sources and documenting potential impacts and outcomes of HIAs in other sectors.
KW - Health equity
KW - Health impact assessment
KW - Social determinants of health
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U2 - 10.1007/s11524-018-0263-5
DO - 10.1007/s11524-018-0263-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 29948783
AN - SCOPUS:85048357467
VL - 95
SP - 754
EP - 764
JO - Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
JF - Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
SN - 1099-3460
IS - 5
ER -