Document Detail


The influence of professional values on the implementation of Aboriginal health policy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19103911     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: This article explores the role of professional values and the culture of the Australian health care system in facilitating and constraining the implementation of an Aboriginal health policy. METHODS: Thirty-five semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in a case study on the implementation of the Northern Territory Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy (PCDS). RESULTS: PCDS included three major evidence-based components - primary prevention, early detection and better management. The research revealed that PCDS changed as it was implemented. The values of the medical and nursing professions favoured the implementation of the clinically-based component of PCDS - better management. But there was dissonance between the values of these dominant professional groups and the values and expertise in public health that were necessary to implement fully the primary prevention component of PCDS. While Aboriginal health workers have valuable knowledge and skills in this area, they were not accorded sufficient power and training to influence decision-making on priorities and resources, and were able to exercise only limited influence on the components of the PCDS that were implemented. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the role that a myriad of values play in influencing which aspects of a policy are implemented by organizations and their agents. Comprehensive and equitable implementation of policy requires an investigation and awareness of different professional values, and an examination of whose voices will be privileged in the decision-making process. If the advances in developing evidence-based, culturally-appropriate and inclusive policy are to be translated into practice, then care needs to be taken to monitor and influence whose values are being included at what point in the policy implementation process.
Authors:
Jane Lloyd; Marilyn Wise; Tarun Weeramanthri; Peter Nugus
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of health services research & policy     Volume:  14     ISSN:  1355-8196     ISO Abbreviation:  J Health Serv Res Policy     Publication Date:  2009 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-12-23     Completed Date:  2009-04-27     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9604936     Medline TA:  J Health Serv Res Policy     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  6-12     Citation Subset:  H    
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation, University of New South Wales, Sydney. j.lloyd@unsw.edu.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Chronic Disease / ethnology*,  prevention & control*
Community-Based Participatory Research
Ethics, Medical
Health Plan Implementation / ethics,  organization & administration*
Health Policy*
Health Services, Indigenous / ethics,  organization & administration*
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Northern Territory
Oceanic Ancestry Group / psychology*
Organizational Culture
Qualitative Research
Social Values

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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