Influencing holistic health policy

Area of Science:

• Health Policy Research
• Holistic Health
• Evidence-Based Policy

Background:

• Traditional views of health policy-making as 'ideological' or 'irrational' hinder research on evidence influence.
• A lack of models for policy-making that incorporate evidence-informed decision-making limits research impact.
• A growing field focuses on research approaches for shaping health and social services policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a selective overview of policy-relevant research for holistic health.
• To support the development of better evidence for health policy-making.
• To explore the genre of policy-relevant research for holistic health challenges.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual definition of holistic health policy-making and its evidence base.
• Identification of generic features of policy-relevant research.
• Outlining practices for delivering sound evidence for health policy.

Main Results:

• Policy-making requires a model where decision-makers can be informed by context-specific evidence.
• Policy-relevant research for holistic health differs from traditional academic health research.
• Effective health policy requires understanding the specific needs of policy contexts.

Conclusions:

• Developing better evidence for holistic health policy-making is crucial.
• Assumptions of quality from elite funding agencies need re-evaluation.
• Diversification of funding and approaches is necessary for advancing health policy research.