Frameworks for measuring population health: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Policy

Background:

• Population health approaches necessitate robust measurement tools.
• Population health frameworks offer theoretical grounding for indicator selection.
• Existing frameworks vary in their conceptualization and application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing population health frameworks.
• To summarize the characteristics of frameworks used for population health measurement.
• To identify common domains and elements within these frameworks.

Main Methods:

• A Population, Concept and Context (PCC) framework guided eligibility criteria.
• Searches were conducted across five databases and multiple online sources.
• Framework characteristics were summarized descriptively and narratively.

Main Results:

• Fifty-seven population health frameworks were included in the review.
• Frameworks primarily originated from the US, Europe, and Canada.
• Common domains included health status and social determinants of health, with variability in other components.

Conclusions:

• Social determinants of health, health behaviors, and healthcare system performance are key domains alongside health status.
• The identified frameworks can inform population health measurement strategies for governments and healthcare organizations.
• Understanding framework characteristics is crucial for effective population health assessment.