Strategic partnership for Health in All Policies and sustainable transport in Scotland: a case study evaluation

Health in All Policies aims to ensure policy decisions across sectors improve health and health equity. Principles of a Health in All Policies approach have been defined as Governance, Comprehensive approach to health, Collaboration, Equity, Participation, Evidence-based and Sustainability. Intersectoral partnerships are a recognised mechanism for Health in All Policies but few evaluations study partnerships that aim to influence policy. This case study evaluation studied a national Partnership focused on transport policy in Scotland. The evaluation aimed to assess the extent to which the Partnership meets the principles of Health in All Policies and informs policy and practice. It also identified actions to improve its impact.

Anonymous self-completion survey of members of the Partnership and its wider Learning Network.

The survey used Likert scales to assess respondents' views on whether the Partnership was meeting its aims and supporting principles of Health in All Policies. Respondents also recorded whether the Partnership had increased their knowledge, supported wider collaboration or informed decision making. The Partnership used structured discussion in groups and an online poll to generate and prioritise improvement actions.

A vast majority of respondents scored the Partnership highly for Comprehensive approach to health (82 %), and being Evidence-based (78 %). Most rated it highly for Governance (63 %), Collaboration (62.5 %) Equity (63 %) and Sustainability (57 %). However, less than half (43 %) scored it highly for Participation. Respondents indicated a range of ways the Partnership impacted on their knowledge and practice. The top actions identified by the Partnership to improve its impact were to investigate car culture and identify specific national transport policies to influence.

A national sector-specific Partnership can provide a constructive platform for a Health in All Policies approach to improve health and health equity, but further mechanisms are needed to support participation of affected populations.