Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11889/915
Title: Priority setting for prevention and control of coronary heart disease in the occupied Palestinian territory: a pilot study
Authors: Ghandour, Rula
Khatib, Rana
Shoaibi, Azza
Capewell, Simon
Ahmad, Balsam
Husseini, Abdullatif
Issue Date: 2013
Publisher: Elsevier
Source: The Lancet, Vol. 382
Abstract: Background The burden of coronary heart diseases is increasing at an alarming rate in most low-income and middleincome countries. The fi ndings of evidence-based studies suggest that this burden can be prevented through health policies. Various methods to defi ne and select policies have been developed including evidence-based prioritisation, which is important in view of the scarce resources in and data for low-income and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess and prioritise context-specifi c policies for the prevention and control of coronary heart diseases in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Methods In this mixed-methods pilot study, a set of policy options was developed and shortlisted on the basis of integrated fi ndings from country-specifi c qualitative situational analysis inputs and quantitative modelling of related risk factors and treatments with the IMPACT Excel-based model. A simple Excel sheet was used to calculate a priority score for each policy and then the policies were ranked in terms of their importance. Criteria from WHO’s prioritised research agenda and stepwise framework were used to rate the policies. The specifi c policies were scored and prioritised by fi ve key informants (mid-level health managers, health practitioners, and academics) from the oPt and then ranked in terms of importance. Ethics approval to undertake the study was obtained from the Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Ramallah, West Bank, oPt. All participants provided verbal informed consent. Findings Key informants shortlisted and rated 19 polices. The top fi ve policies were population-level primary prevention with focus on blood pressure (n=2), health-system level with focus on collaboration and capacity building of health-care providers (n=2), and treatment for high-risk patient groups (n=1). Interpretation Policies with focus on primary prevention and health systems indicate a good understanding of the epidemiology of diseases and the needs of the community. However, the small number and scope of the policy makers (directly related to health) who rated the policies in this study were limitations for improved identifi cation of evidencebased policies. This approach of ranking pre-identifi ed policies might be important for engaging policy makers and, when there are few resources, prioritising policies.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11889/915
Appears in Collections:Institute of Community and Public Health

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