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Partners in health? A systematic review of the impact of organizational partnerships on public health outcomes in England between 1997 and 2008

Smith, KE; Bambra, Claire; Joyce, KE; Perkins, Neil; Hunter, David J; Blenkinsopp, E

Partners in health? A systematic review of the impact of organizational partnerships on public health outcomes in England between 1997 and 2008 Thumbnail


Authors

KE Smith

Claire Bambra

KE Joyce

Neil Perkins

David J Hunter

E Blenkinsopp



Abstract

Objective To systematically review the available evidence on the impact of organizational partnerships on public health outcomes (health improvement and/or a reduction in health inequalities) in England between 1997 and 2008. Design Systematic review of quantitative (longitudinal before and after) and qualitative studies (1997–2008) reporting on the health (and health inequalities) effects of public health partnerships in England. Data sources Eighteen electronic databases (medical, social science and economic), websites, bibliographies and expert contacts. Results Only 15 studies, relating to six different interventions, met the review criteria and most of these studies were not designed specifically to assess the impact of partnership working on public health outcomes. Of the studies reviewed, only four included a quantitative element and they produced a mixed picture in terms of the impacts of partnership working. Qualitative studies suggested that some partnerships increased the profile of health inequalities on local policy agendas. Both the design of partnership interventions and of the studies evaluating them meant it was difficult to assess the extent to which identifiable successes and failures were attributable to partnership working. Conclusion This systematic review suggests that there is not yet any clear evidence of the effects of public health partnerships on health outcomes. More appropriately designed and timed studies are required to establish whether, and how, partnerships are effective. Keywords health policy, partnership working, public health outcomes, systematic review

Citation

Smith, K., Bambra, C., Joyce, K., Perkins, N., Hunter, D. J., & Blenkinsopp, E. (2009). Partners in health? A systematic review of the impact of organizational partnerships on public health outcomes in England between 1997 and 2008. Journal of Public Health, 31(2), 210-221. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdp002

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jun 1, 2009
Deposit Date Jun 17, 2009
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Public Health
Print ISSN 1741-3842
Electronic ISSN 1741-3850
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 31
Issue 2
Pages 210-221
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdp002

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Copyright Statement
This is a pre-copy-editing author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of public health following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Smith, K. E. and Bambra, C. and Joyce, K. E. and Perkins, N. and Hunter, D. J. and Blenkinsopp, E. (2009) 'Partners in health ? a systematic review of the impact of organizational partnerships on public health outcomes in England between 1997 and 2008.', Journal of public health., 31 (2). pp. 210-221 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdp002





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