Scope of our work

The overall work program of the PHRG will include:
1. Production of systematic reviews of population level interventions, focusing on building an evidence base of what will increase equity and reduce inequalities
2. Contributing to methodological developments for research synthesis of public health research
3. Knowledge translation and exchange initiatives
4. Developing strategies to build primary research and rigorous evaluations of population level interventions (policy, programs, legislation, community interventions), including maintaining a specialised studies register
5. Promoting improvements in conducting and reporting primary research and rigorous evaluations

Our core work - publication of Cochrane reviews
The PHRG will undertake systematic reviews of the effects of public health interventions to improve health and other outcomes at the population level, not those targeted at individuals.  Thus, it will cover interventions seeking to address macro-environmental and distal social environmental factors which influence health.  In line with the underlying principles of public health, these reviews will have a significant focus on equity. It is hoped that these reviews will contribute to building the evidence to address the social determinants of health. 

Given the population health focus and the underlying principles of public health, these reviews will have a focus on making a contribution to better understanding what works for whom, why and at what cost, and what works specifically in improving health equity and reducing health inequalities.   Interventions for review will usually be multi-sectoral, that is, not confined to development and delivery of the intervention within or by the health sector. 

The scope of the reviews of this group will not replicate the health promotion work that existing CRGs are currently doing, which already make a substantive contribution to public health reviews, but seek to address the gap in The Cochrane Library for reviews of the evidence on upstream, equity oriented public health interventions to improve population health outcomes.

Potential review questions
The scope is best understood by looking at the our topic tree within The Cochrane Library (go to www.thecochranelibrary.com, Go to BROWSE Cochrane Reviews and click on By Topic, and then scroll down the list and click on Public Health). The Topic List is broken down into ten main categories (plus a miscellaneous 'other'), which broadly cover the areas of interest to the Group.  All but those in bold are vacant titles, that is, open for author teams to apply to the PHRG to register.  Questions outside of this list are also welcomed, if they fit under the defined scope of the PHRG. 

EMPLOYMENT & THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

        *       Collaboration with council and workplaces to provide facilities (eg showers and bike racks) that encourage active transport
        *       Collaboration with major workplaces for introducing healthy staff canteen policy
        *       Designated workplace health promotion worker in workplace for supporting colleagues in developing organisation-wide health activities
        *       Workplace and/or legislative interventions for addressing work-life balance in adults
        *       Workplace interventions (e.g. flexible work hours, control over shift patterns) for improving employee health and well being

INCOME DISTRIBUTION/FINANCIAL INTERVENTIONS

        *       Business loans and other financial strategies for improving wellbeing (and other health outcomes) of women in developing countries
        *       Cash transfer programs for improving health and related outcomes
        *       Equity funds financed by government for increasing health insurance coverage specifically for the poor
        *       Financing mechanisms for improving access to health services for poor people
        *       Provision of scholarships for improving health and related outcomes in economically vulnerable students
        *       School entry and childcare payments linked to administration of childhood immunisation for improving immunization rates

HOUSING and THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

        *       Healthy cities, municipalities or spaces projects for reducing health risk factors
        *       Housing interventions for improved health and socioeconomic outcomes
        *       Interventions for minimizing the adverse health effects of urban sprawl

FOOD SUPPLY / ACCESS

        *       Interventions addressing gender disparities in family food distribution for improving child nutrition
        *       Interventions aimed at enhancing access for increased consumption of fruit and vegetables
        *       Interventions focusing on adolescent girls for improving the nutritional status in women of child-bearing age prior to first pregnancy
        *       Interventions for improving food security
        *       Interventions for improving nutritional status in refugee and displaced populations
        *       Pricing policies for increasing healthy food choices
        *       Sales promotion strategies of supermarkets for increasing healthier food purchase

EDUCATION (in consultation with Campbell Education Coordinating Group and Cochrane DPLP Group where appropriate)

        *       Interventions for increasing school completion rates

HEALTH & RELATED SYSTEMS

        *       Advocacy to increase the range of options for people with disabilities to use all public facilities, including sports and recreation programs
        *       Capacity building interventions for health care professionals for promoting health
        *       Contracting out primary health care services to NGOs for increasing uptake of services by the poor

PUBLIC SAFETY (in consultation with Campbell Justice Coordinating Group and Cochrane Injuries Group where appropriate)

        *       Community-led advocacy for improving safety around schools
        *       Legislation to ban drivers using cell phones

SOCIAL NETWORKS/SUPPORT

        *       Enhancing/Building protective environments for reducing health risk behaviours in adolescents
        *       Interventions to enhance development of social networks for promoting wellbeing
        *       Transport schemes for improving social connectedness of adults
        *       Community-building interventions to improve physical, social and mental health

THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

        *       Community-led advocacy for eliminating hazardous chemicals in local soils
        *       Community-level educational strategies for preventing water-borne infections/food borne infections
        *       Environmental strategies for preventing water-borne infections/food-borne infections
        *       Interventions that employ a combination of environmental, social and educational strategies for increasing proper garbage disposal to promote health
        *       Interventions that employ a combination of environmental, social and educational strategies for preventing water-borne infections/food-borne infections        
*       Social strategies for preventing water-borne infections/food-borne infections

TRANSPORT

        *       Active transport initiatives for increasing physical activity
        *       Increasing the supply/quality of public sidewalks and walking trails for increasing physical activity levels of communities
        *       Segregated cycle facilities for increasing the use of active transport by adults and children
        *       Transport schemes for improving social connectedness of adults

OTHER

        *       Initiatives for promoting health among out-of-school youth
        *       Introduction of restricted trading hours for gaming venues for reducing problem gambling
        *       Mass media campaigns for promoting vaccinations at a community/population level
        *       Oral health promotion for oral health