About the Network
Web Site: Measurement and Evidence Knowledge Network
Organizational Co-Hubs: Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile | National Institute for Clinical Excellence, London, England, United Kingdom.
Reports
The social determinants of health: Developing an evidence base for political action
Published: October 2007
Summary: This report looks at how measurement and evidence are implicated in health. The report lays out six key challenges to measuring and gathering evidence about the social determinants of health, then suggests eight principles for developing an evidence base. The report then describes what an evidence based approach entails, and outlines health gaps, and health gradients. A framework is suggested for policy development, implementation and monitoring, and strategies for affecting policy change surrounding social determinants of health are considered. The report discusses how to gather evidence for policy-change, and how to synthesize the evidence and take action. Implementation, evaluation and monitoring are explored further, including the use of data to monitor health inequity. The report concludes with further considerations and recommendations. Appendix II contains a number of case studies on low, middle and high income countries, including one on Canada entitled “A decade of children’s policies based on evidence (1990-2001)”. The Canadian case study illustrates the development of a communication strategy towards policy-making that includes the media.
Final report [pdf 618kb]
The development of the evidence base about the social determinants of health
Published: May 2006
Summary: This paper articulates a series of methodological, theoretical and epistemological principles that helps to inform the development of the evidence base about the social determinants of health which all the Knowledge Networks will be working to construct.
Report on the involvement of NICE in the work of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Published: May 2006
Summary: NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) engagement with the Commission and its activites, November 2005.