Archives of Public Health
Volume 77, Issue 1, 2019

From monitoring to action: Utilising health survey data in national policy development and implementation in Finland (Article) (Open Access)

Kilpeläinen K.* , Koponen P. , Tolonen H. , Koskinen S. , Borodulin K. , Gissler M.
  • a Department of Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Welfare and Health Promotion Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, FI- 00270, Finland
  • b Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, FI- 00270, Finland
  • c Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, FI- 00270, Finland
  • d Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, FI- 00270, Finland
  • e Age Institute, Jämsänkatu 2, Helsinki, FI- 00520, Finland
  • f Department of Information and Service, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, FI- 00270, Finland, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SE- 171 77, Sweden

Abstract

Background: Health interview and examination surveys provide valuable information for policy, practice and research purposes. Appropriate use of high-quality, representative and timely population data can indirectly help the citizens to live healthier and longer lives. The aim of this study was to review how health survey data have supported health policy making, health research and everyday health care in Finland. Methods: Data were collected by focused interviews with ten Finnish senior experts from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, political parties, National Institute for Health and Welfare, universities, and health associations. Results: Most interviewees agreed that health surveys have positively affected the health of the population over the past 50 years - through health strategies, care guidelines, legislation, research, prevention programs, risk calculators, and healthier products on the market. There is also a need for further development: the latest research results should be provided in a nutshell for politicians, and effective tools should be developed more for health care professionals' use. The coverage of health information on children, adolescents, oldest old, disabled persons, migrants and ethnic minorities should be improved. Conclusions: Sound health policy and its successful implementation require extensive national cooperation and new communication strategies between policy makers, researchers, health care professionals, health service providers - and citizens. The future health information system in Finland should better cover all population groups. To obtain more comprehensive health information, the possibilities for register linkages should be secured and register data should be further evaluated and developed to serve health monitoring purposes. © 2019 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Health promotion Health surveys health policy Public health surveillance Finland

Index Keywords

sound law Finland health promotion public figure health care policy health survey human population group disabled person medical research interview migrant Adolescent welfare medical information system Article practice guideline Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075118463&doi=10.1186%2fs13690-019-0374-9&partnerID=40&md5=a59b28be2e21f961567bead51ac1464f
DOI: 10.1186/s13690-019-0374-9
ISSN: 07787367
Original Language: English