Post on 18-Jan-2016
Health Impact Assessment
Health Impact Assessment ColloquiumBondi, 9th December 2005
Prof Mark Harris
Executive DirectorCentre for Primary Health Care and Equity*
University of New South Wales
Centre for Health EquityTraining, Research & Evaluation
* The Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation (CHETRE) is part of the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity
What are impacts?
Both positive and negative changes in a community that are
attributable to a policy, program or project.
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Where does health come in?
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Source: Dahlgren G, Whitehead M. Policies and Strategies to Promote Social Equity in Health. Stockholm: Institute of Futures Studies, 1991; cited in Acheson D, 1998.
What is HIA?
A combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program or project may be assessed for its potential, and often unanticipated, effects on the health of the population and the distribution of these impacts within the population.
(ECHP, Mahoney & Morgan)
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When is it used?
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Needs Assessment
Planning DraftProposal
HIA
Revised Proposal
Implementation Monitoring
Evaluation
1 2 3
4b 5 6
7
Screening4a 4
Adapted from: Simpson S, Harris E & Harris-Roxas B (2003)Health Impact Assessment: An introduction to the what, why and how, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 15(2): 162-167.
Key features of HIA
• Prediction
• Combination of methods
• Policy, program or project
• Positive & negative
• Unintended & intended effects
• Distribution of effects
• Solution focused
• Promote & protect health
chetre.med.unsw.edu.au
Six steps of HIA
1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Identification of potential health impacts
4. Assessment of potential health impacts (appraisal)
5. Negotiation & decision-making (recommendations)
6. Monitoring & evaluation chetre.med.unsw.edu.au
Assessment and recommendations
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If you implement
the proposal
These will be the
impacts
If you make these
changes
These will be the gains
Assessment Recommendations
Does it Work?
• What constitutes effectiveness?– Changes to decisions?– Changes to health outcomes?
• Monitoring
• Need for further evaluation
• Examples of effective use:– Finningley Airport HIA– CCDPHA HIA
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• 2 x one day workshops with range of NSW Health staff– Introduction to HIA– Exploring pros & cons of HIA
• Review of literature
• Establishment of HIA eNews
What we’ve doneNSW HIA Project Phase 1
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• 5 Developmental Sites– Undertook HIAs on health
proposals (except one)– CHETRE training & support
• Strategic Engagement
• Communication– HIA E-News ongoing– HIA Connect website
What we’ve doneNSW HIA Project Phase 2
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Related work
• Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment (EFHIA)– Consortium with Deakin and
Newcastle Universities– Framework produced
• Discussion Paper on Impact Assessment for NSW Health Futures Planning
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What we’re doingPhase 3 developmental sites
• We’re supporting 6 developmental sites in 2005– Bigger proposals– Predominantly intersectoral
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What’s next?NSW HIA Project Phase 3
1. 2006 Developmental sites
2. Liaison
3. Manual
4. Masters-level subject
5. Electronic Resources
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More Information
HIA Connecthttp://chetre.med.unsw.edu.au/hia
chetre.med.unsw.edu.au
chetre.med.unsw.edu.au
Good intentions are not always enough
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
HIA helps identify the health impacts from unintended outcomes of a proposal