Public Participation in the Process of Local Public Health Policy, Using Policy Network Analysis.
- Author:
Yukyung PARK
1
;
Chang Yup KIM
;
Myoung Soon YOU
;
Kun Sei LEE
;
Eunyoung PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: Public participation; Policy network; Social network analysis; Local public health policy; Policy process
- MeSH: Community Networks; *Consumer Participation; Decision Making; *Health Policy; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Metabolic Syndrome X/prevention & control; Program Development; Questionnaires
- From:Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health 2014;47(6):298-308
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess the current public participation in-local health policy and its implications through the analysis of policy networks in health center programs. METHODS: We examined the decision-making process in sub-health center installations and the implementation process in metabolic syndrome management program cases in two districts ('gu's) of Seoul. Participants of the policy network were selected by the snowballing method and completed self-administered questionnaires. Actors, the interactions among actors, and the characteristics of the network were analyzed by Netminer. RESULTS: The results showed that the public is not yet actively participating in the local public health policy processes of decision-making and implementation. In the decision-making process, most of the network actors were in the public sector, while the private sector was a minor actor and participated in only a limited number of issues after the major decisions were made. In the implementation process, the program was led by the health center, while other actors participated passively. CONCLUSIONS: Public participation in Korean public health policy is not yet well activated. Preliminary discussions with various stakeholders, including civil society, are needed before making important local public health policy decisions. In addition, efforts to include local institutions and residents in the implementation process with the public officials are necessary to improve the situation.
