Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Correct link--- URL -- [EQ] A working guide to international comparisons of health

A working guide to international comparisons of health


Karen Bishop, Lisa Sainsbury and Shelley Thompson
Cat. no. PHE 159. Canberra: AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012

Corrected LINK ---Available online PDF [27p.] at: http://bit.ly/KgJHXN


           

“……Health care systems around the world are diverse. They vary in the way they are financed, how services are delivered and how health information is collected and used. Their evolution may have been influenced by the country’s political, cultural and historical experiences. Despite these differences, many countries share the same health goals and face similar health challenges. This makes international comparisons of health experiences an important tool to inform priorities and policies for health services and to monitor progress in achieving health objectives…..”

“…….The guide is intended to encourage users of international health-related data to consider the complexities before comparing countries, and to assist them in interpreting the results of these comparisons. It presents examples to highlight the types of questions to ask when using health data in an international context….. …..”


Checklist for international comparisons of health

Data quality

Consistency—are the data defined consistently across countries?

Methodology—do all countries use the same method to collect the data?

Coverage—do the data cover similar parts of the population?

Time period—do the data refer to the same time period?

Choice of countries

Comparability—are countries sufficiently similar to support comparison?

Presentation and interpretation

Presentation—are the data presented appropriately?

Explanation—is the variation between countries adequately explained?

Underlying differentials—are differences within countries considered?

Context—can the data be used outside of the international comparison?

 

 

Contents

 

Summary

1 Introduction

How can health be compared between countries?

Sources and uses of international health-related data

How this guide is structured

2 Making comparisons: considerations and complexities

Data quality

Are the data defined consistently across countries?

Do all countries use the same method to collect the data?

Do the data cover similar parts of the population?

Do the data refer to the same time period?

Choice of countries

Are countries sufficiently similar to support comparison?

Presentation of results

Are the data presented appropriately?

Is the variation between countries adequately explained?

Are differences within countries considered?

Can the data be used outside of an international comparison?

3 Conclusion


Appendix

Checklist for international comparisons of health-related data

References

Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho


 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
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[EQ] A working guide to international comparisons of health

A working guide to international comparisons of health


Karen Bishop, Lisa Sainsbury and Shelley Thompson
Cat. no. PHE 159. Canberra: AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012

Available online PDF [27p.] at: http://bit.ly/IziGfS
           

“……Health care systems around the world are diverse. They vary in the way they are financed, how services are delivered and how health information is collected and used. Their evolution may have been influenced by the country’s political, cultural and historical experiences. Despite these differences, many countries share the same health goals and face similar health challenges. This makes international comparisons of health experiences an important tool to inform priorities and policies for health services and to monitor progress in achieving health objectives…..”

“…….The guide is intended to encourage users of international health-related data to consider the complexities before comparing countries, and to assist them in interpreting the results of these comparisons. It presents examples to highlight the types of questions to ask when using health data in an international context….. …..”


Checklist for international comparisons of health

Data quality

Consistency—are the data defined consistently across countries?

Methodology—do all countries use the same method to collect the data?

Coverage—do the data cover similar parts of the population?

Time period—do the data refer to the same time period?

Choice of countries

Comparability—are countries sufficiently similar to support comparison?

Presentation and interpretation

Presentation—are the data presented appropriately?

Explanation—is the variation between countries adequately explained?

Underlying differentials—are differences within countries considered?

Context—can the data be used outside of the international comparison?

 

 

Contents

 

Summary

1 Introduction

How can health be compared between countries?

Sources and uses of international health-related data

How this guide is structured

2 Making comparisons: considerations and complexities

Data quality

Are the data defined consistently across countries?

Do all countries use the same method to collect the data?

Do the data cover similar parts of the population?

Do the data refer to the same time period?

Choice of countries

Are countries sufficiently similar to support comparison?

Presentation of results

Are the data presented appropriately?

Is the variation between countries adequately explained?

Are differences within countries considered?

Can the data be used outside of an international comparison?

3 Conclusion


Appendix

Checklist for international comparisons of health-related data

References

Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho


 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho



IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
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confidential information. If you are not the intended
recipient or a person responsible for delivering this
transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take
any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission
in error, please dispose of and delete this transmission.

Thank you.

[EQ] Access to Medicines - Call for Expressions of Interest - Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

Call for Expressions of Interest:


Health Policy and Systems Research in the field of Access to Medicines in low- and middle-income countries.

This call aims to explore the connections between medicines and three other functions of health systems: health financing, governance and health information.

 

The results from the recent priority-setting exercise performed by the Alliance identified research questions in access to medicines that demonstrate the need to explore the relationships between medicines and the other building blocks of the health system and analyse the health system determinants of access to medicines.


The deadline for submission of the Expression of Interest is 18 June 2012.

Description: http://bit.ly/KCWZke

Grant application submission: http://bit.ly/IISZ0k

 



Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho


 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho



 

IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
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transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
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any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission
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Thank you.

[EQ] State of the Health Equity Movement 2011 Update

State of the Health Equity Movement, 2011 Update

The Disparity Reducing Advances Project - DRA Project Report No. 11-01

Prepared by Clem Bezold, Nathan Birnbaum, Emily Masterson, and Heidi Schoomaker

Institute for Alternative Futures IAF


Part A: Overview                                          PDF [14p.]   at: http://bit.ly/IWRaY2
Part B: Catalog of Activities                          PDF [96p]    at: http://bit.ly/IIPirw
Part C: Compendium of Recommendations    PDF [182p.] at: http://bit.ly/IIPQxJ

 

This set of reports brings attention to the often unnoticed but growing trend of policy decisions, administrative actions, and community efforts seeking health equity ‐‐fair access to health resources and a fair distribution of health outcomes.


In the United States, awareness of health inequalities and commitment to pursue health equity are both increasing, despite the worst economic conditions in 80 years. Economic conditions threaten to worsen the unfair distribution of health outcomes. Yet efforts and specific recommendations for health equity continue to grow.

The 2011 Update reports provide a convenient resource that identifies 159 different health equity activities and 79 sets of recommendations from local, state, national, and international reports.


The 2011 Update notes that many of the recommendations focus on:

• Early childhood investment

• Education

• Active living, housing, transportation, and the environment

• Healthy eating and behaviors

• Employment

• Law enforcement/criminal justice

• Health care

• Community and interagency collaboration


This breadth of areas reflects the growth in "Health in All Policies" thinking and analysis among community groups and governments at all levels, calling for each sector to contribute to the quality of the nation's health.

The 2011 Update also identifies the following recurring strategic themes across activities and recommendations:

• Increasing awareness of health inequities and the social determinants of health

• Advocacy and leadership for health equity and social justice

• Emphasizing community empowerment

• Increasing collaborative partnerships with all sectors

• The need to coordinate and utilize research and outcome evaluations more effectively

 
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho


 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

"Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho



IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or
confidential information. If you are not the intended
recipient or a person responsible for delivering this
transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take
any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission
in error, please dispose of and delete this transmission.

Thank you.