Evaluation of the effects of health impact assessment practice at the local level in Monteregie
Date
2016
Authors
Nour, Kareen
Dutilly-Simard, Sarah
Brousselle, Astrid
Smits, Pernelle
Buregeya, Jean-Marie
Loslier, Julie
Denis, Jean-Louis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health Research Policy and Systems
Abstract
Background: In Quebec (Canada), the Monteregie Regional Public Health Department has chosen to use health
impact assessment (HIA) to support municipalities through a knowledge exchange and collaborative process in
order to positively influence decision-making regarding local policies and projects. The value of HIA is becoming
increasingly recognized by municipalities interested in planning and managing their cities with an eco-systemic
perspective. However, the knowledge and tools which support the use of the HIA at regional and local levels are
still missing.
Methods: The general objective is to evaluate the impact the collaborative HIA process used in Monteregie has
had on the formulation, adoption and implementation of policies and projects favourable to health. The
methodology is based on Mayne’s CA design, which allows the identification of factors which contribute to a
change process. It is described as one of the best approaches to reduce uncertainty regarding the observed results
and the contribution of a program. All of the HIA processes realised between January 2013 and January 2016 in
Monteregie will be studied following a case study strategy. Study populations include regional and local public
health professionals, municipal officers and community members implicated in these HIAs. Various qualitative and
quantitative methods will be used, including examination of documentation, observations on the city grounds, and
individual or group interviews. A model of change will be constructed for each HIA process and will present the
logical pathway which leads to the observed results, alternative explanations and hypothesises as to why these
results were obtained, and contextual factors that could have influenced them. This model will allow the
production of a refined contribution story for each HIA. A convergence and divergence analysis will be completed
in order to identify differences or similitudes between the different HIAs studied.
Discussion: In addition to contributing to the production of knowledge in relation to the collaborative model of
HIA, this research project will allow other regional and local public health actors and municipalities of Quebec or
other decision-making and political bodies to understand the usefulness of this approach for the improvement of
population health and well-being.
Description
Keywords
Cities, Health impact assessment, Public health, Public policy
Citation
Nour, K., Dutilly-Simard, S., Brousselle, A., Smits, P., Buregeya, J., Loslier, J., & Denis, J. (2016). Evaluation of the effects of health impact assessment practice at the local level in Monteregie. Health Research Policy and Systems, 2016, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-016-0076-5.