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Barriers to partnership working in public health: a qualitative study
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, Vol 7, Iss 1, p e29536 (2012), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2012
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2012.
-
Abstract
- Background Public health provision in England is undergoing dramatic changes. Currently established partnerships are thus likely to be significantly disrupted by the radical reforms outlined in the Public Health White Paper. We therefore explored the process of partnership working in public health, in order to better understand the potential opportunities and threats associated with the proposed changes. Methodology/Principal Findings 70 participants took part in an in-depth qualitative study involving 40 semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions. Participants were senior and middle grade public health decision makers working in Primary Care Trusts, Local Authorities, Department of Health, academia, General Practice and Hospital Trusts and the third sector in England. Despite mature arrangements for partnership working in many areas, and much support for joint working in principle, many important barriers exist. These include cultural issues such as a lack of shared values and language, the inherent complexity of intersectoral collaboration for public health, and macro issues including political and resource constraints. There is particular uncertainty and anxiety about the future of joint working relating to the availability and distribution of scarce and diminishing financial resources. There is also the concern that existing effective collaborative networks may be completely disrupted as the proposed changes unfold. The extent to which the proposed reforms might mitigate or potentiate these issues remains unclear. However the threats currently remain more salient than opportunities. Conclusions The current re-organisation of public health offers real opportunity to address some of the barriers to partnership working identified in this study. However, significant threats exist. These include the breakup of established networks, and the risk of cost cutting on effective public health interventions.
- Subjects :
- Non-Clinical Medicine
Culture
lcsh:Medicine
Validation Studies as Topic
Cardiovascular
Social and Behavioral Sciences
0302 clinical medicine
White paper
Science Policy and Economics
Medicine
Interdisciplinary communication
030212 general & internal medicine
Cooperative Behavior
lcsh:Science
health care economics and organizations
Multidisciplinary
030503 health policy & services
Communication Barriers
Public relations
3. Good health
Interinstitutional Relations
England
Public Health
0305 other medical science
Research Article
medicine.medical_specialty
Clinical Research Design
Science Policy
Political Science
Public policy
Partnership working
Public-Private Sector Partnerships
Interviews as Topic
03 medical and health sciences
Environmental health
Humans
Health Care Policy
business.industry
Public health
lcsh:R
Health promotion
Interdisciplinary Communication
Perception
lcsh:Q
sense organs
Cooperative behavior
business
Public Health Administration
Qualitative research
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....beddd7112d976dd3ee6f78125f92248d