Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Developing public health work in local health s...

Electronic data

  • S1463423604000416a

    Rights statement: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PHC The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Primary Health Care Research & Development, 5 (4), pp 338-350 2004, © 2004 Cambridge University Press.

    Final published version, 358 KB, PDF document

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Developing public health work in local health systems

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published

Standard

Developing public health work in local health systems. / Popay, Jennie; Mallinson, Sara; Kowarzik, Ute et al.
In: Primary Health Care Research and Development, Vol. 5, No. 4, 10.2004, p. 338-350.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Popay, J, Mallinson, S, Kowarzik, U, MacKian, S, Busby, H & Elliot, H 2004, 'Developing public health work in local health systems', Primary Health Care Research and Development, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 338-350. https://doi.org/10.1191/1463423604pc224oa

APA

Popay, J., Mallinson, S., Kowarzik, U., MacKian, S., Busby, H., & Elliot, H. (2004). Developing public health work in local health systems. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 5(4), 338-350. https://doi.org/10.1191/1463423604pc224oa

Vancouver

Popay J, Mallinson S, Kowarzik U, MacKian S, Busby H, Elliot H. Developing public health work in local health systems. Primary Health Care Research and Development. 2004 Oct;5(4):338-350. doi: 10.1191/1463423604pc224oa

Author

Popay, Jennie ; Mallinson, Sara ; Kowarzik, Ute et al. / Developing public health work in local health systems. In: Primary Health Care Research and Development. 2004 ; Vol. 5, No. 4. pp. 338-350.

Bibtex

@article{0a6bcc933d3f4c8990ab488d35b00432,
title = "Developing public health work in local health systems",
abstract = "Current government policy aims to create a wider {\textquoteleft}community of public health practice{\textquoteright} within local systems, working in a coherent and coordinated way in partnership with local people to reduce health inequalities. However, for this to happen policymakers and practitioners across the public sector have to reconsider boundaries, role definitions, professional identities and responsibilities. On the basis of documentary analysis and fieldwork involving interviews with individuals from various sectors and nonparticipant observation of public health nursing and primary care organizations within two local health economies in England, the paper explores the ways in which these processes of reconfiguration have been developing in local health systems. It illuminates new exclusions and tensions emerging from inherent contradictions in national policy and from difficulties individuals have thinking beyond existing spatial, conceptual and organizational boundaries and divisions. Paradoxically, therefore, rather than opening up new spaces for public health practice these tensions may {\textquoteleft}force{\textquoteright} some people back into narrower more traditional roles or ultimately out of public health altogether. The paper also uses the notion of communities of practice to explore issues of {\textquoteleft}agency{\textquoteright} in professional practice – that is the way in which individuals reflexively construct their practice and in so doing engage with or resist the relevant policy imperatives. The research illuminates some of the boundaries that are operating to discourage people from engaging with public health. This analysis suggests people may need more time and support to respond constructively to the new public health agenda. Without this, potential members of the wider public health workforce may respond defensively and resist alignment to public health goals in order to protect their embattled workspaces.",
keywords = "communities of public health practice , health inequalities , primary care, public health, reflexive communities",
author = "Jennie Popay and Sara Mallinson and Ute Kowarzik and Sara MacKian and Helen Busby and Heather Elliot",
note = "http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PHC The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Primary Health Care Research & Development, 5 (4), pp 338-350 2004, {\textcopyright} 2004 Cambridge University Press.",
year = "2004",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1191/1463423604pc224oa",
language = "English",
volume = "5",
pages = "338--350",
journal = "Primary Health Care Research and Development",
issn = "1463-4236",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing public health work in local health systems

AU - Popay, Jennie

AU - Mallinson, Sara

AU - Kowarzik, Ute

AU - MacKian, Sara

AU - Busby, Helen

AU - Elliot, Heather

N1 - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PHC The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Primary Health Care Research & Development, 5 (4), pp 338-350 2004, © 2004 Cambridge University Press.

PY - 2004/10

Y1 - 2004/10

N2 - Current government policy aims to create a wider ‘community of public health practice’ within local systems, working in a coherent and coordinated way in partnership with local people to reduce health inequalities. However, for this to happen policymakers and practitioners across the public sector have to reconsider boundaries, role definitions, professional identities and responsibilities. On the basis of documentary analysis and fieldwork involving interviews with individuals from various sectors and nonparticipant observation of public health nursing and primary care organizations within two local health economies in England, the paper explores the ways in which these processes of reconfiguration have been developing in local health systems. It illuminates new exclusions and tensions emerging from inherent contradictions in national policy and from difficulties individuals have thinking beyond existing spatial, conceptual and organizational boundaries and divisions. Paradoxically, therefore, rather than opening up new spaces for public health practice these tensions may ‘force’ some people back into narrower more traditional roles or ultimately out of public health altogether. The paper also uses the notion of communities of practice to explore issues of ‘agency’ in professional practice – that is the way in which individuals reflexively construct their practice and in so doing engage with or resist the relevant policy imperatives. The research illuminates some of the boundaries that are operating to discourage people from engaging with public health. This analysis suggests people may need more time and support to respond constructively to the new public health agenda. Without this, potential members of the wider public health workforce may respond defensively and resist alignment to public health goals in order to protect their embattled workspaces.

AB - Current government policy aims to create a wider ‘community of public health practice’ within local systems, working in a coherent and coordinated way in partnership with local people to reduce health inequalities. However, for this to happen policymakers and practitioners across the public sector have to reconsider boundaries, role definitions, professional identities and responsibilities. On the basis of documentary analysis and fieldwork involving interviews with individuals from various sectors and nonparticipant observation of public health nursing and primary care organizations within two local health economies in England, the paper explores the ways in which these processes of reconfiguration have been developing in local health systems. It illuminates new exclusions and tensions emerging from inherent contradictions in national policy and from difficulties individuals have thinking beyond existing spatial, conceptual and organizational boundaries and divisions. Paradoxically, therefore, rather than opening up new spaces for public health practice these tensions may ‘force’ some people back into narrower more traditional roles or ultimately out of public health altogether. The paper also uses the notion of communities of practice to explore issues of ‘agency’ in professional practice – that is the way in which individuals reflexively construct their practice and in so doing engage with or resist the relevant policy imperatives. The research illuminates some of the boundaries that are operating to discourage people from engaging with public health. This analysis suggests people may need more time and support to respond constructively to the new public health agenda. Without this, potential members of the wider public health workforce may respond defensively and resist alignment to public health goals in order to protect their embattled workspaces.

KW - communities of public health practice

KW - health inequalities

KW - primary care

KW - public health

KW - reflexive communities

U2 - 10.1191/1463423604pc224oa

DO - 10.1191/1463423604pc224oa

M3 - Journal article

VL - 5

SP - 338

EP - 350

JO - Primary Health Care Research and Development

JF - Primary Health Care Research and Development

SN - 1463-4236

IS - 4

ER -