This book is based on the content covered during the non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention short course at the University of Oxford. It provides theoretical background and ‘real life ...
MoreThis book is based on the content covered during the non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention short course at the University of Oxford. It provides theoretical background and ‘real life case studies’ helping readers to apply the learnings to their day-to-day work. It covers case studies from both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. This book is structured around the four stages of the policy cycle: (1) problem definition; (2) solution generation; (3) resource mobilization and implementation; and (4) evaluation. Chapters 2–7 focus on problem definition, which involves understanding the burden of NCDs, its risk factors, the sociopolitical landscape, the role of advocacy, and screening and surveillance. Chapters 8–10 are about solution generation, which involves examining the evidence for potential costs and benefits of interventions, while also considering contextual factors, including the ethical and political dimensions of different solutions. Chapters 11–13 are on implementation and the mobilization of resources, both the money needed for material aspects of the interventions and the people required to plan for and carry out the interventions. Chapter 14 is about evaluation and monitoring, which may be designed to assess whether interventions met their aims and objectives. Given the cyclical nature of the policy cycle, the final chapter is about returning to the various stages. NCD prevention does not always follow the stages of the policy cycle in a strict sequence and often, NCD interventions will need revisiting in light of the experiences and lessons learned from earlier stages.
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