title: Reducing health inequalities in priority public health conditions: using rapid review to develop proposals for evidence-based policy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In November 2008, the Secretary of State for Health (England) commissioned an independent review to propose effective strategies for reducing health inequalities. Review task groups were given just 3 months to make preliminary evidence-based recommendations. In this paper, we describe the methodology used, and the recommendations made, by the group tasked with inequalities in priority public health conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of rapid literature reviews of the policy-relevant international evidence base was undertaken. Quantitative studies of any design, which looked at the effects on health inequalities, the social gradient or overall population health effects, of interventions designed to address the social determinants of selected public health priority conditions were examined. Recommendations were distilled using a Delphi approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five key policy proposals were made: reduce smoking in the most deprived groups; improve availability of and access to healthier food choices amongst low income groups; improve the early detection and treatment of diseases; introduce a minimum price per unit for alcohol and improve the links between physical and mental health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of rapid review and Delphi distillation produced a shortlist of evidence-based recommendations within the allocated time frame. There was a dearth of robust evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the interventions we examined: our proposals had to be based on extrapolation from general population health effects. Extensive, specific and robust evidence is urgently needed to guide policy and programmes. In the meantime, our methodology provides a reasonably sound and pragmatic basis for evidence-based policy-making.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, Stockton on Tees, UK. clare.bambra@durham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bambra
authors.forename: Kerry E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bellis
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greatley
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greengross
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lobstein
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salay
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maryon-Davis
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D004739:England; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006291:Health Policy; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009369:Neoplasms; D009765:Obesity; D011050:Policy Making; D011634:Public Health; D012196:Review Literature as Topic