title: A review of the use of health examination data from the Health Survey for England in government policy development and implementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information is needed at all stages of the policy making process. The Health Survey for England (HSE) is an annual cross-sectional health examination survey of the non-institutionalised general population in England. It was originally set up to inform national policy making and monitoring by the Department of Health. This paper examines how the nurse collected physical and biological measurement data from the HSE have been essential or useful for identification of a health issue amenable to policy intervention; initiation, development or implementation of a strategy; choice and monitoring of targets; or assessment and evaluation of policies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specific examples of use of HSE data were identified through interviews with senior members of staff at the Department of Health and the Health and Social Care Information Centre. Policy documents mentioned by interviewees were retrieved for review, and reference lists of associated policy documents checked. Systematic searches of Chief Medical Officer Reports, Government 'Command Papers', and clinical guidance documents were also undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSE examination data have been used at all stages of the policy making process. Data have been used to identify an issue amenable to policy-intervention (e.g. quantifying prevalence of undiagnosed chronic kidney disease), in strategy development (in models to inform chronic respiratory disease policy), for target setting and monitoring (the 1992 blood pressure target) and in evaluation of health policy (the effect of the smoking ban on second hand smoke exposure).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A health examination survey is a useful part of a national health information system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL (University College London), London, UK.
authors.forename: Oyinlola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oyebode
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL (University College London), London, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mindell
keywords: Evidence; Health examination survey; Policy; Surveillance
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2013 Jun;14(6):463-76
references.pmid: 23463960
references.citation: Tob Control. 2012 Jan;21(1):18-23
references.pmid: 21527405
references.citation: Int J Epidemiol. 2012 Dec;41(6):1585-93
references.pmid: 22253315
references.citation: BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2009 Sep 30;9:47
references.pmid: 19793391
references.citation: Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Mar;120(3):425-30
references.pmid: 22169225
references.citation: Arch Public Health. 2012 Aug 28;70(1):20
references.pmid: 22958511
references.citation: J Epidemiol Community Health. 1990 Mar;44(1):1-2
references.pmid: 2348140
references.citation: Popul Health Metr. 2007 Sep 26;5:8
references.pmid: 17897444
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2011 Mar;101(3):438-47
references.pmid: 21233434
references.citation: Hypertension. 2009 Mar;53(3):480-6
references.pmid: 19204180
references.citation: Eur J Public Health. 2014 Apr;24(2):338-44
references.pmid: 23867563
references.citation: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012 Oct;27 Suppl 3:iii73-80
references.pmid: 22815543
references.citation: BMJ. 1990 Apr 14;300(6730):981-3
references.pmid: 2344507
references.citation: J Hypertens. 2006 Jun;24(6):1187-92
references.pmid: 16685220
references.citation: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012 Oct;27 Suppl 3:iii32-8
references.pmid: 23115140
references.citation: J Public Health (Oxf). 2011 Mar;33(1):108-16
references.pmid: 20522452
references.citation: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2005 Oct;20(10):2089-96
references.pmid: 16030033
references.citation: Thorax. 2006 Dec;61(12):1043-7
references.pmid: 17040932