Methodological and Other Projects

The Evaluating Interventions Team is involved in a number of projects focusing on developing methods of evaluating social interventions and ways of synthesising the findings of these evaluations. Further information about some of these can be found in this section.

Other projects that can be found here include the Programme's work on population tobacco control interventions, and work concucted under the aegis of the Public Health Research Consortium, including a meta-review of evidence on the health impacts of social interventions.

Publications

Lorenc T, Clayton S, Neary D, Whitehead M, Petticrew P, Thomson H, Cummins S, Sowden A, Renton A. Crime, fear of crime, environment, and mental health and wellbeing: mapping review of theories and causal pathways. Health & Place 2012 [epub ahead of print].

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Bonell CP, Hargreaves JR, Cousens SN, Ross DA, Hayes RJ, Petticrew M, Kirkwood B. Alternatives to randomisation in the evaluation of public-health interventions: design challenges and solutions. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2011; 65:582-7.

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Gibson M, Petticrew M, Bambra C, Sowden AJ, Wright KE, Whitehead M. Housing and health inequalities: a synthesis of systematic reviews of interventions aimed at different pathways linking housing and health. Health & Place 2011; 17:175-84.

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Gibson M, Thomson H, Kearns A, Petticrew M. Understanding the psychosocial impacts of housing type: qualitative evidence from a housing and regeneration intervention. Housing Studies 2011; 26:555-73.

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Bambra C, Gibson M, Sowden A, Wright K, Whitehead M, Petticrew M. Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health inequalities: evidence from systematic reviews. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2010; 64:284-91. 

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Bond L, Craig P, Egan M, Skivington K, Thomson H. Health improvement programmes: really too complex to evaluate? (Letter). British Medical Journal 2010; 340:c1332.

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Bond L, Craig P, Egan M, Skivington K, Thomson H. MRC guidelines and the evaluation of health improvement programmes: are health improvement programmes really too complex to assess their effectiveness? (Rapid response). BMJ.com 2010; 340; February 18th.

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Petticrew M, Lee K. The "Father of Stress" meets "Big Tobacco": Hans Selye and the tobacco industry. American Journal of Public Health 2011; 101:411-8.

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Ayres J, Semple S, MacCalman L, Dempsey S, Hilton S, Hurley J, Miller BG, Naji A, Petticrew M. Bar workers' health and environmental tobacco smoke exposure (BHETSE): Symptomatic improvement in bar staff following smoke-free legislation in Scotland. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2009; 66:339-46.

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Bambra C, Gibson M, Sowden A, Wright K, Whitehead M, Petticrew M. Working for health? Evidence from systematic reviews on the effects on health and health inequalities of organisational changes to the work environment. Preventive Medicine 2009; 48:454-61.

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Egan M, Bambra C, Petticrew M, Whitehead M. Reviewing evidence on complex social interventions:  appraising implementation in systematic reviews of the health effects of organisational-level workplace interventions. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2009; 63:4-11.
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Ogilvie D, Craig P, Griffin S, Macintyre S, Wareham N. A translational framework for public health research. BMC Public Health 2009; 9:116.

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Wilson P, Petticrew M, Booth A. After the gold rush? A systematic and critical review of general medical podcasts. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2009; 102:69-74.

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Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, Nazareth I, Petticrew M. Developing and evaluating complex interventions: an introduction to the new Medical Research Council guidance. In: Killoran A, Kelly MP, eds. Evidence–Based Public Health: effectiveness and efficiency. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009:185-202.
Hawe P, Bond L, Butler H. Knowledge theories can inform evaluation practice. What can a complexity lens add? New Developments in Evaluation Special Issue: Knowledge Utilization, Diffusion, Implementation, Transfer, and Translation: Implications for Evaluation 2009; 124:89-100.
Rodgers M, Arai L, Popay J, Britten N, Roberts H, Petticrew M, Sowden A. Testing methodological guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews: effectiveness of interventions to promote smoke alarm ownership and function. Evaluation  2009; 15:49-73.

Petticrew M, Platt S, McCollam A, Wilson S, Thomas S. "We're not short of people telling us what the problems are. We're short of people telling us what to do": Theory, methods and findings of a mental health impact assessment. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:314.
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Armstrong R, Waters E, Roberts H, Oliver S, Anderson L, Petticrew M. Systematic reviews of health promotion and public health interventions. In: Heggenhoughen K, ed. Encyclopedia of Public Health. San Diago: Academic Press, 2008; Volume 6:297-301.

Bambra C, Gibson M, Petticrew M, Sowden A, Whitehead M, Wright K. Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health inequalities: evidence from systematic reviews. Public Health Research Consortium, University of York, 2008.
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Bambra C, Whitehead M, Sowden A, Akers J, Petticrew M. "A hard day's night?" - the effects of Compressed Working Week interventions on the health and work-life balance of shift workers: a systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2008; 62:764-77.
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Conway D, Petticrew M, Marlborough H, Berthiller J, Hashibe M, Macpherson LM. Socioeconomic inequalities and oral cancer risk : a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. International Journal of Cancer 2008; 122:2811-9.
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Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, Nazareth I, Petticrew M. Developing and evaluating complex interventions. London: Medical Research Council, 2008.
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Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, Nazareth I, Petticrew M. Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance. British Medical Journal 2008; 337:a1655.
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Egan M, Tannahill C, Petticrew M, Thomas S. Psychosocial risk factors in home and community settings and their associations with population health and health inequalities: a systematic meta-review. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:239.
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Fayter D, Main C, Misso K, Ogilvie D, Petticrew M, Sowden A, Stirk L, Thomas S, Whitehead M, Worthy G. Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking. York: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, CRD Report 39, 2008.

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Hilton S, Cameron J, Maclean A, Petticrew M. Observations from behind the bar: changing patrons' behaviours in response to smoke-free legislation in Scotland. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:238.
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Lucas PJ, McIntosh K, Petticrew M, Roberts HM, Shiell A. Financial benefits for child health and well-being in low income or socially disadvantaged families in developed world countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008; 2:CD006358.
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Main C, Thomas S, Ogilvie D, Stirk L, Petticrew M, Whitehead M, Sowden A. Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking: placing an equity lens on existing systematic reviews. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:178.
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Ogilvie D, Fayter D, Petticrew M, Sowden A, Thomas S, Whitehead M. The harvest plot: a method for synthesising evidence about the differential effects of interventions. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2008;8:08.
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Petticrew M, Egan M, Thomson H, Hamilton V, Kunkler R, Roberts H. Publication bias in qualitative research: what becomes of qualitative research presented at conferences? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2008; 62:552-4.
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Thomas S, Fayter D, Misso K, Ogilvie D, Petticrew M, Sowden A, Whitehead M, Worthy G. Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking: systematic review. Tobacco Control 2008; 17:230-7.
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Tugwell P, Maxwell L, Welch V, Kristjansson E, Petticrew M, Wells G, Buchbinder R, Suarez-Almazor M, Nowlan M, Morris E, Khan M, Shea B, Tsikata S. Is health equity considered in systematic reviews of the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group? Arthritis Care and Research 2008; 59:1603-10.

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Waters E, Petticrew M, Priest N, Weightman A, Harden A, Doyle J. Evidence synthesis, upstream determinants and health inequalities: the role of a proposed new Cochrane Public Health Review Group. European Journal of Public Health 2008; 18:221-3.

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Wilson P, Petticrew M, on behalf of the Medical Research Council's Population Health Sciences Research Network Knowledge Transfer Project team, Calnan M, Nazareth I. Why promote the findings of single research studies? British Medical Journal 2008; 336:722-3.
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Bambra C, Petticrew M, Whitehead M, Sowden A, Akers J. Shifting schedules: The health effects of reorganizing shift work. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2008; 34:427-34.e30.

Gebel K, Bauman A, Petticrew M. The physical environment and physical activity: a critical appraisal of review articles. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007; 32:361-9.e3.
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Hills D, Elliott E, Kowarzik U, Sullivan F, Stern E, Platt S, Boydell L, Popay J, Williams G, Petticrew M, McGregor E, Russell S, Wilkinson E, Rugkasa J, Gibson M, McDaid D. The evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund Healthy Living Centres programme final report. London: Big Lottery Fund, 2007.
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Hilton S, Semple S, Miller BG, Maccalman L, Petticrew M, Dempsey S, Naji A, Ayres JG. Expectations and changing attitudes of bar workers before and after the implementation of smoke-free legislation in Scotland. BMC Public Health 2007; 7:206.
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Petticrew M, Semple S, Hilton S, Creely K, Eadie D, Ritchie D, Ferrell C, Christopher Y, Hurley F. Covert observation in practice: Lessons from the evaluation of the prohibition of smoking in public places in Scotland. BMC Public Health 2007; 7:204.
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Petticrew M. 'More research needed' plugging gaps in the evidence base on health inequalities. European Journal of Public Health 2007; 17:411-413.
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Semple S, Maccalman L, Naji AA, Dempsey S, Hilton S, Miller B, Ayres JG. Bar workers' exposure to second-hand smoke: The effect of Scottish smoke-free legislation on occupational exposure. Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2007; 51:571-580.
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Arai L, Britten N, Popay J, Roberts H, Petticrew M, Rodgers M, Sowden A. Testing methodological developments in the conduct of narrative: a demonstration review of research on the implementation of smoke alarm interventions. Evidence & Policy 2007; 3:361-383.
Armstrong R, Waters E, Jackson N, Oliver S, Popay J, Shepherd J, Petticrew M, Anderson L, Bailie R, Brunton G, Hawe P, Kristjansson EA, Naccarella L, Norrie S, Pienaar E, Roberts H, Rogers W, Sowden A, Thomas H. Guidelines for Systematic reviews of health promotion and public health interventions. Version 2. Melbourne: Melbourne University, 2007.

Rankin D, Truman J, Backett-Milburn K, Platt S, Petticrew M. The contextual development of healthy living centres services: An examination of food-related initiatives. Health & Place 2006; 12:644-55.
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Atkinson R, Thomson H, Kearns A, Petticrew M. Giving urban policy its 'medical': assessing the place of health in area-based regeneration. Policy & Politics 2006; 34:5-26.
Gibson M, Petticrew M. Healthy Living Centre evaluation report on managers’ survey. London: Big Lottery Fund, 2006.
Gibson M, Petticrew M. Healthy Living Centre evaluation report on stakeholders’ survey. London: Big Lottery Fund, 2006.
Petticrew M, Whitehead M, Bambra C, Egan M, Graham H, Macintyre S, McDermott E. The Centre for Evidence-based Public Health Policy: part of the ESRC Evidence Network. In: Killoran A, Swann C, Kelly M, eds. Public Health Evidence: Tackling Health Inequalities. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006:141-154.
Popay J, Roberts H, Sowden A, Petticrew M, Arai L, Rodgers M, Britten N, Roen K, Duffy S. Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews: a product of the ESRC methods programme (Version I) (available from n.simpson@lancaster.ac.uk). Lancaster: Institute of Health Research, 2006.
Egan M, Petticrew M, Ogilvie D. Informing healthy transport policies: systematic reviews and research synthesis. Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2005; 1908:214-220.
Platt S, Backett-Milburn K, Petticrew M, Rankin D, Truman J. Evaluation of the Healthy Living Centre Programme in Scotland. Report of phase 1. University of Edinburgh: RUHBC Working Paper 3, 2005.
Platt S, Petticrew M, MacCollam A, Wilson S, Thomas S. Mental Health improvement: an appraisal of Scottish Policy, 2005.
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Petticrew M, Whitehead M, Macintyre S, Graham H, Egan M. Evidence for public health policy on inequalities: 1: The reality according to policymakers. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2004; 58:811-816.

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Whitehead M, Petticrew M, Graham H, Macintyre S, Bambra C, Egan M. Evidence for public health policy on inequalities: 2: Assembling the evidence jigsaw. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2004; 58:817-821.

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Roberts H, Petticrew M. Child public health and social welfare: lessons from the evidence. (editorial). Child: Care, Health & Development, 2004; 30:667-669.

Morrison D, Petticrew M, Thomson H. What are the most effective ways of improving population health through transport interventions? Evidence from systematic reviews. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2003; 57:327-333.

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Petticrew M, Roberts H. Evidence, hierarchies and typologies: horses for courses. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2003; 57:527-529.
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Petticrew M. Presumed innocent: why we need systematic reviews of social policies. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2003; 24 (suppl 3):2-3.
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Petticrew M. Why certain systematic reviews reach uncertain conclusions. British Medical Journal 2003; 326:756-758.
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Elwy AR, Hart G, Hawkes S, Petticrew M. Effectiveness of interventions to prevent STI/HIV in heterosexual men: a systematic review. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002; 162:1818-1830.
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Hawkes S, Elwy AR, Hart G, Petticrew M. Interventions to prevent STI/HIV infection in men - a systematic review. Geneva: WHO, 2002.
Petticrew M, Bell R, Hunter D. Coping and cancer outcome: a systematic review. British Medical Journal 2002; 325:1066-1069.
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Petticrew M. Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions. British Medical Journal 2001; 322:98-101.
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Thomson H, Petticrew M, Morrison D. Health effects of housing interventions: a systematic review of intervention studies. British Medical Journal 2001; 323:187-190.
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