Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on June 13, 2007
Journal of Public Health 2007 29(3):322-327; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdm039
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The role of a Prospective Public Health Intervention Study Register in building public health evidence: proposal for content and use
Elizabeth Waters, Professor of Public Health1,2,
Naomi Priest, Research Fellow1
Rebecca Armstrong, Senior Research Fellow1
Sandy Oliver, Deputy Director3
Philip Baker, Senior Epidemiologist4
David McQueen, Associate Director for Global Health5
Carolyn Summerbell, Professor of Human Nutrition6
Michael P. Kelly, Public Health Excellence Director7
Boyd Swinburn, Professor of Population Health8
1 Cochrane Health Promotion and Public Health Field, VicHealth, 15–31 Pelham Street (PO Box 154), Carlton South, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
2 School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
3 Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 18 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0NR, UK
4 Health Surveillance and Epidemiology, Central Area Population Health Services, Queensland Health, Locked Bag 2, Stafford DC, QLD 4053, Australia
5 IUHPE and National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop K40, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
6 School of Health and Social Care, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley TS1 3BA, UK
7 National Institute of Clinical Evidence, MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA, UK
8 School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
Address correspondence to Elizabeth Waters, E-mail: elizabeth.waters{at}deakin.edu.au
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Abstract |
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Evidence-informed practice is a key component of public health and the focus of much discussion, of which the nature of evidence and how it is best gathered and appraised has formed a large part. Prospective registration of trials is now a key component of rigour and quality in clinical research and has been supported at an international level through the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Program. This paper discusses the scope and benefits of trial registration in clinical research, including greater transparency and reduced publication bias. It then considers the potential for a Prospective Public Health Intervention Studies Register specific to the needs of public health and aspects to be included in such a register. It is argued that this initiative has the potential to facilitate increased global cooperation and efficiency in the production of high quality evidence and ultimately in improved health outcomes for populations.
Keywords: evidence, public health, ethics, health promotion, intervention, non-randomized