Policy Surveillance (And Parallels to Evidence Synthesis)

Abstract

Description:

Policy surveillance and evidence synthesis methods, while developing out of two distinct silos of inquiry, have parallel stepwise characteristics that make them comparable as approaches.

Purposes:

The purpose of this Methods Moment is to provide an introduction to policy surveillance, which is more specifically known as “legal mapping”. The resource can be utilized to cross-sectionally or longitudinally to understand the characteristics/intricacies of statutes, administrative regulations, executive orders, and other forms of law (within or across jurisdictions) regarding various aspects of health (e.g., insurance, task force creation, education).

Approach:

This article uses the inter-methodological comparison/contrast to connect a typically unfamiliar method (policy surveillance) to a familiar method (evidence synthesis), further using the connection as a point of departure for teaching/learning specifically about policy surveillance.