Research platform

Providing the evidence base for policy and practice

Case studies for sustainability

EuroHealthNet is the coordinator of INHERIT (2016-2019), a four-year research project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme. INHERIT involves a multi-disciplinary consortium of 18 partners across Europe including universities, public health institutes, companies, and not-for-profit organisations.

‍INHERIT explores how we can change lifestyles and behaviours that are related to how we live, move, and consume, to simultaneously improve the environment (win 1), health (win 2) and contribute to fairer societies (win 3). These three wins have been labelled as the ‘INHERIT triple-win’.

‍For the past three years, the 18 INHERIT partners have been identifying and studying promising practices that are being implemented across Europe, that simultaneously contribute to this ‘triple-win’. INHERIT has been working on the evaluation of 15 triple-win case studies. This evaluation aspires to develop models of good practice for intersectoral work in the areas of living, moving, and consuming, including guidelines to support use and transferability across Europe.

A mixed-method approach was applied, a qualitative, a quantitative and an economic evaluation. The qualitative evaluation involved focus groups in 12 cases studies, bringing together all the sectors that were involved in implementation. The focus groups aimed to gain insight into the inter-sectoral collaboration process behind each triple-win case study. In addition, the quantitative and economic evaluations required a close collaboration between the INHERIT consortium and the local implementers of the case studies to be able to inform on the benefits, impacts and cost effectiveness of these case studies.

Scaling up best practices

On 21 November 2018, INHERIT hosted a one-day conference in Vienna, the #InheritYourFuture Forum, which aimed to explore how the initiatives presented could achieve the ‘triple win’ and considered how these initiatives could be implemented at a broader scale across Europe.

The event gathered 110 participants including INHERIT case study partners, case study implementers, public authorities, academics, and citizens. Expert speakers presented and debated initiatives from across the EU that may achieve the triple-win of improving environmental sustainability, health, and health equity. With a total of eight media partners, the event saw significant press coverage. The conference discussed the idea that people will not change if they do not have the motivation, the capabilities, and the opportunities to do so. They are more likely to change if the process is enjoyable and fun, which is why it is important to inspire hope by developing positive visions and providing examples of what can be done. Co-creation, connection, and participatory approaches emerged as important methods. It was recognised that many similar, good things are happening across Europe, but that those involved must connect for a stronger collective voice to influence the levers of power. It is important to identify and work with the champions of ‘triple-win’ approaches, in all sectors.

Business and policy round tables

In addition to the coordination of the INHERIT project, EuroHealthNet is the leading partner on work which involves transferring the results to policy makers and developing online training for public health professionals. A ‘Policy and Investment Tool Kit for Healthy and Sustainable Lives’ is being developed and will be ready by November 2019. Draft recommendations were tested with several roundtables with EU-level policymakers, businesses and civil society that EuroHealthNet organised in May 2019.

The realities of a digital world, what it means for young people’s health

In November 2018, EuroHealthNet organised the opening plenary session of the research-focused European Public Health Conference with a session on the impact of being born into a digital world on young people’s health. Digital media and new technologies are changing children and youths’ lives and providing them with many new opportunities, but they can also pose challenges to their health and well-being.

The aim of the session was to raise awareness of the positive and negative impacts of digital technologies on children and young peoples’ health and well-being, across the social gradient. It was also to discuss, with policy makers and experts, possible ways forward and to gather input from panellists on the role of public health, health promotion and research.