Health impact assessment

Professional workforce training needs for Health Impact Assessment in spatial planning: A cross sectional survey

“…The World Health Organization defines Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) as a combination of process and methods used by those planning, deciding and shaping changes to the environment to evaluate the significance of health effects of a plan or project.” [ 1 ] HIAs in spatial planning can influence wider determinants of health, through shaping the built and natural environment in which people live, work and play including: homes, workplaces, schools, communities, high streets, and green spaces [ 2 , 3 ]. Through influencing these wider determinants, HIAs can help decision-makers in Local Authorities and wider stakeholders make decisions about planning applications in a way that promotes good health, prevents ill health, improves access to health and community services and reduces health inequalities [ 1 , 2 , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] ].…”