Supporting and Enabling the Process of Innovation in Public Health: The Framework for Public Health Innovation

Abstract

This manuscript introduces a new framework for creating innovations in public health—the Framework for Public Health Innovation. The framework was developed through a longitudinal qualitative research study that investigated the process of creating innovative adolescent health programs. Interviews were conducted with a national sample of 26 organizations over two time points. Data collection focused on the process of innovative program development; organizational capacity; training; and technical assistance needs, successes, and barriers. The framework was developed and modified based on interview findings and expert advice; then, the final framework was validated with content experts. The framework illustrates a dynamic process of innovation that begins with dissatisfaction with the status quo, and then, illustrates three necessary components for innovation—space, process, and partnerships. Four categories of innovation, which range in complexity, are proposed: (1) creating a new component to an existing program, (2) adapting an existing program to meet new needs, (3) taking an alternative approach to addressing an existing program, and (4) reframing a health problem from a new perspective. As illustrated by a feedback loop, the resulting innovations disrupt the status quo. This model can be applied to any content area in public health and is useful for both research and practitioners.

The Development of a Systems-Level Approach to Address Adolescent Access to Health Care

“…The FPHI was developed based on empirical evidence and experience creating public health innovative programs. 23 The framework fills a gap in previous research to guide the process of developing innovations specifically for the field of public health. It originated from an initiative, named Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (iTP3), to advance innovation in teen pregnancy programs and built from existing models focused on adoption of innovation.…”

“…The iTP3 team worked with communities to codesign innovative community-based programs to identify the components and utility of the FPHI. 23 Using the FPHI enables developers and researchers to understand and be cognizant of the intricacies and nuances involved in developing innovative solutions to ensure they adequately address diverse and unique health care needs among population subgroups to achieve health equity.…”

“…The CHAI team utilized the FPHI to drive the innovation process, develop innovative programs, and increase adolescent access to SRH care (Figure). The FPHI was identified as an ideal model for developing innovations for this purpose because it had been developed based on innovative programs for teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) 23 and because it focuses on the contextual factors and processes that drive innovation and provides a way to define degrees of innovation. Including contextual factors and the consideration of multiple influences on a problem naturally allows for innovations with a systems-level perspective to approach a problem differently.…”

Reflexiones sobre innovación en salud pública: avances y retos en Colombia

“…El concepto de innovación en salud abarca una serie de nuevas estrategias, perspectivas, comportamientos y formas de trabajo orientadas a la solución de los diferentes problemas en salud, incluyendo, no solo tecnologías sino también mejores sistemas y políticas en salud 4 . Según Garney, et al 5 , la innovación en salud se enmarca en un proceso cíclico de retroalimentación, el cual parte de una condición existente bajo la cual se presenta una insatisfacción con las circunstancias actuales, impulsando el deseo de cambio. Para que estas innovaciones se desarrollen, se requiere de varios aspectos.…”

“…En cuanto al análisis holístico y el pensamiento de diseño, es necesaria la identificación de relaciones y patrones en los problemas de salud pública, evitar el enfoque de búsqueda de una causalidad lineal y tener en cuenta las interacciones de diferentes factores, siempre partiendo de las necesidades de la población objetivo, sus comentarios y apreciaciones para satisfacer directamente a los pacientes y a la comunidad en general a la cual está dirigida la innovación. Finalmente, cabe destacar que el desarrollo de las capacidades de innovación solo se produce con la experiencia y que las personas sean flexibles en su pensamiento; por tanto, se debe evitar ingresar a un proyecto con un resultado predefinido en mente para luego alcanzarlo 5 .…”