[Models for public health policy analysis reported in scientific publications]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize public health policy models reported in studies published between 2002-2017.

METHOD

Using MesH vocabulary, we systematically searched articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese in the PubMed, Scielo, Jstor, ProQuest and Google Scholar data-bases. The quality of the articles was assessed using the tool for understanding a qualitative study by CASPe.

RESULTS

A higher proportion of scientific studies were conducted in the African continent. The policies relating to health care were most frequently investigated. Walt and Gilson's model and Kingdon's multiple streams framework were more frequently reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The articles set out the public policy analysis model, but not the approach to guide it. A more robust theoretical body needs to be built to enable discussion about the approaches and models for the analysis of public policies. Its distinction is relevant, since it can order methodological proposals for the study of policies.

[Telehealth as state response strategy: systematic reviewLa telesalud como estrategia de respuesta del Estado: revisión sistemática]

OBJECTIVE

To identify telehealth initiatives described in the literature as a strategy for national health policies.

METHOD

A systematic review was performed to identify articles focusing on the use of telehealth as a state response strategy to health problems or needs. The Virtual Health Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched using the following keywords: "telessaude politicas", "implantacao telessaude", "telehealth policy", "telehealth America", "telehealth Asia", "telehealth Antartida", "telehealth Europe", "telehealth Africa", "telehealth Oceania". Data collection was performed from March 2016 to February 2017.

RESULTS

Twenty-one articles describing telehealth initiatives in various countries, published in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, were analyzed. Concentration of studies on specific areas or regions was not detected. Most articles were published from 2014 to 2017. Telehealth initiatives have been used mainly to decrease health costs, for continued education of health care professionals, consultations between health care professionals, to strengthen primary health care, and to improve the access to health care in remote areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Telehealth is used as state policy across the five continents, with variations in the degree of implementation. The main differences in telehealth among countries refer to infrastructure, financing, engagement of patients and caretakers, and position of the state regarding the role of telehealth.