Natural experiments: An overview of methods, approaches, and contributions to public health intervention research

Craig, P. , Katikireddi, S. V. , Leyland, A. and Popham, F. (2017) Natural experiments: An overview of methods, approaches, and contributions to public health intervention research. Annual Review of Public Health, 38, pp. 39-56. (doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044327) (PMID:28125392)

Abstract

Population health interventions are essential to reduce health inequalities and tackle other public health priorities, but they are not always amenable to experimental manipulation. Natural experiment (NE) approaches are attracting growing interest as a way of providing evidence in such circumstances. One key challenge in evaluating NEs is selective exposure to the intervention. Studies should be based on a clear theoretical understanding of the processes that determine exposure. Even if the observed effects are large and rapidly follow implementation, confidence in attributing these effects to the intervention can be improved by carefully considering alternative explanations. Causal inference can be strengthened by including additional design features alongside the principal method of effect estimation.NEstudies often rely on existing (including routinely collected) data. Investment in such data sources and the infrastructure for linking exposure and outcome data is essential if the potential for such studies to inform decision making is to be realized.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Craig, Professor Peter and Popham, Dr Frank and Leyland, Professor Alastair
• Authors: Craig, P., Katikireddi, S. V., Leyland, A., and Popham, F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Annual Review of Public Health
• Publisher: Annual Reviews
• ISSN: 0163-7525
• ISSN (Online): 1545-2093
• Published Online: 11 January 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Annual Reviews
• First Published: First published in Annual Review of Public Health 38:39-56
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
72765	1	Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health	Alastair Leyland	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12017/13	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
72767	1	Informing Healthy Public Policy	Peter Craig	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12017/15	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
69916	2	Understanding the impacts of welfare policy on health: A novel data linkage study	Srinivasa Katikireddi	Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHHD-CSO)	SCAF/15/02	IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU