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

Abstract

Objectives: Heath Impact Assessment (HIA) in spatial planning can influence wider determinants and prevent ill-health, promote good health and reduce inequalities. They remain underutilised in England, partly due to inadequate workforce training. This study sought to identify the training needs of Public Health Professionals, Planners and Impact Assessment Practitioners in England in 2021. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: A survey was undertaken of Public Health Professionals, Planners and Impact Assessment Practitioners to ascertain their training needs. Descriptive statistics, frequency tables and charts summarised feedback. Results: 76% (68) of 90 total respondents, never received any training in HIAs. Quantifying impact of planning on health, especially in monetary terms and monitoring success of HIA recommendations, were common challenges for all professions. Musculoskeletal health and infectious disease were among specific health impacts where professionals welcomed further training. Public Health professionals requested support to identify high-impact interventions and work more collaboratively with Planners and a need to justify budgets for undertaking HIAs. Planners expressed training needs around justifying requirement for HIAs, data collection; and identifying local public health priorities. Impact Assessment Practitioners expressed uncertainty about policy triggers needed to undertake HIAs citing that the scale of HIAs must be proportional to project scope, the challenge of identifying planning interventions and a need to apply consistent methodological approaches in HIAs. Conclusion: There is need for baseline training to upskill all professionals, alongside tailored-training on key topic areas to address profession- and locality-specific needs to ensure spatial planning decisions better influence wider determinants and address local health priorities.