Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41535545›Full record

ArticleApplied health economics and health policy2026

Partnerships in Public Health Economics: Reflective Lessons from UK Obesity Research.

Humera Sultan, Nafsika Afentou, Luiz F Andrade, Lin Fu, Bassit Malik, Hamideh Mohtashami Borzadaran, Bisola Osifowora, Irina Pokhilenko, Hanna Wride, Emma Frew

Abstract read
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Article in Applied health economics and health policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Humera SultanHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Nafsika AfentouHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Luiz F AndradeHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Lin FuHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Bassit MalikHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Hamideh Mohtashami BorzadaranHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Bisola OsifoworaHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Irina PokhilenkoHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Hanna WrideHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Emma FrewHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Economics of Obesity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. e.frew@bham.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-5462-1158

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR300773
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivePartnerships between health economists and multi-sectoral stakeholders are essential for public health economics research. While most evidence comes from low- and middle-income countries, high-income countries also face challenges in governance, communication and translating complex analyses into policy-relevant insights. This study provides a reflective account of partnership working from a UK academic health economics team engaged in population obesity research, identifying key enablers, barriers and lessons for high-income countries contexts, with comparisons to low- and middle-income countries literature.

methodsThe MacPhee partnership model guided reflections across inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes. Semi-structured interviews with eight research staff and two PhD students captured experiences working with local government, community organisations, practitioners, funders and commercial stakeholders. Transcripts were analysed thematically, mapping initial codes to the MacPhee framework and refining themes to highlight transferable lessons.

resultsEffective partnerships relied on pre-existing relationships, clarity on mutual goals, adaptive communication and flexibility. Trust emerged as both an input and an outcome, requiring sustained investment. Partnerships with weak governance, particularly involving commercial stakeholders, were more likely to falter. Compared with low- and middle-income countries contexts, it was noted that the focus should shift from policymaker capacity building towards equipping health economists with relational, translational and governance skills.

conclusionsHigh-income countries partnerships between academic health economists and multi-sectoral stakeholders benefit from explicit attention to governance, trust and communication. These findings support integrating partnership working skills into health economics training and ensuring project design accommodates the time and resources required to build sustainable policy-relevant collaborations.

Indexed as

Cooperative BehaviorObesityPublic HealthAcademiaHumansUnited Kingdom

Identifiers

PMID41535545
PMCPMC13102873

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.