Using natural experiments to improve public health evidence: a review of context and utility for obesity prevention.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Natural experiments are increasingly valued as a way to assess the health impact of health and non-health interventions when planned controlled experimental research designs may be infeasible or inappropriate to implement. This study sought to investigate the value of natural experiments by exploring how they have been used in practice. The study focused on obesity prevention research as one complex programme area for applying natural experiment studies.

Methods

A literature search sought obesity prevention research from January 1997 to December 2017 and identified 46 population health studies that self-described as a natural experiment.

Results

The majority of studies identified were published in the last 5 years, illustrating a more recent adoption of suc

SUBMITTER: Crane M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7236508 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature