The future of public health policymaking after COVID-19: a qualitative systematic review of lessons from Health in All Policies

Background: ‘Health in All Policies’ (HIAP) describes the pursuit of health equity. It has five main elements: treat as a human right; identify evidence ‘social determinants’ inequalities, recognise that most powers to affect are not held by departments, promote intersectoral policymaking and collaboration inside outside government, generate political will. Studies describe its potential but bemoan major implementation gap. Some HIAP scholars learn from research how understand this gap, use policy theories is patchy. In context, our guiding question is:How does theory policymaking?It allows us zoom-out survey field zoom-in identify: assumed actual causes change, transferable lessons advocates.Methods: Our qualitative systematic review (two phases, 2018 2020) identified 4972 articles. Of these, 113 journal articles (research commentary) provide non-trivial reference (at least one concept). We produce general narrative explore relatively theory-informed enhance it.Results: Most focus on analysis (identifying problems solutions) rather than (explaining dynamics). They report disappointing gap between expectations outcomes. Theory-informed contribute playbook close or programme design evaluate new ways. Conclusions: Few for their intended purpose. Policy aid critical reflection power, dilemmas, context. seek more instrumental lessons, potentially at cost effective advocacy research.