Getting to effective housing policy for health: a thematic synthesis of policy development and implementation

Figures & data

Table 1. Housing policy approaches and instruments that can promote health, adapted from (World Health Organization 2021).

Broad policy approach	Specific instruments
Standards/regulations for healthy homes	Building regulation/standards Heat/cooling system regulation Mandated safety devices Prohibition of hazardous materials and substances Guidelines for air/water/radon levels Smoke-free housing policy Outdoor regulations Thermal comfort code
Constructing/retrofitting healthy housing	New housing construction programmes Refurbishment programmes Technical training Inspection and removal of hazards Clean energy programmes Water supply programmes Physical Subsidies/incentives for Modifications Land tax/planning policies
Ensuring access to healthy homes	Rehousing programmes Rental assistance Fuel poverty payments Clean fuel subsidies

Figure 1. The flow of records in the review.

Table 2. Included study characteristics.

#	Author(s) and year	Country (and setting)	Policy investigated	Paper focus	Study design and data collection
1	Baezconde-Garbanati et al. (2011)	USA, California	Smoke-free housing policy	Barriers to smoke-free policy in Multi-Unit Homes	Mixed-method: Focus groups; surveys
2	Bain et al. (2016)	USA, Iowa	Radon testing programme	Successes and Challenges in Implementation of radon control activities	Case study
3	Bennett et al. (2016)	New Zealand	Housing quality assessment: rental warrant of fitness	Testing of policy tools	Qualitative: Field test and interviews
4	Burdette et al. (2014)	USA, South Dakota	Smoke-free housing policy	Reasons for smoke-free policy adoption	Quantitative: survey
5	Campbell et al. (2013)	USA, Philadelphia	Lead court	Effectiveness of the Lead Court	Qualitative: Interviews
6	Coyle III et al. (2016)	USA	Housing codes for health	Facilitators and barriers to code amendments proposals	Quantitative: Analysis of historical data
7	Drach et al. (2010)	USA, Oregon	Smoke-free policy	Acceptability smoke-free policies	Mixed methods: Survey and interview
8	Farley et al. (2015)	USA, New York	Smoke-free policy	Correlates and interest in smoke-free policies	Quantitative: Survey
9	Hernandez et al. (2019)	USA, New York	Smoke-free policy	Barriers and perceptions of smoke-free policy	Mixed-methods: Survey, interview, focus group, observational field work
10	Jiang et al. (2018)	USA, New York	Smoke-free policy	Barriers and perceptions of smoke-free policy	Qualitative: Focus groups
11	Jacobs et al. (2007)	USA	Indoor air pollution	Successes and Challenges in implementation of indoor air pollution policy	Case study
12	Kaufman et al. (2018)	Canada	Smoke-free policy	Compliance and enforcement of smoke-free policy	Qualitative: Focus groups and interviews
13	Kegler et al (2019).	USA, Georgia and North Carolina	Smoke-free policy	Implementation and enforcement of smoke-free policies	Qualitative: Interviews
14	Kegler et al. (2018)	USA, Georgia and North Carolina	Smoke-free policy	Development of smoke-free policy	Qualitative: Interviews
15	Korfmacher & Hanley (2013)	USA	Lead policy programmes	Effectiveness of the local lead laws	Comparative case studies
16	Lea & Torzillo (2016)	Australia	Housing inspections for health	Use of data in policy development	Case study
17	Lieb (2018)	USA, Baltimore	Housing codes for housing quality	History of housing-code enforcement	Case study
18	Magavern and Magavern (2018)	USA, Rochester & Buffalo	Lead policy	Effectiveness of lead programmes	Comparative case studies
19	Pizacini et al. (2011)	USA	Smoke-free policy	Programmes for the adoption of smoke-free policy	Case study
20	Ruhe (2019)	USA	Smoke-free policy	Challenges and success in implementing smoke-free policy	Comparative case studies
21	Satterlund et al. (2013)	USA	Smoke-free policy	Barriers to smoke free policy	Comparative case studies
22	Stein et al. (2016)	USA	Smoke-free policy	Issues with smoke-free policy enforcement	Case study
23	Ward & Bringolf (2018)	Australia	Accessibility design guidelines	History of developing guidelines	Case study

Figure 2. Themes and specific enablers plotted at their relative position along the policy process.

Table 3. Relationship between policy stage and themes.

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