Lois Orton
Biographic Data
| ID | 161517 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lois Orton |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lois |
| FAMILY NAME | Orton |
| SIGNATURE | ORTON L |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Liverpool |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9641-523X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 28 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 47 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 28 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
The Role of Power in Co‐Approaches to Health Research
Researching the health and social inequalities experienced by European Roma populations
This paper draws on the experience of two Romani and three non‐Romani scholars in knowledge production on the health and social inequalities experienced by European Roma populations. Together, we explore how we might better account for, and work against, the complex web of dynamic oppressions embedded within processes of academic knowledge production. Our aim is to encourage careful scrutiny through which sociologists of health and illness might …
How is Respect and Social Inclusion Conceptualised by Older Adults in an Aspiring Age-Friendly City? A Photovoice Study in the North-West of England
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Age-Friendly Cities (AFC) Guide classifies key characteristics of an AFC according to eight domains. Whilst much age-friendly practice and research have focused on domains of the physical environment, those related to the social environment have received less attention. Using a Photovoice methodology within a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, our study draws on photographs, interviews and …
I realised it weren't about spending the money. It's about doing something together
Community initiatives aiming to reduce health inequalities are increasingly common in health policy. Though diverse many such initiatives aim to support residents of disadvantaged places to exercise greater collective control over decisions/actions that affect their lives - which research suggests is an important determinant of health - and some seek to achieve this by giving residents control over a budget. Informed by theoretical work in which …
What is the evidence that differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socioeconomic inequalities in health? A theory-led systematic review of high-quality longitudinal studies on pathways in the liv…
Roma populations and health inequalities
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence of “Roma health and wellbeing” as a focus of attention in European research and in policy and the possible detrimental consequences of action founded on a generic representation of “Roma health.” Design/methodology/approach Based on discussions with and research conducted by scholars who work directly with Roma communities across European regions from a wide range of academic disciplin…
Capturing complexity in the evaluation of a major area-based initiative in community empowerment
In recent years, there has been growing emphasis on the need to develop ways of capturing 'complexity' in the evaluation of health initiatives in order to produce better evidence about 'how' and under what conditions such interventions work. Used alone, conventional methods of evaluation that attempt to reduce intervention processes and outcomes to a small number of discrete and finite variables, are typically not well suited to this task. Among …
The health impacts of women's low control in their living environment
Reframing “participation” and “inclusion” in public health policy and practice to address health inequalities
There is a need for greater conceptual clarity in place-based initiatives that seek to give residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods more control over action to address the social determinants of health inequalities at a local level. In this article, we address this issue as it relates to the concepts of participation and inclusion. We draw on qualitative data generated during the first phase of the Communities in Control Study, a longitudinal m…
Using photovoice methods to explore older people's perceptions of respect and social inclusion in cities
Urbanisation and population ageing have contributed to recognise cities as important settings for healthy ageing. This paper considers opportunities, challenges and solutions of using photovoice methods for exploring how individuals perceive their cities and the contribution this makes to their health. It focuses on one aspect of older people's experiences - respect and social inclusion, in the context of a community-based participatory research.…
Putting context centre stage
It is now widely accepted that context matters in evaluations of the health inequalities impact of community-based social initiatives. Systems thinking offers a lens for uncovering the dynamic relationship between such initiatives and their social contexts. However, there are very few examples that show how a systems approach can be applied in practice and what kinds of evidence are produced when this happens. In this paper, we use data from ethn…
How could differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socio-economic inequalities in health? A synthesis of theories and pathways in the living environment
We conducted the first synthesis of theories on causal associations and pathways connecting degree of control in the living environment to socio-economic inequalities in health-related outcomes. We identified the main theories about how differences in 'control over destiny' could lead to socio-economic inequalities in health, and conceptualised these at three distinct explanatory levels: micro/personal; meso/community; and macro/societal. These l…
Are interventions to promote healthy eating equally effective for all? Systematic review of socioeconomic inequalities in impact
Interventions categorised by a "6 Ps" framework show differential effects on healthy eating outcomes by SEP. "Upstream" interventions categorised as "Price" appeared to decrease inequalities, and "downstream" "Person" interventions, especially dietary counselling seemed to increase inequalities. However the vast majority of studies identified did not explore differential effects by SEP. Interventions aimed at improving population health should be…
Smorgasbord or symphony? Assessing public health nutrition policies across 30 European countries using a novel framework
Public health nutrition policies in Europe appear diverse, dynamic, complex and bewildering. The "4 Ps" framework potentially offers a structured and comprehensive categorisation. Encouragingly, the majority of European countries are engaged in activities intended to increase consumption of healthy food and decrease the intake of "junk" food and sugary drinks. Leading countries include Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Hungary, Portugal and perh…
PP35 How are Health Inequalities Affected by Control in the Living Environment? A Critical Review of Theory
Background Recent public health strategies aim to increase the control, or power, that individuals, communities and populations have over decisions that affect their daily lives. While systematic reviews have revealed the health impact of measures to improve control in the work environment, evidence from the ‘living environment’ has not been synthesised. We conducted a critical review of proposed theories and causal pathways linking control in th…
PP11 Using the “4Ps” Marketing Approach to Evaluate Health-Promoting Food Policies. A Rapid Scoping Review
Background Population-wide policy actions to promote a healthy diet offer potentially large benefits in terms of reducing the non-communicable disease burden. However, there are wide ranges of potential options, with varying effectiveness. In order to make sense of this diversity, we conducted a rapid scoping review and tested a simple conceptual framework for categorising policies based on the marketing “4Ps” approach (Price, Product, Place and …
PP09 Assessing the Potential Effect of Healthy Eating Policy Interventions on Socioeconomic Inequalities
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main contributors to health inequalities. CVD primary prevention includes potentially powerful interventions to promote healthy eating. However, might some dietary interventions actually widen the heath gap between rich and poor, thus leading to intervention-generated inequalities? Objective To systematically review the evidence for differential socio-economic effects associated with healthy e…
OP11 Missing Women? The Health Inequalities Impact of Low Control and Gender Discrimination
Background Increasing control and empowerment are considered central to efforts to reduce health inequalities. From our critical review of theory, low control or powerlessness emerged as a potentially fundamental mechanism underlying social inequalities in health. Amartya Sen’s theories of “freedom” and “capabilities” to live a long and healthy life have been influential: focusing attention on the health consequences of a lack of freedom for wome…
OP15 Identifying the most effective public health nutrition policies
Background EuroHeart 2 is a European research programme led by the European Heart Network and European Society of Cardiology ( http://www.ehnheart.org/euroheart-ii.html ). One aspect of the project aimed to identify the most effective public health nutrition policies, in order to inform future evidence-based strategies to promote cardiovascular health. We interviewed senior policy-makers and thought-leaders in 14 diverse EU countries to elicit th…
OP16 Utilising a Novel Framework to Assess Public Health Nutrition Actions Across 30 European Countries (EuroHeart II Project)
Background EuroHeart II is a European programme designed to inform cardiovascular health strategies across Europe. Our project examines the role of food policies in cardiovascular disease prevention, including the development and piloting of a novel conceptual framework for categorising public health nutrition policies. Methods We conducted a mapping exercise to identify and categorise public health nutrition policy actions across 30 European cou…
Resilience among asylum seekers living with HIV
Asylum seekers living with HIV in the UK show immense resilience. However, their isolation means they are often unable to deal with their treatment in the asylum system, with negative consequences for their perceived health and wellbeing
PS15 Policy Actions to Reduce Dietary Salt Intake
Background A range of policies aim to reduce salt intake; however, their relative effects remain unclear. We undertook a narrative synthesis of existing evidence to determine the most promising approaches. Methods We searched for systematic reviews, then empirical and modelling studies of salt reduction policies in six electronic databases. Reference lists of retrieved articles were screened and key informants were asked to identify further revie…
The Use of Research Evidence in Public Health Decision Making Processes
Prioritising public health
It is vital that the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of all new and existing policies and services affecting public health are measured in terms of their impact on the social determinants of health and health inequalities. Researchers have a vital role to play in providing the complex evidence required to compare different models of prevention and service delivery. Those working in public health must develop leadership to raise the profile o…
Barriers to intersectoral working to improve health
Background The National Health Service (NHS) is undergoing dramatic changes. Currently established partnerships are thus likely to be significantly disrupted by the radical reforms outlined in the Public Health White Paper. We therefore explored the process of inter-sectoral working between public health and local authorities, in order to better understand the potential opportunities and threats associated with the proposed changes. Methods In de…
How could differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socio-economic inequalities in health? A synthesis of theories and pathways in the living environment
We conducted the first synthesis of theories on causal associations and pathways connecting degree of control in the living environment to socio-economic inequalities in health-related outcomes. We identified the main theories about how differences in 'control over destiny' could lead to socio-economic inequalities in health, and conceptualised these at three distinct explanatory levels: micro/personal; meso/community; and macro/societal. These l…
Roma populations and health inequalities
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence of “Roma health and wellbeing” as a focus of attention in European research and in policy and the possible detrimental consequences of action founded on a generic representation of “Roma health.” Design/methodology/approach Based on discussions with and research conducted by scholars who work directly with Roma communities across European regions from a wide range of academic disciplin…
Researching the health and social inequalities experienced by European Roma populations
This paper draws on the experience of two Romani and three non‐Romani scholars in knowledge production on the health and social inequalities experienced by European Roma populations. Together, we explore how we might better account for, and work against, the complex web of dynamic oppressions embedded within processes of academic knowledge production. Our aim is to encourage careful scrutiny through which sociologists of health and illness might …
I realised it weren't about spending the money. It's about doing something together
Community initiatives aiming to reduce health inequalities are increasingly common in health policy. Though diverse many such initiatives aim to support residents of disadvantaged places to exercise greater collective control over decisions/actions that affect their lives - which research suggests is an important determinant of health - and some seek to achieve this by giving residents control over a budget. Informed by theoretical work in which …
Capturing complexity in the evaluation of a major area-based initiative in community empowerment
In recent years, there has been growing emphasis on the need to develop ways of capturing 'complexity' in the evaluation of health initiatives in order to produce better evidence about 'how' and under what conditions such interventions work. Used alone, conventional methods of evaluation that attempt to reduce intervention processes and outcomes to a small number of discrete and finite variables, are typically not well suited to this task. Among …
Reframing “participation” and “inclusion” in public health policy and practice to address health inequalities
There is a need for greater conceptual clarity in place-based initiatives that seek to give residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods more control over action to address the social determinants of health inequalities at a local level. In this article, we address this issue as it relates to the concepts of participation and inclusion. We draw on qualitative data generated during the first phase of the Communities in Control Study, a longitudinal m…
Systematic review
Objective To review: the process of public health policy-making; variations in the extent of research evidence used; other influencing factors; and barriers to and facilitators of the use of research evidence. Design Systematic review of empirical studies reporting data on policy-making in public health. Data Sources Databases searched: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, PsychInfo, CINAHL, The Social Science Citation Index, The Science Citation Index, The Arts and…
P54 Might financial cuts drive NHS decision-making “downstream”? A qualitative study of factors affecting public health decision-making
Objectives To explore the process of public health decision-making, and the role of research evidence, taking cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a case study. Design In-depth interview study. Setting and Participants Over 30 public health policy-makers and planners in CVD, including: commissioners, public health consultants, data analysts, librarians and knowledge managers at Primary Care Trusts; public health academics; lead consultant cardiologist…
The Use of Research Evidence in Public Health Decision Making Processes
Prioritising public health
It is vital that the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of all new and existing policies and services affecting public health are measured in terms of their impact on the social determinants of health and health inequalities. Researchers have a vital role to play in providing the complex evidence required to compare different models of prevention and service delivery. Those working in public health must develop leadership to raise the profile o…
Barriers to intersectoral working to improve health
Background The National Health Service (NHS) is undergoing dramatic changes. Currently established partnerships are thus likely to be significantly disrupted by the radical reforms outlined in the Public Health White Paper. We therefore explored the process of inter-sectoral working between public health and local authorities, in order to better understand the potential opportunities and threats associated with the proposed changes. Methods In de…
O5-5.2 Evidence-based public health policy
Introduction The potential power of public health policies emphasises the need for sound decision-making. Using research evidence to underpin public health policy has been strongly promoted; however, its implementation has not been straightforward. This study explores the use of research evidence in public health decision-making. Methods We systematically reviewed empirical studies on the use of research evidence in public health policy (18 studi…
Resilience among asylum seekers living with HIV
Asylum seekers living with HIV in the UK show immense resilience. However, their isolation means they are often unable to deal with their treatment in the asylum system, with negative consequences for their perceived health and wellbeing
PS15 Policy Actions to Reduce Dietary Salt Intake
Background A range of policies aim to reduce salt intake; however, their relative effects remain unclear. We undertook a narrative synthesis of existing evidence to determine the most promising approaches. Methods We searched for systematic reviews, then empirical and modelling studies of salt reduction policies in six electronic databases. Reference lists of retrieved articles were screened and key informants were asked to identify further revie…
PP35 How are Health Inequalities Affected by Control in the Living Environment? A Critical Review of Theory
Background Recent public health strategies aim to increase the control, or power, that individuals, communities and populations have over decisions that affect their daily lives. While systematic reviews have revealed the health impact of measures to improve control in the work environment, evidence from the ‘living environment’ has not been synthesised. We conducted a critical review of proposed theories and causal pathways linking control in th…
PP11 Using the “4Ps” Marketing Approach to Evaluate Health-Promoting Food Policies. A Rapid Scoping Review
Background Population-wide policy actions to promote a healthy diet offer potentially large benefits in terms of reducing the non-communicable disease burden. However, there are wide ranges of potential options, with varying effectiveness. In order to make sense of this diversity, we conducted a rapid scoping review and tested a simple conceptual framework for categorising policies based on the marketing “4Ps” approach (Price, Product, Place and …
PP09 Assessing the Potential Effect of Healthy Eating Policy Interventions on Socioeconomic Inequalities
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main contributors to health inequalities. CVD primary prevention includes potentially powerful interventions to promote healthy eating. However, might some dietary interventions actually widen the heath gap between rich and poor, thus leading to intervention-generated inequalities? Objective To systematically review the evidence for differential socio-economic effects associated with healthy e…
OP11 Missing Women? The Health Inequalities Impact of Low Control and Gender Discrimination
Background Increasing control and empowerment are considered central to efforts to reduce health inequalities. From our critical review of theory, low control or powerlessness emerged as a potentially fundamental mechanism underlying social inequalities in health. Amartya Sen’s theories of “freedom” and “capabilities” to live a long and healthy life have been influential: focusing attention on the health consequences of a lack of freedom for wome…
OP15 Identifying the most effective public health nutrition policies
Background EuroHeart 2 is a European research programme led by the European Heart Network and European Society of Cardiology ( http://www.ehnheart.org/euroheart-ii.html ). One aspect of the project aimed to identify the most effective public health nutrition policies, in order to inform future evidence-based strategies to promote cardiovascular health. We interviewed senior policy-makers and thought-leaders in 14 diverse EU countries to elicit th…
OP16 Utilising a Novel Framework to Assess Public Health Nutrition Actions Across 30 European Countries (EuroHeart II Project)
Background EuroHeart II is a European programme designed to inform cardiovascular health strategies across Europe. Our project examines the role of food policies in cardiovascular disease prevention, including the development and piloting of a novel conceptual framework for categorising public health nutrition policies. Methods We conducted a mapping exercise to identify and categorise public health nutrition policy actions across 30 European cou…
Smorgasbord or symphony? Assessing public health nutrition policies across 30 European countries using a novel framework
Public health nutrition policies in Europe appear diverse, dynamic, complex and bewildering. The "4 Ps" framework potentially offers a structured and comprehensive categorisation. Encouragingly, the majority of European countries are engaged in activities intended to increase consumption of healthy food and decrease the intake of "junk" food and sugary drinks. Leading countries include Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Hungary, Portugal and perh…
Are interventions to promote healthy eating equally effective for all? Systematic review of socioeconomic inequalities in impact
Interventions categorised by a "6 Ps" framework show differential effects on healthy eating outcomes by SEP. "Upstream" interventions categorised as "Price" appeared to decrease inequalities, and "downstream" "Person" interventions, especially dietary counselling seemed to increase inequalities. However the vast majority of studies identified did not explore differential effects by SEP. Interventions aimed at improving population health should be…
Using photovoice methods to explore older people's perceptions of respect and social inclusion in cities
Urbanisation and population ageing have contributed to recognise cities as important settings for healthy ageing. This paper considers opportunities, challenges and solutions of using photovoice methods for exploring how individuals perceive their cities and the contribution this makes to their health. It focuses on one aspect of older people's experiences - respect and social inclusion, in the context of a community-based participatory research.…
Putting context centre stage
It is now widely accepted that context matters in evaluations of the health inequalities impact of community-based social initiatives. Systems thinking offers a lens for uncovering the dynamic relationship between such initiatives and their social contexts. However, there are very few examples that show how a systems approach can be applied in practice and what kinds of evidence are produced when this happens. In this paper, we use data from ethn…
How could differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socio-economic inequalities in health? A synthesis of theories and pathways in the living environment
We conducted the first synthesis of theories on causal associations and pathways connecting degree of control in the living environment to socio-economic inequalities in health-related outcomes. We identified the main theories about how differences in 'control over destiny' could lead to socio-economic inequalities in health, and conceptualised these at three distinct explanatory levels: micro/personal; meso/community; and macro/societal. These l…
The health impacts of women's low control in their living environment
Reframing “participation” and “inclusion” in public health policy and practice to address health inequalities
There is a need for greater conceptual clarity in place-based initiatives that seek to give residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods more control over action to address the social determinants of health inequalities at a local level. In this article, we address this issue as it relates to the concepts of participation and inclusion. We draw on qualitative data generated during the first phase of the Communities in Control Study, a longitudinal m…
What is the evidence that differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socioeconomic inequalities in health? A theory-led systematic review of high-quality longitudinal studies on pathways in the liv…
Roma populations and health inequalities
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence of “Roma health and wellbeing” as a focus of attention in European research and in policy and the possible detrimental consequences of action founded on a generic representation of “Roma health.” Design/methodology/approach Based on discussions with and research conducted by scholars who work directly with Roma communities across European regions from a wide range of academic disciplin…
Capturing complexity in the evaluation of a major area-based initiative in community empowerment
In recent years, there has been growing emphasis on the need to develop ways of capturing 'complexity' in the evaluation of health initiatives in order to produce better evidence about 'how' and under what conditions such interventions work. Used alone, conventional methods of evaluation that attempt to reduce intervention processes and outcomes to a small number of discrete and finite variables, are typically not well suited to this task. Among …
How is Respect and Social Inclusion Conceptualised by Older Adults in an Aspiring Age-Friendly City? A Photovoice Study in the North-West of England
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Age-Friendly Cities (AFC) Guide classifies key characteristics of an AFC according to eight domains. Whilst much age-friendly practice and research have focused on domains of the physical environment, those related to the social environment have received less attention. Using a Photovoice methodology within a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, our study draws on photographs, interviews and …
Medicine (20 works) · Political science (19 works) · Nursing (17 works) · Public health (15 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology (10 works) · Public relations (10 works) · Economics (9 works) · Economic growth (8 works) · Gerontology (8 works)