Abstract
Background: Health planning is essential for effective public
health interventions and optimal resource utilisation. The Portuguese
General Directorate of Health has a long history of developing health
plans and programmes, for communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and
their determinants. This study aimed to review the current 24 programmes
and assess the adequacy of their structure and content.
Methods: A document analysis was conducted using a programme
assessment matrix developed by the research group. Two independent
researchers evaluated each programme, scoring items as ”absent,”
”present,” or ”not applicable.” A quantitative analysis was employed to
analyse compliance scores between priority and non-priority programmes
and across the year of publication. Results: Of the 24 existing
programmes, 16 complied with at least 75% of the predefined items.
Priority programmes had an 83% global compliance score, surpassing
non-priority programmes (with 33% of compliance). While the healthy
eating programme achieved 100% compliance, the programme on sexual and
reproductive scored the lowest (19%). The item least commonly present
was “updated time scope”, in only 21% of the programmes. Most
recently published programmes were more likely to have a higher
compliance score (Β = 0.76, 95% CI: [0.46, 1.05]). Not all
programmes were publicly available in the same digital location.
Conclusions: There was heterogeneity in the 24 health promotion
programmes in terms of structure, content, timeliness, and
accessibility. A standardised structure could enhance their quality and
ease their interpretation and dissemination.