Policy coordination and integration, trust, management and performance in public health related policy networks: a survey

Intersectoral policy networks may be effective in dealing with complex public health problems. Their performance is assumed to depend on network management and trust as well as on integrated public health policy (IPHP; i.e. policy coordination and integration). We studied the role of network management and trust in the realization of IPHP and network performance as well as the relation between IPHP and network performance. In 34 Dutch local policy networks, we measured the perceptions of 278 actors through a web-based survey and used regression analyses to assess the relations between policy variables. Management and trust were positively related to perceived IPHP and network performance, while IPHP was also positively related to perceived network performance. In public health, the performance of intersectoral policy networks may be improved by adequate network management, the creation of trust, and policy coordination and integration. Future research could further explore the role of specific characteristics of the network manager, like the manager’s background, relation to the other actors, and leadership style.