Current challenges in physical activity policy evaluation: a qualitative case study

Abstract Political scientists have advocated for a sceptical turn in policy evaluation to reflect on key problems such as the limited attention of decision makers and the insufficient use of evaluation results in the policy process (Dahler-Larsen, 2018). These reflections are relevant to public health, as scientists and international organisations have developed numerous policy evaluation tools. This study examines the use of physical activity policy evaluation tools and their potential impact on the policy process. A desk-based mapping of established international physical activity policy evaluation tools was conducted, followed by semi-structured expert interviews with international experts and government officials. While some of the interviews had a global perspective on international tools, others focused on Ireland and Germany as case studies. Preliminary results indicate a highly fragmented policy evaluation landscape: Various international tools have been developed by the World Health Organisation, the European Union and scientific networks. While some of these tools are associated with success stories of potential real-world impact, government officials in Ireland and Germany generally reported limited use. In both countries, national policy evaluation tools have been developed based on the needs of relevant political sectors. This study highlights current challenges in physical activity policy evaluation, including a potential mismatch between what established international tools offer and what policymakers use in a national context. Further research could develop strategies to better align international and national policy evaluation efforts and explore the transferability of these findings to other areas of public health. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial to improving the impact of policy evaluation, as ‘evidence-based policymaking is not like evidence-based medicine’ (Cairney & Oliver, 2017).