Evolutionary Patterns and Advanced Strategies of Health Policies Based on Topic Modeling and Social Network Analysis

We systematically analyze the evolutionary characteristics of China’s public health policies, focusing on the dynamic changes in policy content, stage-specific differences, and inter-subject collaborative relationships. Based on 137 public health policy documents issued by the central government, the analysis is conducted from a dual perspective: first, the BERTopic model is employed to identify prominent policy themes and track their evolutionary paths; second, Social Network Analysis (SNA) is utilized to deconstruct the collaborative mechanisms and network structural characteristics among policy actors, goals, and tools. The findings indicate: (1) Collaboration among core policy actors is close, yet inter-departmental transparency and collaborative inclusivity remain limited for certain organizations. (2) Policy goals show a diversifying trend, with the strategic focus shifting from infectious disease prevention and control to comprehensive public health services. (3) There are significant preferences in the selection of policy tools for balancing rapid emergency response with sustainable long-term health governance. These findings reveal the evolutionary laws of the public health policy system and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the policy framework and enhancing governance efficacy.