Citation

Lorenc T, Oliver K. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2014; 68(3): 288-290.

Affiliation

Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, , London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/jech-2013-203118

PMID

24336237

Abstract

Public health interventions may have a range of adverse effects. However, there is limited guidance as to how evaluations should address the possibility of adverse effects. This discussion paper briefly presents a framework for thinking about the potential harms of public health interventions, focusing on the following categories: direct harms; psychological harms; equity harms; group and social harms; and opportunity harms. We conclude that the possibility of adverse effects needs to be taken into account by those implementing and evaluating interventions, and requires a broad perspective on the potential impacts of public health strategies.

Language: en