The influence of public opinion on public health policy-making in Georgia George D. Bakhturidze 1,2, MD, MPhil; Nana T. Peikrishvili 2, MSc, MPhil; Maurice B. Mittelmark 1, PhD 1. Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen. Bergen, Norway 2. Georgian Health Promotion and Education Foundation. Tbilisi, Georgia Kermanshah, Iran

Study aim To learn what degree do policy makers take Georgian public opinion into account in their decision making around key public health issues

Methods This study used a collective case study methodology. The data were obtained through 12 semi-structured interviews during the period from April to May 2013, with three respondents each from the Georgian Ministry of Health (MOH case), the Parliament of Georgia (MOP case), Opinion Research Agencies (ORA case) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO case). Thematic network analysis (TNA) was used to analyze the interview data.

Methods Identified basic themes without regard to sources (cases or respondents); Identified organizing themes, and global themes, also without regard to sources; Constructed the graphical network diagram colour-coded according to the cases (sources) that generated the themes; Identified themes with cases. create network representations of the relationship among basic, organizing and global themes

Results Illicit Drugs -PO was always negative - Only small minority supports marijuana decriminalization Family Planning - FP and sex education is stigmatized - Main hindered force for FP is PO

Results Road Safety - PO on compulsory use of seat belts was not supportive before Public support increased sufficiently after enforcement became a reality Water Quality - Public demands quality drinking water, proper waste management and permanent supply

Results Tobacco Control - PO is supportive - Tobacco Industry presents misleading information that public mood is negative - MOP counts that smokers’ reaction will be strongly negative PS. More than 80% of population supports strong tobacco control measures and enforcements (Bakhturidze et al 2012, 2013).

Conclusion - Public support to resolve main public health problems is very high - Governmental agencies have no good practice of use public opinion in policy or decision making processes, which is a one of the fundaments of the Ottawa Charter and tests the democratic development of particular countries.

Public’s role in health policy making as perceived by respondents The public does, indeed, have opinions Public opinion is ignored, or manipulated Public opinion not influential in tobacco control C A B 7. The public is considered ‘dangerously’ informed 4. United in support for sanitation & quality of drinking water 3. Positive to seatbelts after enforcement started 2. Negative on sex education & family planning 1. Positive to control of illegal drugs 6. Public opinion is wrongly ignored 9. Media are used to manipulate the public 5. Little interest in involving the public 10. Public opinion data are rarely collected 11. Public opinion favors strong control 12. Donors support public opinion 13. Public opinion can be, and mostly is, safely ignored Figure 1. Thematic network analysis results. 8. Public opinion polls are used to manipulate the public

Thank You!