Table 5.
Frequency distribution of instrumental, conceptual, and symbolic use by Dutch public health officials
| not applicable in my situation | minimal application in my situation | moderately applicable in my situation | applicable in my situation | strongly applicable in my situation | Total | Mean | SD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrumental use | I have recently started new concrete policy activities within my municipality | 43% | 19% | 21% | 11% | 6% | 100% | 2,17 | 1,25 |
| I have stopped certain policy activities within my municipality | 91% | 3% | 8% | X | X | 100% | 1,15 | 0,49 | |
| Conceptual use | I have a better understanding of the health problems and their causes within the RPHS region | 24% | 16% | 22% | 31% | 7% | 100% | 2,8 | 1,3 |
| I have a better understanding of the health problems and their causes within my municipality | 22% | 18% | 28% | 26% | 6% | 100% | 2,77 | 1,23 | |
| I have developed new ideas for the long term for projects or policies within my municipality or in collaboration with other organisations | 22% | 17% | 28% | 26% | 6% | 100% | 2,77 | 1,24 | |
| Sum score for conceptual use | 9.0 | 2.99 | |||||||
| Symbolic use | I have been able to discuss existing policies and activities within my municipality | 46% | 18% | 22% | 10% | 5% | 100% | 2,1 | 1,22 |
| I have been able to place my personal ideas and preferences on the policy agenda | 38% | 19% | 21% | 17% | 6% | 100% | 2,34 | 1,29 | |
| Sum score for symbolic use | 4.7 | 2.17 | |||||||
X: this response category was not mentioned