Evidence-Based public health policy

Abstract

There is a growing call for use of evidence-based decision making in public health policy; however, the nature of what constitutes appropriate evidence for policy making is contested. Some consider only systematic reviews to offer a suitable evidence base, but increasingly evidence-informed policy is regarded as appropriate, taking into account colloquial and contextual evidence. Models of research utilization relevant for policy formulation have been offered, but there remain many obstacles preventing research evidence of what works from being taken up in the policy process, which is essentially political. The different characteristics between the two worlds of researchers and policy makers, including timeframes, interests, and priorities, may contribute to these gaps, preventing research outcomes from connecting with decision makers. Strategies for improving the evidence base of public health policies are reviewed. © 2008 Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.