The objective of this presentation is to describe the process of using systematic literature reviews to impact on public health policy. In 1998, the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) began conducting systematic reviews (n=23 to date) to determine the effectiveness of public health interventions. The purposes of the project were to improve practice by providing easily accessible, reliable information about research evidence related to the effectiveness of public health interventions to practitioners, managers and policy makers and to influence future public health policy. To facilitate use of the reviews, one and two page summary statements were prepared for policy makers and managers/practitioners respectively. The final review reports and summary statements have been widely distributed in hard copy and through the Internet. In a recent updating (final document expected in March 2001) of the provincial Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines (MHPSGs) in Public Health, the relevant reviews, among other resources, were used to determine future programs. Although policy decisions are not made based on research evidence alone, the presence of these reviews meant that a summary of the literature in a variety of relevant subjects was available for the first time. Other factors such as context, perceived cost-benefit and priority of the topic are also important in policy making. The strategies used to address all of these factors through the development and dissemination of the reviews and their impact on the MHPSGs will be decribed.
Learning Objectives: This session will enable participants to: 1. Describe a process of increasing awareness of available evidence to impact on developing public health policy 2. Articulate the factors influencing policy development 3. Assess the impact of systematic literature reviews on developing policy
Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.