Pauline Vaillancourt Rosenau, PhD and Stephen H. Linder, PhD. Department of Management and Policy Sciences, School of Public Health - University of Texas - Health Science Center, 1200 Herman Pressler, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, (713) 500-9491, prosenau@sph.uth.tmc.edu

Understanding the relationship between evidence and policy is critical across the entire range of health administration/public health topics, from education to the environment. This paper systematically clarifies these relationships and illustrates the conditions where evidence and policy may be constructively linked and where this is not the case. It is not unusual for evidence to be ignored by policy-makers. However if health services researchers better understand the policy-makers’ dilemmas and priorities, and if they are adept at communicating with them, there is an increased likelihood that evidence will be taken seriously in the policy process. For example, researchers must make quick and accurate assessments of interest alignments, incentives, and constraints in specific policy arenas related to their research. Training to do this is largely absent from public health educational programs. Timing is critical. The “teachable moment” and the “window of opportunity” are two examples. Patience, practice, and participation are keys to the researcher – practitioner relationship. Finally, research results are often ambiguous. It sometimes tells a story about a state of affairs in need of policy-maker’s attention that is not unique; interpretation and proposed action implications may vary depending normative predispositions. Sometimes evidence is dubious and to encourage policy-makers to view it seriously and act on it would be irresponsible. Even when the research results are objective and clear, what to do about it may not be entirely self-evident. Where evidence is mixed or contradictory, policy implications are confused and policy-makers are justified in ignoring it or moving incrementally. The prerequisites for effective application of research to policy are indicated with examples from public health.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this presentation participants in this session will be able to articulate how health services researchers can maximize the policy impact of their work. They will be able to assess whether they, themselves are effective in communicating their results to relevant policy-makers. Dissemination skills will be emphasized. Participants will learn to evaluate the policy import of their own research from the policy-makers point of view and assess the probability that their results will be actually implemented in the policy arena.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Leadership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.