Finding evidence-based approaches

Evidence-based approaches (EBAs), including programs, strategies and policies, have been proven effective by research but remain underutilized by public health practitioners at community and state levels. This is in part because practitioners lack the knowledge and skills required to locate, select adapt, implement, and evaluate EBAs, particularly EBAs that target change at the levels of policy, systems, and environments. This session defines types of evidence and the benefits of using evidence-based approaches (EBAs).  It covers reliable sources of evidence-based programs, policies, and strategies (e.g., Community Guide to Preventive Services, Research Tested Intervention Programs, UNC Center for Training and Research Translation, Counter Tobacco). The session will orient participants to the different types of information available to guide the selection and implementation of EBAs and will also present criteria that practitioners can apply to evaluate the sources of that information such timeliness, potential for bias, criteria the resource developers use to determine when EBAs are ready for dissemination, and the information they provide about evidence of the EBA's effectiveness and potential for public health impact. The session will be highly interactive, providing participants with activities that allow them to gain hands on experience locating and evaluating sources of evidence-based approaches.