1. What evidence do I need and how might I use it?
- What evidence is needed?
How can health care managers use evidence in decision making? - How can I use evidence to inform a program logic?
How does NSW Health recommend developing and using program logic?
What is a planning Framework I could use for my Public Health practice? - How can I use evidence to inform a project plan?
How does USAID use evidence to inform all stages of their project cycles?
How does Vic Health recommend making decisions about interventions (Step 7)?
2. Is the evidence I need already available?
- How can I find and use evidence?
How can I find and use evidence about local conditions?
Summary Sheet from McMaster Health Forum: Finding and using research evidence (includes links to relevant research repositories)
How can I find and use evidence about resource use and costs? - Where can I find local data?
Population level data can provide important insights to guide policy or program development. Below are links to some of the major repositories of population level data. If you work for a government agency in NSW, you can also contact relevant government departments for other data holdings.National (Australian) data
– Secure Analytics for Population Health Research and Intelligence (SAPHaRI)
– Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
– Australian Bureau of Statistics
– My Healthy Communities
– My Hospitals
– PHIDU Social Health AtlasesNew South Wales-specific data
– NSW Population Health Surveys
– Centre for Health Record Linkage
– Bureau of Health Information New South Wales
– New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
– Health Stats New South Wales
- Where can I find systematic reviews and other synthesised evidence?
The strongest source of evidence comes from systematic reviews. Below are links to some of the major repositories of synthesised evidence.
– Cochrane Collaboration – Health
– Health Systems Evidence
– Social Systems Evidence
– Health Evidence Canada – Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions
– Policy-relevant rapid reviews produced in New South Wales
– Campbell Collaboration – Crime, social welfare, disability, education etc
– Campbell Collaboration Policy Briefs
3. How can I tell if the available evidence is relevant and reliable?
- What do I need to know about critical appraisal of evidence for policy? (video)
- What might I consider when critically appraising different study types?
- How do I decide how much confidence to place in a systematic review?
- How can I assess the applicability of the findings of a systematic review to my work?
4. What are the next steps if more evidence is required?
- How do I use resources effectively to find and use evidence?
How do I set priorities for supporting evidence-informed policy making? - How do I determine what types of additional evidence are needed?
Where does the policy or program I am considering sit on the evidence pathway? - Is more evidence needed?
Is more evidence needed? - How might I make policy decisions in areas where little evidence is available?
How do I deal with insufficient research evidence?