Evidence-Based Public Health

Public health decisions are often based on short-term demands rather than long-term study, and policies and programs are sometimes developed from anecdotal evidence. To enhance evidence-based practice, this book provides practical guidance on how to choose, carry out, and evaluate evidence-based programs and policies in public health settings. “Evidence” is central to our notion of justice, but is equally central to public health. In public health there are four principal user groups for evidence: public health practitioners with executive and managerial responsibilities; policy makers at...

Public health decisions are often based on short-term demands rather than long-term study, and policies and programs are sometimes developed from anecdotal evidence. To enhance evidence-based practice, this book provides practical guidance on how to choose, carry out, and evaluate evidence-based programs and policies in public health settings. “Evidence” is central to our notion of justice, but is equally central to public health. In public health there are four principal user groups for evidence: public health practitioners with executive and managerial responsibilities; policy makers at local, regional, state, national, and international levels; key stakeholders including the public and interest groups; and researchers on population health issues. A step-by-step approach to compiling and assessing evidence of what works and what doesn't is explicated in this book. The book guides to how to use the results of search for evidence in developing program or policy options.