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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 3/2012

01-06-2012 | Original Article

Use of evidence in local public health work in Denmark

Authors: Maja Larsen, Gabriel Gulis, Kjeld Møller Pedersen

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Objective

The aim was to investigate how and on which level evidence is used in policy processes related to local public health work in Denmark.

Method

A survey was carried out in municipalities in Denmark (n = 98, response rate 81%) with health managers as respondents.

Results

A large variation in understanding of the concept of evidence was found. Less than half of the health managers expressed that evidence is used at a high level. The health managers’ emphasis on use of evidence, political desire for use of evidence and evidence capacity were associated with the actual use. The health managers’ educational background and size of municipalities had no association to this. A request for more use of evidence was found. Barriers for this were conditions connected to time and competences. Increased collaboration between municipalities, collaboration with research units, and guidelines for evidence use were suggested as facilitators.

Conclusion

There is a need for development and dissemination of methods for working with evidence-based public health in Danish municipalities.
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Metadata
Title
Use of evidence in local public health work in Denmark
Authors
Maja Larsen
Gabriel Gulis
Kjeld Møller Pedersen
Publication date
01-06-2012
Publisher
SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0324-y

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