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Health Research Policy and Systems
Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Guide

SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 16: Using research evidence in balancing the pros and cons of policies

Authors: Andrew D Oxman, John N Lavis, Atle Fretheim, Simon Lewin

Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems | Special Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

This article is part of a series written for people responsible for making decisions about health policies and programmes and for those who support these decision makers.
In this article, we address the use of evidence to inform judgements about the balance between the pros and cons of policy and programme options. We suggest five questions that can be considered when making these judgements. These are: 1. What are the options that are being compared? 2. What are the most important potential outcomes of the options being compared? 3. What is the best estimate of the impact of the options being compared for each important outcome? 4. How confident can policymakers and others be in the estimated impacts? 5. Is a formal economic model likely to facilitate decision making?
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Metadata
Title
SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 16: Using research evidence in balancing the pros and cons of policies
Authors
Andrew D Oxman
John N Lavis
Atle Fretheim
Simon Lewin
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health Research Policy and Systems / Issue Special Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-7-S1-S16

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