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Health Research Policy and Systems
Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Letter to the Editor

Subjective judgements – no more, no less? A response to Malterud, Bjelland and Elvbakken

Author: Atle Fretheim

Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

In 2016, three researchers published a report where they concluded that systematic reviews from my institution, the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, are of little use for health policy decision-making. Based on their reading of the conclusion section in 14 reports, they argue that our systematic reviews are not useful due to their lack of clear and conclusive findings. I have reviewed the same documents and I beg to differ. Unfortunately, the description of their methodological approach is both sparse and difficult to grasp, making it very hard to understand how they arrived at their conclusions.
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Malterud K, Bjelland AK, Elvbakken KT. Evidence-based medicine - an appropriate tool for evidence-based health policy? A case study from Norway. Health Res Policy Syst. 2016;14:15.CrossRef
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Metadata
Title
Subjective judgements – no more, no less? A response to Malterud, Bjelland and Elvbakken
Author
Atle Fretheim
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health Research Policy and Systems / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0386-x

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