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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) 17: Dealing with insufficient research evidence

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 issue of decision making in situations in which there is insufficient evidence at hand. Policymakers often have insufficient evidence to know with certainty what the impacts of a health policy or programme option will be, but they must still make decisions. We suggest four questions that can be considered when there may be insufficient evidence to be confident about the impacts of implementing an option. These are: 1. Is there a systematic review of the impacts of the option? 2. Has inconclusive evidence been misinterpreted as evidence of no effect? 3. Is it possible to be confident about a decision despite a lack of evidence? 4. Is the option potentially harmful, ineffective or not worth the cost?
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 17: Dealing with insufficient research evidence
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-S17

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SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 15: Engaging the public in evidence-informed policymaking