A comprehensive review of evidence-informed health policymaking was recently launched in BioMed Central's journal Health Research Policy and Systems. This free supplement, entitled 'SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed health policymaking' provides an essential reference and set of tools that can be used by those involved in finding and using research evidence to support evidence-informed health policymaking. The series addresses four broad areas, including: supporting evidence-informed policymaking; identifying needs for research evidence; finding and assessing research evidence; and, going from research evidence to decisions
The supplement contains 17 support tools from renowned experts in the field. The articles are structured using a set of questions that can help to guide the use of research evidence to inform health policy decisions.
The tools were developed by the SUPporting POlicy relevant Reviews and Trials (SUPPORT) project, an international collaboration funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework with partners in Africa, South America, Europe and North America.
According to Andy Oxman of the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, who led the project, "In this series of articles, our aim is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of health policies through the better use of research evidence to inform decisions about health systems."
Notes to Editors:
1. The articles can be found at the journal's website: http://www.health-policy-systems.com/supplements/7/S1
2. Health Research Policy and Systems (http://www.health-policy-systems.com/) is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, online journal that aims to provide a platform for the global research community to share their views, findings, insights and successes.
3. BioMed Central (www.biomedcentral.com) is an STM (Science, Technology and Medicine) publisher which has pioneered the open access publishing model. All peer-reviewed research articles published by BioMed Central are made immediately and freely accessible online, and are licensed to allow redistribution and reuse. BioMed Central is part of Springer Science+Business Media, a leading global publisher in the STM sector.
Journal
Health Research Policy and Systems