1. Evidence-Based Public Health
Nancy Allee, MLS, MPH
University of Michigan
November 6, 2004

2. Objectives and Competencies
Describe three of the steps associated with evidence-based decisions in public health.
Analytic assessment: Identifies relevant and appropriate data and information sources.

3. Definitions
Evidence-based Public Health
Evidence-based
Public Health

4. Definition: Evidence-based Public Health
“the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective programs and policies in public health through application of principles of scientific reasoning, including systematic uses of data and information systems, and appropriate use of behavioral science theory and program planning models”
Source: Brownson, R.C. et al, Evidence-based public health, Oxford University Press, 2003.

5. Why is EBPH important?
provides assurance that decision making is based on scientific evidence and effective practices;
helps ensure the retrieval of up-to-date and reliable information about what works and doesn’t work for a particular public health question;
provides assurance that one’s time is being used most efficiently and productively in reviewing the “best of the best” information available on the particular public health question.

6. When is EBPH used?
when it’s important to have scientific evidence to support decision making;
when evaluating the effectiveness and cost benefits of health programs;
when establishing new health programs;
when policies are being implemented; and
when conducting literature reviews for grant projects.
Discussion: what are other examples of the importance of EBPH?

7. Steps in the EBPH Process
1) Formulating a clear question from a public health problem;
2) Searching the literature;
3) Appraising the evidence;
4) Selecting the best evidence for a public health decision;
5) Linking evidence with public health experience, knowledge, practice, and the community’s values and preferences;
6) Implementing findings in public health practice and programs;
7) Evaluating results.
Source: Jenicek, Milos and Sylvie Stachenko Evidence-based public health, community medicine, preventive care. Medical Science Monitor: 9(2): p, SR2.

8. Steps in Searching the Public Health Literature
Source: Adapted from Brownson. Evidence-based public health. Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 128.

9. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 1
Determine the public health problem and
define the question

10. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 2
Select information sources
We will be covering some of the sources that are helpful in locating EBPH materials later in this session. Information sources include databases such as PubMed and the Cochrane Library as well as a variety of websites and journals focused on this topic. Some information resources are freely available; others may require a license/subscription fee.

11. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 3
Identify key concept and terms
Discussion: what are terms that can be used to identify EBPH resources?

12. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 4
Conduct the search
Remember: health sciences librarians are a helpful resource in the search process. They are available to consult on defining and structuring the particular public health problem/question of interest, which databases to search, which search terms and strategies to use, and evaluation of materials retrieved.

13. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 5
Select documents for review

14. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 6
Abstract relevant information from the
documentation

15. Searching the Public Health Literature: Step 7
Summarize and apply the literature review

16. Appraising the Evidence & Evaluating the Results
What are the results?
Are the results valid?
How can the results be applied to public health practice and interventions?

17. Discussion: how does the evidence pyramid apply to public health research? What are its strengths and limitations?
Source: Guide to Research Methods: The Evidence Pyramid: <

18. Hierarchy of Research Designs
Category I: Evidence from at least one properly randomized controlled trial.
Category II-1: Evidence from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.
Category II-2: Evidence from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group.
Category II-3: Evidence from multiple times series with or without intervention or dramatic results in uncontrolled experiments such as the results of the introduction of penicillin treatment in the 1940s.
Category III: Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies and case reports, or reports of expert committees.
Source: Harris, R.P. et al. (2001). Current methods of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: a review of the process. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. April 20 (3 Supplement):

19. Types of Evidence
Systematic Review: critical assessment and evaluation of research that attempts to address a focused question using methods designed to reduce the likelihood of bias.
Meta-Analysis: overview that incorporates a quantitative strategy for combining the results of several studies into a single pooled or summary estimate.
Source: R.C. Brownson et al, Evidence-Based Public Health, Oxford: Oxford University, 2003.

20. Types of Evidence
Risk Assessment: systematic approach to characterizing the risks posed to individuals and populations by environmental pollutants and other potentially adverse exposures.
Source: R.C. Brownson et al, Evidence-Based Public Health, Oxford: Oxford University, 2003.

21. Types of Evidence
Decision Analysis: systematic approach to decision making under conditions of uncertainty; involves identifying all available alternatives and estimating the probabilities of potential outcomes associated with each alternative, valuing each outcome, and, on the basis of the probabilities and values, arriving at a quantitative estimate of the relative merit of the alternatives.
Source: R.C. Brownson et al, Evidence-Based Public Health, Oxford: Oxford University, 2003.

22. Types of Evidence
Economic Evaluation: comparative analysis of alternative courses of action in terms of both their costs and consequences.
Expert Panels: examination of research studies and their relevance to health conditions, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, planning and health policy, and community interventions.
Source: R.C. Brownson et al, Evidence-Based Public Health, Oxford: Oxford University, 2003.

23. Types of Evidence
Practice Guidelines: systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances; may be developed by government agencies, institutions, or by the convening of expert panels.
Source: R.C. Brownson et al, Evidence-Based Public Health, Oxford: Oxford University, 2003.

24. Best Evidence Resources
PubMed
Cochrane Collaboration & Library
TRIP Database
NICHSR
The Lamar Soutter Library: University of Massachusetts Medical School: Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Project
Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce
This is small subset of EBPH resources; consult the EBPH webliography for additional information.

25. PubMed <www.pubmed.gov>

26. Cochrane Collaboration <www.cochrane.org>

27. TRIP Database <www.tripdatabase.com/>

28. NICHSR: National Information Center on Health Services Research & Health Care Technology <

29. Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce <phpartners.org>

30. Lamar Soutter Library: EBPH Project <http://library. umassmed

31. Contact Information
Nancy Allee
University of Michigan