Document Type

Article

Department or Administrative Unit

Communication

Publication Date

3-3-2014

Abstract

Many accomplishments of public health have been distributed unevenly among populations. This article reviews the concepts of applying evidence-based practice in public health in the face of the varied cultures and circumstances of practice in these varied populations. Key components of EBPH include: making decisions based on the best available scientific evidence, using data and information systems systematically, applying program planning frameworks, engaging the community and practitioners in decision making, conducting sound evaluation, and disseminating what is learned. The usual application of these principles has overemphasized the scientific evidence as the starting point, whereas this review suggests engaging the community and practitioners as an equally important starting point to assess their needs, assets and circumstances, which can be facilitated with program planning frameworks and use of local assessment and surveillance data.

Comments

This article was originally published Open Access in Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

This Frontiers article is a shorter version of the following article: Green LW, Ottoson JM, García,C, Hiatt RA. Diffusion theory and knowledge dissemination, utilization and integration. Annual Review of Public Health 30: 151-174, April 2009. This article can be found here.

Journal

​Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

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