Journal article
Barriers to Evidence-Based Decision Making in Public Health: A National Survey of Chronic Disease Practitioners
Public health reports (1974), Vol.125(5), pp.736-742
2010
DOI: 10.1177/003335491012500516
PMCID: PMC2925010
PMID: 20873290
Abstract
Objective. Existing knowledge of evidence-based chronic disease prevention is not systematically disseminated or applied. This study investigated state and territorial chronic disease practitioners' self-reported barriers to evidence-based decision making (EBDM). Methods. In a nationwide survey, participants indicated the extent to which they agreed with statements reflecting four personal and five organizational barriers to EBDM. Responses were measured on a Likert scale from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating a larger barrier to EBDM. We analyzed mean levels of barriers and calculated adjusted odds ratios for barriers that were considered modifiable through interventions. Results. Overall, survey participants (n=447) reported higher scores for organizational barriers than for personal barriers. The largest reported barriers to EBDM were lack of incentives/rewards, inadequate funding, a perception of state legislators not supporting evidence-based interventions and policies, and feeling the need to be an expert on many issues. In adjusted models, women were more likely to report a lack of skills in developing evidence-based programs and in communicating with policy makers. Participants with a bachelor's degree as their highest degree were more likely than those with public health master's degrees to report lacking skills in developing evidence-based programs. Men, specialists, and individuals with doctoral degrees were all more likely to feel the need to be an expert on many issues to effectively make evidence-based decisions. Conclusions. Approaches must be developed to address organizational barriers to EBDM. Focused skills development is needed to address personal barriers, particularly for chronic disease practitioners without graduate-level training. ©2010 Association of Schools of Public Health.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Barriers to Evidence-Based Decision Making in Public Health: A National Survey of Chronic Disease Practitioners
- Creators
- Julie A Jacobs - Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO Division of Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO Department of Surgery and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MOElizabeth A Dodson - Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO Division of Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO Department of Surgery and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MOElizabeth A Baker - Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO Division of Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO Department of Surgery and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MOAnjali D Deshpande - Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO Division of Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO Department of Surgery and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MORoss C Brownson - Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO Division of Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO Department of Surgery and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Public health reports (1974), Vol.125(5), pp.736-742
- DOI
- 10.1177/003335491012500516
- PMID
- 20873290
- PMCID
- PMC2925010
- NLM abbreviation
- Public Health Rep
- ISSN
- 0033-3549
- eISSN
- 1468-2877
- Publisher
- Association of Schools of Public Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2010
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984214826202771
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