Scientific Evidence in Public Health Decision-Making: A Systematic Literature Review of the Past 50 Years.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scientific evidence plays a critical role in informing public health decision-making processes. However, the extent, nature, and effectiveness of its use remain uneven across contexts. Despite the increasing volume of literature on the subject, previous syntheses have often suffered from narrow thematic, temporal, or geographic scopes.

Objectives

This study undertook a comprehensive systematic literature review spanning 50 years to (i) synthesise current knowledge on the use of scientific evidence in public health decisions, (ii) identify key determinants, barriers, and enablers, (iii) evaluate implementation patterns, and (iv) propose future directions for research and practice.

Methods

We adopted the PRISMA model (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic

SUBMITTER: Kabengele Mpinga E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12469439 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature