Pathways to the use of health services research in policy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To apply social science theory so as to define more explicitly the pathways that influence policy makers' use of health services research.

Methods

The analysis builds on a literature review and the author's observations. It identifies important social science concepts relevant to use of research in policy and organizational decision making. It integrates and expands upon existing frameworks to differentiate and analyze 10 pathways that can lead to the use of health services research by policy makers.

Principal findings

The process through which research is applied involves many factors, only some of which are amenable to influence by researchers. Within these constraints, multiple pathways can drive research use; no one of these is likely to perform better i

SUBMITTER: Gold M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2739019 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature