Finding evidence-based
approaches
Where do We Stand?
Assessing
your
Community
Establishing
Goals &
Objectives;
Planning for
Evaluation
Finding
Evidence
Selecting Best
Fitting EBAs
Adapting
Implementing &
Evaluating
Session Objectives
• Know where to:
• Find evidence-based approaches (programs,
policies, & strategies)
• Look for additional resources to assist in
planning and implementing an intervention
• Apply criteria to evaluate sources of
evidence-based approaches
Activity: Using the Community Guide and
RTIPs
Sources of Evidence Based
Approaches
Key criteria for selecting which sources of
evidence to use
• What types of evidence and other information are they
disseminating?
• Who created the resource? Do they have profit or
ideological motives that might bias their presentation
of evidence?
• How current is the information?
• What are their methods for reviewing the literature or
reviewing intervention programs?
• What criteria do they use to rate their evidence?
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http://www.thecommunityguide.org/
• Sponsor: Taskforce for Preventive Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Health topics: Multiple
• Resources available: Strategies
(Recommendations from systematic reviews)
Other Sources of Evidence-based Strategies
(Systematic Review Recommendations)
Cochrane Public Health Group
http://www.ph.cochrane.org/
Center for Reviews and Dissemination
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/index.htm
Campbell Collaboration
http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/prevenix.htm
Using what works for health
http://www.countyhealthrankings.org
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Using What Works for Health
http://www.countyhealthrankings.org
14
• What works for health methods shot
What Works for Health evidence rating
criteria
• Scientifically Supported: It works -- numerous studies
or systematic review(s) with strong positive results;
no substantial contradictory evidence.
• Some Evidence: It has been shown to work more
than once -- research suggests positive impacts
overall...
• Expert Opinion: Recommended by credible groups;
research evidence limited…
• Insufficient Evidence:
• Mixed Evidence:
• Evidence of Ineffectiveness:
• http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/policies
/access-places-physical-activity
http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips
• Sponsor: NCI and SAMHSA
• Health topics: Multiple
• Resources available: Evidence-based programs
Packaged policy interventions from research and
practice from Center TRT
Center TRT Disseminates Three Types of Intervention
Programs
Research-tested interventions – interventions for which
efficacy/effectiveness has been tested in one or more research
studies...
Practice-tested interventions – practitioner-developed
interventions that show promise based on their underlying
theory, use of evidence-based strategies, and potential for
public health impact (RE-AIM) based on evaluation findings…
Emerging interventions - practitioner-developed interventions
that show promise, but lack evaluation data.
Example of Practice-Tested
North Carolina Prevention Partners’ Pricing Initiative
• Hospitals increased availability & visibility of healthy
foods and beverages
• Decreased prices of healthy items/increased prices of
less healthy items in cafeterias
• In one hospital, pre-post data showed positive change
in purchasing
www.countertobacco.org
• Funders: Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and NIH
• Health topics: Tobacco Marketing at the
Point of Sale
• Resources available: Policy Guidance
Take-home points
• There are no agreed upon criteria for assessing
an evidence-based intervention. Organizations
vary on criteria used.
• There are numerous sources of evidence-based
interventions, but it’s buyer beware!
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Group Activity – Looking for an EBA
1. Pull out Sources of Intervention Strategies and Programs from folder
2. Identify a source with EBIs to address you prioritized problem.
3. Ask yourself the following:
• Is the site disseminating recommendations or
packaged programs?
• Who created the site? Are they credible and relatively
unbiased?
• Is the information on the website current?
Can you tell when it was last updated?
• What methods are they using to review evidence?
• What criteria they using to rate the evidence?
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But what do I do when there are no
evidence-based strategies or
packaged programs that match my
practice problem?
41
Search the Literature for Relevant
Research
• What does the research evidence suggest
are the best strategies for addressing the
problem in populations and settings similar
to ours?
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Questions?