Welcome to the latest review on factors influencing evidence use! Please be aware this data is still being cleaned but feel free to explore. Our first paper on this is almost ready (July 2024). Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions on kathryn.oliver@lshtm.ac.uk

Abstract

Background: In 2014, a large-scale systematic review of factors related to evidence use among policy makers found that the most frequently cited facilitator to evidence use was the relationship between researchers and policy makers. Since this review, there has been a huge growth in efforts to enable evidence use, but it is not clear whether factors influencing evidence use have changed. In this timely update, we describe the current research about which  factors influence evidence use in policy. 

Methods: Using an enhanced search strategy based on the previous systematic review, 15 electronic databases were searched from June  2012 - June 2022. Included studies were full-length, empirical publications in English, focused on policy and factors influencing evidence use. Studies were coded for topic area, focus, setting, and types of factors influencing use. 

Findings: Among the 2,199 included studies, the most commonly reported factor overall was relevance to policy issues. After evidence characteristics (e.g relevance, availability) organisational  factors (i.e., resources, skills, personnel and managerial support) were the most commonly reported category relating to evidence use. There was a large growth in the number of studies reporting interventions (n = 877). 

Discussion: The relevance of evidence is the most commonly reported factor influencing use. There appears to be a growing recognition of the resourcing, work, time, and workforce required to embed evidence use within and between organisations. Learning about factors influencing evidence use should be used to design and implement evidence use interventions.