Developing and using policy briefs: The SURE Guides

The SURE Collaboration (2011). SURE Guides for Preparing and Using Evidence-Based Policy Briefs. Version 2.1 [updated November 2011). Available from: http://www.who.int/evidence/sure/guides/en/index.html

Description

Developed by the SURE Collaboration (Supporting the Use of Research Evidence), the SURE Guides are a comprehensive suite of tools for preparing and using policy briefs to support evidence-informed policy making. With worksheets, case examples and additional resources, the SURE Guides provide a step-by-step approach to support key points and decisions in developing policy briefs.

The SURE Guides can be used with the SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health policy making. The SUPPORT tools assist those responsible for making decisions about health policies and programs based on research evidence, and those people who support these decision-makers (see SUPPORT tool for writing and using policy briefs). The SURE Guides have been developed specifically for people who are responsible for developing policy briefs as a key process of evidence-informed policy making.

The eight SURE Guides provide background information for preparing a policy brief, address how to prepare a policy brief and outline how to use a policy brief.

In addition to the SURE Guides, the SURE Collaboration offers:

resources to prepare rapid responses to policy-makers (including a template for developing rapid responses)
evidence-based policy briefs

Steps for Using Method/Tool

The eight SURE Guides correspond to each step of writing evidence-informed policy briefs. Checklists, worksheets, case examples and other tools are provided in the Additional Resources section of each SURE Guide. Where appropriate, links to the corresponding SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed policy making are provided. The eight guides include:

1. Getting started

2. Prioritizing topics for policy briefs

Priority setting for policy making: SUPPORT Tool

3. Clarifying the problem

Defining a problem using evidence: A SUPPORT Tool

4. Deciding and describing policy options

Framing policy and program options using research evidence: A SUPPORT Tool

5. Identifying and addressing barriers to implementation

SUPPORT tool for using research evidence in policy implementation

6. Clarifying uncertainities and needs for monitoring and evaluation

Evaluation and monitoring planning for policy making: SUPPORT Tool

7. Organizing and running policy dialogues

SUPPORT tool for organizing policy dialogues

8. Informing and engaging stakeholders

Engaging the public in evidence-informed policy making: SUPPORT tool

These summaries are written by the NCCMT to condense and to provide an overview of the resources listed in the Registry of Methods and Tools and to give suggestions for their use in a public health context. For more information on individual methods and tools included in the review, please consult the authors/developers of the original resources.

We have provided the resources and links as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by McMaster University of any of the products, services or opinions of the external organizations, nor have the external organizations endorsed their resources and links as provided by McMaster University. McMaster University bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites.