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- Home
- Repositories
  - The Registry of Methods and Tools for Evidence-Informed Decision Making
  - Methods and Tools for Organizational Change
  - Health Evidence™
  - Repository of Public Health Evidence Syntheses
- Training
  - Videos
  - Evidence-Informed Decision-Making Competence Measure
  - Learning Needs Assessment for Evidence-Informed Decision Making
  - Online Learning Modules
  - University-Certified Learning Module Program
  - Webinars
  - Workshops
  - Knowledge Broker Mentoring Program
    
    KB Mentoring Impact
  - Knowledge Broker Virtual Office Hours
- Tools
  - Evidence-Informed Decision Making in Public Health
  - 6S Search Pyramid
  - Anatomy of a Systematic Review
  - Rapid Review Guidebook
  - EvSyS: The Evidence Synthesis Selection Tool for Decision Makers
  - Algorithm for Classifying the Study Design of Primary Studies
  - Quality Assessment of Community Evidence (QACE) Tools
  - Resource Planning and Assessment (RPA) Tool
  - Assessing Applicability and Transferability of Evidence Tool (A&T Tool)
  - Core Competency Tool
  - Mental Health Resources for Healthcare Workers
- Rapid Evidence Service
- Impact
  - Evidence-Informed Decision Making Casebook
  - Impact of the Knowledge Broker Mentoring Program
  - Why It Matters
  - NCCMT Publications
  - User Stories
  - Outreach
  - KT Student Awards
- About Us
  - About the NCCMT
  - Our Funder
  - Our Host Institution
  - The National Collaborating Centres
  - Team Members
  - Advisory Group Members
  - Students
  - COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END)
  - Contact Us

SUPPORT Tools for Evidence-Informed Health Policymaking (STP) 4: Using Research Evidence to Clarify a Problem

Lavis, J. N., Wilson, M. G., Oxman, A. D., Lewin, S., & Fretheim, A. (2009). SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 4: Using research evidence to clarify a problem. Health Research Policy and Systems, 7 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-7-S1-S4

Canadian

Example available

Journal article

En français

Description

This tool helps users identify a problem and articulate the issue’s characteristics based on the best available evidence. Creating a searchable question to find research evidence on the issue is critical when developing a briefing note.

Steps for Using Method/Tool

The tool guides users through five questions:

What is the problem?
How did the problem come to attention and has this process influenced the likelihood of it being addressed?
What indicators can be used or collected to establish the magnitude of the problem and to measure progress in addressing it?
What comparisons can be made to establish the magnitude of the problem and to measure progress in addressing it?
How can a problem be framed (or described) in a way that will motivate different groups?

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.