Barriers and Facilitators of the Use of Evidence by Policy makers: an updated systematic review

Introduction: The gap between research and practice or policy is often described as a problem. To identify new factors, barriers and facilitators of the use of evidence by policy makers, and assess the state of research in this area, a previous systematic review (Innvaer 2002) [1] was updated.Methods: We searched multiple online databases including Medline, PsychInfo, Embase, SocSci Abstracts and Cochrane (Search dates July 2000 - September 2012). Studies were included if they were primary research or systematic reviews about barriers and facilitators of the use of evidence in policy. Included studies were coded to extract data on methods, topic, focus, results and population. Results were described using frequencies and narrative synthesis.Findings: 146 new studies were identified by the update review, of which over half were published since 2010. Thirteen systematic reviews were included. Although still primarily in the health field, studies were also drawn from criminal justice, traffic policy, drug policy, and partnership working. The most frequently reported barriers to use of evidence were poor access to good quality relevant research, and lack of timely research output. The most frequently reported facilitators were collaboration between researchers and policy-makers, improved relationships and skills. There is an increasing amount of research into new models of knowledge transfer and evaluations of interventions such as knowledge brokerage.Discussion: Although the methods and approach to looking for barriers and facilitators to the use of evidence has spread beyond the health field and into more countries, the main barriers and facilitators remained the same as in the earlier review. Relationships between policy and research actors appear to be the most important factors in influencing the use of research evidence. Few studies define policy, evidence or policy maker or provide empirical data about policy processes.Statements:1. Assumptions that policy makers do not use evidence and that more research should be used are not critically addressed2. More empirical data about policy, management and governance processes (who, what and how) are needed.