SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed health policymaking

A comprehensive review of evidence-informed health policymaking was recently launched in BioMed Central's journal Health Research Policy and Systems. This free supplement, entitled 'SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed health policymaking' provides an essential reference and set of tools that can be used by those involved in finding and using research evidence to support evidence-informed health policymaking. The series addresses four broad areas, including: supporting evidence-informed policymaking; identifying needs for research evidence; finding and assessing research evidence; and, going from research evidence to decisions

The supplement contains 17 support tools from renowned experts in the field. The articles are structured using a set of questions that can help to guide the use of research evidence to inform health policy decisions.

The tools were developed by the SUPporting POlicy relevant Reviews and Trials (SUPPORT) project, an international collaboration funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework with partners in Africa, South America, Europe and North America.

According to Andy Oxman of the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, who led the project, "In this series of articles, our aim is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of health policies through the better use of research evidence to inform decisions about health systems."