Factors of the innovation, organization, environment, and individual that predict the influence five systematic reviews had on public health decisions

Objective: To determine the extent to which systematic reviews of public he alth interventions influenced public health decisions and which factors wer e associated with influencing these decisions. Methods: This cross-sectional follow-up survey evaluated the use of five sy stematic reviews in public health decision making. Independent variables in cluded characteristics of the innovation, organization, environment, and in dividual. Primary data were collected using a telephone survey and a self-a dministered organizational demographics questionnaire. Public health decisi on makers in all 41 public health units in Ontario were invited to particip ate in the study, Multiple linear regression analyses on the five program d ecisions were conducted. Results:The systematic reviews were perceived as having the greatest amount of influence on decisions related to program justification and program pla nning, and the least influence on program evaluation decisions. The greater the perception that one's organization valued the use of research evidence for decision making and that ongoing training in the critical appraisal of research literature was provided, the greater the perception of the influe nce the systematic review had on public health decisions. Conclusions: Organizational characteristics are important predictors of the use of systematic reviews in public health decision making. Future dissemi nation strategies need to promote the value of using systematic reviews for program decision making as well as promote ongoing training in critical ap praisal among intended users in Ontario.