Dissemination of Evidence-based Practice Center Reports

21 June 2005 | Volume 142 Issue 12 Part 2 | Pages 1120-1125

The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) program within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides detailed evidence reports for partner organizations that they can translate into activities that improve patient care. A review of these dissemination activities provides a rich opportunity to understand how to create more successful linkages between best evidence and best practice.

On the basis of interviews with EPC directors, AHRQ staff, and representatives of public and private users of EPC reports, we summarize the variety of efforts to disseminate the work of the EPCs. We also identify a case example of a successful dissemination of an EPC report. Experience to date reinforces the importance of creating close ties between researchers and the policymakers, clinicians, and other decision makers who use EPC evidence reports; developing a conceptual framework to guide the process; and establishing the resource foundation for the entire effort.

Author and Article Information

From Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: Authors of this paper have received funding for Evidence-based Practice Center reports.

Requests for Single Reprints: David B. Matchar, MD, Center for Clinical Health Policy Research, Duke University, 2200 West Main Street, Suite 220, Durham, NC 27705; e-mail, david.matchar{at}duke.edu.

Current Author Addresses: Drs. Matchar, McCrory, Patwardhan, Samsa, Kulasingam, and Gray and Ms. Liu: Center for Clinical Health Policy Research, Duke University, 2200 West Main Street, Suite 220, Durham, NC 27705.

Ms. Westermann-Clark: 30 Peabody Terrace #21, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Dr. Myers: Clinical & Epidemiologic Research Division, Duke University, 244 Baker House, Durham, NC 27710.

Dr. Sarria-Santamera: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029 Madrid.

Ms. Lee: PharmaNet, 1001 Winstead Drive, Cary, NC 27513