evidenceinformed

Evidenceinformed describes decisions, policies, or practices that are guided by the best available evidence while also considering context, values, and resources. It emphasizes integrating empirical findings with professional judgment and stakeholder perspectives rather than relying on any single source of information.

Core elements typically include a systematic search for relevant evidence, critical appraisal of study quality, and synthesis of findings. In addition, evidenceinformed decision-making accounts for local context, feasibility, costs, and potential implementation barriers. It also acknowledges uncertainty and supports ongoing monitoring and adaptation as new information emerges.

Applications span multiple fields, including health care, public health, social services, and education. It is used to develop or update guidelines, programs, and policies, and to inform evaluation and quality improvement efforts. Collaboration among researchers, practitioners, patients or community members, and decision-makers is common in practice, helping ensure that decisions reflect both evidence and lived experience.

Relationship to other concepts is important: while related to evidence-based practice, evidenceinformed approaches place greater emphasis on context, values, and practicality. Challenges include variability in evidence quality across domains, differing standards, time constraints, and the need for effective knowledge translation to implement findings in real-world settings.