Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: In 2014, a large systematic map found that relational factors were amongst the most frequently reported facilitators of evidence use in policy. Since then, there has been a growth in evidence-use initiatives and research, many of which have attempted to address relational factors. In this timely updated map, we describe the current state of research about which factors influence evidence use in policy. A search strategy combining ‘evidence’, ‘barriers and facilitators’ and ‘policy/policymakers’ was used to identify studies across 15 electronic databases between 2012 and 2022. Studies were screened for those that include empirical data about evidence use in policy. Data extraction enabled descriptive analyses characterising studies in terms of focus, topic area, setting, and types of factors influencing use. Two thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine studies were included, a 20-fold increase over 10 years. The most commonly reported factors influencing use were the relevance of evidence, and then organisational (resources, skills, personnel and managerial support). A large number of studies reported on evidence-use interventions ( n = 877) of which 379 were evaluations. Findings may indicate a shift towards relational and systemic thinking about evidence use. There appears to be a growing recognition of the resourcing, work, time, and workforce required to embed evidence use within and between organisations. With this huge growth in the literature, particularly in new evidence use interventions being tested across policy sectors, continued review and mobilisation is necessary to effectively inform the design and implementation of evidence use interventions and research.
Authors: Kathryn Oliver, Joel Malin, K. L. Akerlof, Elizabeth Day, Sean Grant, Elizabeth McGill, Theo Lorenc, Philip Martin, Joseph Lam, Lesley E. Williamson, Melissa Mouthaan, Virginia Castellano Pleguezuelo, Syka Iqbal, Léa Jaques, Moriasi Nyanchoka, Julius Cesar Alejandre, Laura Lane, Erik Persson, Hannah Forde, Tara Lamont, Elaine Toomey, Ramisha Rahman, Harith Farooq, Sarah Nájera Espinosa, Matthew Hepplewhite, Axelle Cordier, Peter Jones, Clare FitzGerald, Laura von Klinggraeff, Jane Falconer
Institutions: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Miami University, George Mason University, University of Oregon, University of York, Ikerbasque, Basque Centre for Climate Change, University College London, King's College London, Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques, University of Bradford, University of Edinburgh, City St George's, University of London, University of Oxford, University of Southampton, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, University of Copenhagen, Lúrio University
Language: English
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,890
OpenAlex ID: W7212395656