
EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH
ADMINISTRATIVE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES (A-EBPs)
Although considerable literature is available on the development and adoption of evidence-based guidelines and barriers to their implementation, the evidence base specifıc to public health administration is less developed. The table below identifies administrative evidence-based practices (A-EBPs), which are agency-level structures and activities that are positively associated with performance measures.
Domain and Evidence-Based Practice
Training
Skills and background of leaders
Participatory decisionmaking
Support of innovation and new methods
Vision and mission of partnerships
Description
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In-service training in quality improvement or evidence-based decision making
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Skills-based training (e.g., organization and systems change)
-
Multidisciplinary in-service training
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Training aligned with essential services and usual job responsibilities
-
Access and use of knowledge brokers
-
Use of process-improvement activities (e.g., accreditation, performance assessment)
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Face-to-face meetings to share lessons, compare experiences, and provide updates
-
Leadership skill development
-
Leadership experience
-
Quality of leadership
-
Leadership influence
-
Manager competency to manage change
-
Management team
-
Leaders and middle managers seek and incorporate employee input
-
Nonhierarchical decision-making
-
Leadership/management and employee training in evidence-based decision-making that includes new methods
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Employees perceiving that management supports innovation
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Conscious creation of environments conducive to innovation
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Organizational capacity to be in both business-as-usual state and state of exploration
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Clear vision and aligned mission of partnerships
-
Capacity building over time
Time frame for modification
Short
Short
Short to medium
Medium
Short
Access to technical assistance
Leadership
Values and expectations of leaders
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Leadership support of quality improvement, national performance standards, evidence-based decision-making, innovation, accreditation
-
Intend to hire well-educated, experienced staff including specialists (e.g., lab scientists, epidemiologists, environmental health professionals, financial systems experts)
Short to medium
Workforce Development
Organizational Climate and Culture
Short
-
Communication flow
-
Tailored messaging for evidence-based decision-making 360-degree employee performance reviews geared to evidence-based practices (with extensive feedback)
-
Ready access to high-quality information
Access and free flow of information
Short to medium
Learning orientation
-
Shared employee perceptions
-
Project management teams that encourage communication and collaboration
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Presence of multidisciplinary, diverse management teams
Relationships and Partnerships
Interorganizational relationships
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Build and/or enhance partnerships with schools, hospitals, community organizations, social services, private businesses, universities, law enforcement
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Cooperative agreements with state and/or local health departments; quality improvement
Medium
Medium
Medium
-
Outcomes-based contracting
-
Resources allocated for quality improvement, evidence-based decision making, innovation, information access, training and implementation
-
Diverse funding sources
Allocation and expenditure of resources
Financial
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
Resource Briefs
Tools