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3. How do you summarize findings from the scientific literature using a health equity lens?

After searching the scientific literature using search engines, guidelines, or databases, you can summarize the findings and order the results to assist your agency, team or partnership in moving forward and adapting the information to your local community.

Use these resources to ensure you are searching and tracking scientific literature using a health equity lens:

Resources

The success of evidence based decision making rests on the ability to find trustworthy and high-quality evidence.  Searching scientific literature is easier with modern technologies for finding valuable research and studies quickly and efficiently. Using a health equity lens when searching scientific literature provides a better understanding of the impacts and outcomes of specific programs, projects, and policies on different populations.

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Note: It is important when reviewing the literature using a health equity lens to consider that there may be research that has not been published in peer-reviewed resources.  You may find alternative sources of evidence as articles, reports, presentations and more.

2. Why start searching with scientific literature using a health equity lens?

Scientific literature is the major place to communicate the results of scientific research and studies.  Scientific literature is found in journals, magazines and newsletters, internet, books, scientific meetings, and government reports. Scientific literature can be original research, review articles, and clinical or community health guidelines, such as the Guide to Community Preventive Services. (Citation: Scientific Literature, #2)

1. What is scientific literature? Where do you find scientific literature?

“ ..the amount and quality of evidence for public health practice and policy varies greatly for different types of interventions and across domains. There are many areas where evidence is available to inform us about what works. In such cases it is critical to invest in interventions that offer real value. Yet in other important areas our knowledge of which interventions are effective, singly or in combination with others, is limited or absent. In these situations, trade-offs should be weighed between the need to address a specific health objective and the need to use scarce resources on interventions of clear effectiveness.”

-- Healthy People 2020

(Citation: Scientific Literature, #1)

Using a health equity lens when searching, summarizing, and interpreting the scientific literature provides a better understanding of the impacts and outcomes of specific programs, projects, and policies on different populations. (Citation: Scientific Literature, #5)  This allows your agency, team, organization, or partnership a better chance of making evidence-based decisions when selecting interventions that will improve he the health and well-being in your community and among at-risk populations.

Resources

Learn More about

Searching the Literature for Health Equity

Go back to Searching the Literature for Health Equity Core Questions

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