Using Research for Effective Health Promotion

"Well before evidence-based practice became fashionable beyond clinical medicine, the team at SSRU was telling us what we ought to already know - that some interventions work better than others, and that that some well-meaning attempts at health promotion, just like medicine and surgery, may do harm. This book is a must for policy makers and practitioners who want to make a real difference, and understand how research evidence can inform their practice. The book will also be an important tool for researchers, who will increasingly be using the tools of systematic review if they want to inform and influence those who deliver services." - Helen Roberts, Professor of Child Health, City University This book bridges the gap between research and practice in health promotion. It advances evidence-based health promotion by illustrating how service providers and researchers can change their working practices to benefit the public. It addresses the need for health promotion services to be grounded in empirical research, and for research to focus on issues important to those delivering as well as those receiving the services. Using Research for Effective Health Promotion advances the debate about the relative values of qualitative and experimental research in health promotion, and encourages an increased participation of service users in the development and evaluation of services. It provides health promotion specialists with time-saving tools to draw upon research quickly and critically; and is an important resource for students and professionals in fields such as public health, nursing, education, social work, and voluntary services.