title: Researchers and policymakers: travelers in parallel universes.
abstract: Public policy, in the form of laws, guidelines, and regulations, has a profound effect on our daily lives and health status. Reasons for a lack of consistent and systematic translation of public health research into public policy is examined, including differences in decision-making processes, poor timing, ambiguous findings, the need to balance objectivity and advocacy, personal demands of the process, information overload, lack of relevant data, and the mismatch of randomized thinking with nonrandom problems. Next, several actions are suggested that should help bridge the chasm between science and policy, such as greater involvement in the process, better understanding of political decision making, building of effective teams, and development of political champions. Scientists are obligated not only to discover new knowledge but also to ensure that discoveries are applied to improve health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Prevention Research Center, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. brownson@slu.edu
authors.forename: Ross C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brownson
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: Reid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making