title: Assessing the usefulness of systematic reviews for policymakers in public health: A case study of overweight and obesity prevention interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systematic reviews (SRs) should include policy-relevant information in order to more readily inform policy and practice. We investigated whether SRs of overweight and obesity prevention interventions are framed in such a way that maximises their usefulness for policymakers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review of SRs of overweight and obesity prevention interventions published in 4 databases any time up to December 2014. We analysed the SRs for their usefulness to policymakers, using a coding frame developed based on literature around what policymakers want and need from systematic reviews. Systematic reviews were assessed for a) policy links and framing; b) quality assessment and conflict of interest statements: and c) discussion of policy implications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 153 SRs that met the inclusion criteria, very few (7%) had authors from policy-based organisations, 48% had funding from such organisations, and almost a third (31%) framed their introduction or aims around policy. Most (69%) discussed issues affecting generalisability of the SR findings but only a quarter (24%) discussed cost or cost-effectiveness of the intervention under investigation. Less than a third (29%) of SRs discussed the policy implications of their findings. SRs that were policy-framed were significantly more likely to discuss costs (PR=1.8, 95%CI 1.0-3.0) and policy implications (PR=2.5, 95%CI 1.5-4.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRs should discuss the policy and practice implications of their findings to maximise the influence of SRs on policy making. It is recommended that SR guidelines are updated to include generalisability and discussion of policy and practice implications as a requirement.
authors: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: james.kite@sydney.edu.au.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Kite
authors: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Devon.indig@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Devon
authors: D
authors: Indig
authors: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Seema.mihrshahi@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Seema
authors: S
authors: Mihrshahi
authors: NSW Ministry of Health, 73 Miller St, North Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: amila@doh.health.nsw.gov.au.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Milat
authors: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Adrian.bauman@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011634:Public Health; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: Obesity; Policy; Prevention; Public health; Systematic reviews