title: Steps in Moving Evidence-Based Health Informatics from Theory to Practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate and promote the importance of applying a scientific process to health IT design and implementation, and of basing this on research principles and techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review by international experts linked to the IMIA Working Group on Technology Assessment and Quality Development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four approaches are presented, linking to the creation of national professional expectations, adherence to research-based standards, quality assurance approaches to ensure safety, and scientific measurement of impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Solely marketing- and aspiration-based approaches to health informatics applications are no longer ethical or acceptable when scientifically grounded evidence-based approaches are available and in use.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Science and Public Policy, Keele University, Keele, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magrabi
authors.affiliation: School of Computing, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Persephone
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Doupi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hannele
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hypponen
authors.affiliation: University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology (UMIT), Hall in Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: Elske
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ammenwerth
keywords: Evidence-Based Practice; Health Impact Assessment; Medical Informatics; Patient Safety; Policy; Standards