Translating research into practice: criteria for applying literature search results to your work

Evidence-based practices in the fields of health education and health promotion require evaluating the validity and reliability of relevant and timely research. Skills associated with effectively assessing and applying research findings are essential when researchers and practitioners are developing a new program, writing a grant, or completing a research project. This Tool outlines steps and resources with which health educators and health promotion specialists can critically appraise the literature before deciding to apply a concept or practice. It also includes descriptions of "levels of evidence" for determining level of academic rigor, and questions to guide critical appraisals of published literature and other resources for determining their relevance to the work at hand. Assessing the evidence involves two steps: synthesizing selected articles and then applying their content to a certain situation, population, or need. This Tool is intended to advance the profession by offering tips for assessing and applying the results of literature searches, which involves evaluating the quality of the articles and determining how to best put the research into practice.