Strategies for dissemination of policy research

Although there is evidence of high-quality care and cost-effective practice by certified nurse-midwives, CNMs still face many barriers to practice. Outcomes must be documented and disseminated more widely so that policy makers will be convinced that restrictions to CNM practice must be removed. The author identifies three obstacles to policy-related research dissemination: lack of cumulative data, lack of relevance to specific issues, and lack of power. To overcome these obstacles, five strategies are proposed to promote a wider dissemination of policy-related research results. CNMs must use these strategies to promote nurse-midwifery to the general public, government officials, interest groups, and policy makers.