Power of Information: Closing the Gap Between Research and Policy

When it Comes to Conveying Complex Information to Busy Policy Makers, a Picture is Truly Worth a Thousand Words

March/April 2002
Health Affairs , Vol. 21, No. 2
Richard Sorian, Terry Baugh

tates play an increasing role in setting U.S. health policy. A survey of 292 state government policy makers finds that officials are overwhelmed by the volume of information they receive and have a strong preference for information that is concise and more relevant to current debates. Younger officials are more likely to use electronic information, while older policy makers prefer printed material. Organizations of government professionals are trusted sources of information, and state agencies are a key source of data and information. Policy makers expressed a strong desire for tools to help them identify research on specific topics.

Free access to this article is available at the Health Affairs Web site.