The appraisal of public health interventions: the use of theory

Conclusions
When knowledge and theoretical understanding are unable sufficiently to reduce doubt about the direction of effect from an intervention, decisions should be made using evidence-based medicine approaches. There are, however, many cases where the combination of robust theory, causal understanding and observation are able to provide sufficient evidence of the direction of effect from an intervention that current practice should be altered.

Source: Journal of Public Health - February 23, 2015 Category: Health Management Authors: Threlfall, A. G., Meah, S., Fischer, A. J., Cookson, R., Rutter, H., Kelly, M. P. Tags: Methods Source Type: research