Harkness Project Title: How do Canadian Research Organizations Transfer Research Knowledge to Decision-Makers?
Biography at time of Fellowship: John N. Lavis, a 2001–02 Canadian Associate of The Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellows Program, holds the Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Transfer and Uptake, and is an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis at McMaster University. Lavis is also a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health and a Liberty Health Scholar at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. His principal research interests include knowledge transfer and uptake in public policy-making environments; the social determinants of health; especially the links between labour-market experiences and health; the funding, organization, and delivery of health care; and disability compensation systems. He coordinates a course at McMaster on the social determinants of health and he co-directs the Educational Initiative in Health Economics and Health Policy Analysis for Health Professionals in Training with Professor Greg Stoddart at McMaster. He supervises the Knowledge Transfer Programme of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis and he is the inaugural chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Health Policy and Systems Management grants review Committee. He is the president of Fife House Foundation, a not-for-profit agency that provides 90 percent of the supportive housing available to people living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto, and he chairs the Task Force for Secure and Affordable Housing for People Living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Lavis holds an M.D. from Queen's University, an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Project: Lavis explored the extent to which Canadian research organizations transfer research knowledge to decision-makers, and how this aligns with current evidence on effective knowledge transfer. He surveyed the directors of applied research organizations in Canada to assess their current practices in knowledge transfer to decision-makers, including on: what is transferred, to whom and by whom, how is it transferred, and with what effects.
Career Activity Since Fellowship
- Adjunct Professor of Global Health, Harvard School of Public Health (2012-present)
- Director, McMaster Health Forum (2009-present)
- Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, (2007-present)
- Director, Program in Policy Decision-Making
- Associate Director, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA)
- Research Associate, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2007
- Canadian Health Services Research Foundation Family Award, 2007
- Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Transfer and Exchange, 2001 and reappointment in 2006
- Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 2003
Current Position: Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University (Updated 1/2014)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Harkness-Related Publications
Adam T, Moat KA, Ghaffar A, Lavis JN. Towards a better understanding of the nomenclature used in information-packaging efforts to support evidence-informed policymaking in low- and middle-income countries. Implement Sci. 2014.
Moat KA, Lavis JN, Clancy SJ, El-Jardali F, Pantoja T; KnowledgeTranslation Platform Evaluation study team. Evidence briefs and deliberative dialogues: perceptions and intentions to act on what was learnt. Bull World Health Organ. 2014.
Moat KA, Lavis JN, Abelson J. How contexts and issues influence the use of policy-relevant research syntheses: a critical interpretive synthesis. Milbank Q. 2013.
Wilson MG, Moat KA, Lavis JN. The global stock of research evidence relevant to health systems policymaking. Health Res Policy Syst. 2013.
Ellen ME, Léon G, Bouchard G, Lavis JN, Ouimet M, Grimshaw JM. What supports do health system organizations have in place to facilitate evidence-informed decision-making? A qualitative study. Implement Sci. 2013.
Burchett HE, Dobrow MJ, Lavis JN, Mayhew SH. The applicability and transferability of public health research from one setting to another: a survey of maternal health researchers. Glob Health Promot. 2013.
Léon G, Ouimet M, Lavis JN, Grimshaw J, Gagnon MP. Assessing availability of scientific journals, databases, and health library services in Canadian health ministries: a cross-sectional study. Implement Sci. 2013.
Moat KA, Lavis JN, Wilson MG, Røttingen JA, Bärnighausen T. Twelve myths about systematic reviews for health system policymaking rebutted. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2013.
Wilson MG, Lavis JN, Guta A. Community-based organizations in the health sector: a scoping review. Health Res Policy Syst. 2012.
Adam T, Hsu J, de Savigny D, Lavis JN, Røttingen JA, Bennett S. Evaluating health systems strengthening interventions in low-income and middle-income countries: are we asking the right questions? Health Policy Plan. 2012.
Murthy L, Shepperd S, Clarke MJ, Garner SE, Lavis JN, Perrier L, Roberts NW, Straus SE. Interventions to improve the use of systematic reviews in decision-making by health system managers, policy makers and clinicians. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012.
Boyko JA, Lavis JN, Abelson J, Dobbins M, Carter N. Deliberative dialogues as a mechanism for knowledge translation and exchange in health systems decision-making. Soc Sci Med. 2012.
Neves J, Lavis JN, Ranson MK. A scoping review about conference objectives and evaluative practices: how do we get more out of them? Health Res Policy Syst. 2012.
Burchett HE, Mayhew SH, Lavis JN, Dobrow MJ. When can research from one setting be useful in another? Understanding perceptions of the applicability and transferability of research. Health Promot Int. 2013.
Moat KA, Lavis JN. 10 best resources for ... evidence-informed health policy making. Health Policy Plan. 2013.
McLeod CB, Lavis JN, MacNab YC, Hertzman C. Unemployment and mortality: a comparative study of Germany and the United States. Am J Public Health. 2012.
Grimshaw JM, Eccles MP, Lavis JN, Hill SJ, Squires JE. Knowledge translation of research findings. Implement Sci. 2012.
Lavis JN, Røttingen JA, Bosch-Capblanch X, Atun R, El-Jardali F, Gilson L, Lewin S, Oliver S, Ongolo-Zogo P, Haines A. Guidance for evidence-informed policies about health systems: linking guidance development to policy development. PLoS Med. 2012.
El-Jardali F, Lavis JN, Ataya N, Jamal D. Use of health systems and policy research evidence in the health policymaking in eastern Mediterranean countries: views and practices of researchers. Implement Sci. 2012.
Straus SE, Brouwers M, Johnson D, Lavis JN, Légaré F, Majumdar SR, McKibbon KA, Sales AE, Stacey D, Klein G, Grimshaw J; KT Canada Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR). Core competencies in the science and practice of knowledge translation: description of a Canadian strategic training initiative. Implement Sci. 2011.
Moat KA, Lavis JN. Supporting the use of Cochrane Reviews in health policy and management decision-making: Health Systems Evidence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011.
Boyko JA, Lavis JN, Dobbins M, Souza NM. Reliability of a tool for measuring theory of planned behaviour constructs for use in evaluating research use in policymaking. Health Res Policy Syst. 2011.
Ellen ME, Lavis JN, Ouimet M, Grimshaw J, Bédard PO. Determining research knowledge infrastructure for healthcare systems: a qualitative study. Implement Sci. 2011.
Wilson MG, Rourke SB, Lavis JN, Bacon J, Travers R. Community capacity to acquire, assess, adapt, and apply research evidence: a survey of Ontario's HIV/AIDS sector. Implement Sci. 2011.
Wilson MG, Lavis JN, Grimshaw JM, Haynes RB, Bekele T, Rourke SB. Effects of an evidence service on community-based AIDS service organizations' use of research evidence: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Implement Sci. 2011.
Lavis JN, Wilson MG, Grimshaw JM, Haynes RB, Hanna S, Raina P, Gruen R,Ouimet M. Effects of an evidence service on health-system policy makers' use of research evidence: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Implement Sci. 2011.
Lavis JN, Wilson MG, Grimshaw JM, Haynes RB, Ouimet M, Raina P, Gruen RL, Graham ID. Supporting the use of health technology assessments in policy making about health systems. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2010.
Hoffman SJ, Lavis JN, Bennett S. The Use of Research Evidence in Two International Organizations' Recommendations about Health Systems. Health Policy. 2009.
Lavis JN, Guindon GE, Cameron D, Boupha B, Dejman M, Osei EJ, Sadana R; Research to Policy and Practice Study Team. Bridging the gaps between research, policy and practice in low- and middle-income countries: a survey of researchers. CMAJ. 2010.
Guindon GE, Lavis JN, Becerra-Posada F, Malek-Afzali H, Shi G, Yesudian CA, Hoffman SJ; Research to Policy and Practice Study Team. Bridging the gaps between research, policy and practice in low- and middle-income countries: a survey of health care providers. CMAJ. 2010.
Lavis JN, Oxman AD, Grimshaw J, Johansen M, Boyko JA, Lewin S, Fretheim A. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 7: Finding systematic reviews. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Fretheim A, Munabi-Babigumira S, Oxman AD, Lavis JN, Lewin S. SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed policymaking in health 6: Using research evidence to address how an option will be implemented. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Lewin S, Oxman AD, Lavis JN, Fretheim A. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 8: Deciding how much confidence to place in a systematic review. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Lavis JN, Wilson MG, Oxman AD, Grimshaw J, Lewin S, Fretheim A. SUPPORT Toolsfor evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 5: Using research evidence to frame options to address a problem. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009..
Lavis JN, Wilson MG, Oxman AD, Lewin S, Fretheim A. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 4: Using research evidence to clarify a problem. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Lavis JN, Oxman AD, Lewin S, Fretheim A. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 3: Setting priorities for supporting evidence-informed policymaking. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009 Dec 16;7 Suppl 1:S3. Oxman AD, Vandvik PO, Lavis JN, Fretheim A, Lewin S. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 2: Improving how your organization supports the use of research evidence to inform policymaking. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Fretheim A, Oxman AD, Lavis JN, Lewin S. SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed policymaking in health 18: Planning monitoring and evaluation of policies. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009 Dec 16;7 Suppl 1:S18. Oxman AD, Lavis JN, Fretheim A, Lewin S. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 17: Dealing with insufficient research evidence. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Oxman AD, Lavis JN, Fretheim A, Lewin S. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 16: Using research evidence in balancing the pros and cons of policies. Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Lavis JN, Oxman AD, Lewin S, Fretheim A. SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP). Health Res Policy Syst. 2009.
Lavis JN. How can we support the use of systematic reviews in policymaking? PLoS Med. 2009.
Lavis JN, Oxman AD, Moynihan R, Paulsen EJ. Evidence-informed health policy 3 - interviews with the directors of organizations that support the use of research evidence. Implement Sci. 2008.
Lavis JN, Paulsen EJ, Oxman AD, Moynihan R. Evidence-informed health policy 2 - survey of organizations that support the use of research evidence. Implement Sci. 2008.
Lavis JN, Oxman AD, Moynihan R, Paulsen EJ. Evidence-informed health policy 1 - synthesis of findings from a multi-method study of organizations that support the use of research evidence. Implement Sci. 2008.
Gruen RL, Elliott JH, Nolan ML, Lawton PD, Parkhill A, McLaren CJ, Lavis JN. Sustainability science: an integrated approach for health-programme planning. Lancet. 2008.
Chopra M, Munro S, Lavis JN, Vist G, Bennett S. Effects of policy options forhuman resources for health: an analysis of systematic reviews. Lancet. 2008.
Oxman AD, Lavis JN, Fretheim A. Use of evidence in WHO recommendations. World Hosp Health Serv. 2007.
McLennan JD, Lavis JN. What is the evidence for parenting interventions offered in a Canadian community? Can J Public Health. 2006.
Lavis J, Gruen R, Davies H, Walshe K, Farquhar CM. Working Within and Beyond the Cochrane Collaboration to Make Systematic Reviews More Useful to Healthcare Managers and Policymakers. Healthcare Policy. 2006.
Collins P, Abelson J, Pyman H, Lavis J. Are We Expecting Too Much From Print Media: An Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of the 2002 Canadian Healthcare Reform Debate. Social Science and Medicine. 2006.
Lavis J, Davies HTO, Oxman A, Denis J-L, Golden-Biddle K, Ferlie E. Towards Systematic Reviews That Inform Health Care Management and Policy-Making. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy. 2005.
Abelson J, Mendelsohn M, Lavis JN, Morgan SG, Forest P-G, Swinton M. A 2002 Survey Shows That Canadians’ Attitudes Towards Health System Changes Are in a State of Flux. Health Affairs. 2004.
Lavis JN, Ross SE, McLeod CB, Gildiner A. Measuring the Impact of Health Research. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy. 2003.
Lavis JN, Robertson D, Woodside JM, McLeod CB, Abelson J, and the Knowledge Transfer Study Group. How Can Research Organizations More Effectively Transfer Research Knowledge to Decision Makers? The Milbank Quarterly. 2003.
Lavis JN, Ross SE, Hurley JE, Hohenadel JM, Stoddart GL, Woodward CA, Abelson J. Examining the Role of Health Services Research in Public Policymaking.The Milbank Quarterly. 2002.
Lavis JN, Robertson D, Woodside J, McLeod CB, Abelson J, Bartram J, Clark KM, Dobbins M, Abernathy T, Gold I. How Do Canadian Research Organizations Transfer Research Knowledge To Decision-Makers? Report submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. 2002.
Hutchison BG, Abelson J, Lavis JN. Primary Care Reform in Canada: So Much Innovation, So Little Change. Health Affairs. 2001. (May/June 2001 with associated correspondence November/December 2001).