Evidence Check: knowledge brokering to commission research reviews for policy

Evidence Check, a programme managed by the Sax Institute in Sydney, Australia, assists Australian policy makers to commission quality reviews of research to inform health policy decision making. The programme involves an iterative knowledge brokering process to formulate and refine the scope of and questions for the review. The knowledge brokering process is particularly important to overcome barriers that have traditionally impeded the use of evidence in policy decision making by facilitating the creation of linkages and exchange between policy and researchers. Feedback from policy makers and researchers indicates that the use of knowledge brokers has enhanced the value of reviews commissioned through Evidence Check