Toward a Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Model of Health Care Research Use

Abstract

Numerous health care disciplines have noted that insufficient research evidence is used in clinical practice. This situation denies optimal care to patients and potentially increases system costs. A practical theoretical framework for policymakers intent on promoting an evidence-based approach to the transfer and use of research findings in clinical practice settings is presented. The Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) has a comprehensive interdisciplinary focus and consists of six key elements: the practice environment, potential adopters of the evidence, the evidence-based innovation, research transfer strategies, the evidence adoption, and health-related and other outcomes. Model elements and the interactive relationships among them are described.