Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41656285›Full record

ArticleSystematic reviews2026

Guidelines and recommendations for preparing policy briefs from research into policy-making in health sciences: a scoping review.

Marie Derstroff, Luisa Schmidt, Tim Mathes, Eni Shehu, Charlotte Kugler, Martin Bujard, Helena Ludwig-Walz, Dawid Pieper

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Systematic reviews, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Marie DerstroffFaculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School (Theodor Fontane, Institute for Health Services and Health System Research, Rüdersdorf, Germany. Marie.derstroff@mhb-fontane.de.
Luisa SchmidtDepartment of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Tim MathesInstitute for Quality and Efficacy in Health Care, Department of Health Economics, Cologne, Germany.
Eni ShehuFaculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School (Theodor Fontane, Institute for Health Services and Health System Research, Rüdersdorf, Germany.
Charlotte KuglerFaculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School (Theodor Fontane, Institute for Health Services and Health System Research, Rüdersdorf, Germany.
Martin BujardFederal Institute for Population Research (BiB), Wiesbaden, Germany.
Helena Ludwig-WalzFederal Institute for Population Research (BiB), Wiesbaden, Germany.
Dawid PieperFaculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School (Theodor Fontane, Institute for Health Services and Health System Research, Rüdersdorf, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis scoping review aims to provide an overview of documents describing the preparation of policy briefs from academic health science researchers for policy-making.

introductionNot considering research evidence sufficiently may engender inefficient resource allocation and an inadequate response to public issues. Policy briefs are aimed at bridging this gap and assisting policy-makers in making evidence-informed decisions, yet they lack standardization.

methodsA scoping review following JBI methodology was conducted. We aimed at summarizing recommendations and guidelines for policy briefs from health science academia, focusing on formal criteria and contextual considerations. We included documents describing the preparation of policy briefs from academia to policy-making, as well as those that are usable for various addressees. Documents needed to be published in German, English, French, or Spanish and available in full text. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, LIVIVO (SOMED), and additional sources up to December 01, 2025, resulting in 67 included records out of 1395 scientific publications and 81 grey literature sources.

resultsThe structure of policy briefs varied, with layout and language being the only consistent elements. Guidelines exhibited diversity in length, target groups, references, and timing, with discernible tendencies. Contextual considerations also varied across articles, indicating inconsistency in definitions and frequencies.

conclusionVariability in policy brief design guidance poses challenges for both researchers and end-users, potentially hindering effective evidence communication. Enhanced efforts of co-creation, shared minimum standards, and evaluation may mitigate these challenges. Still, complete standardization may be unattainable, necessitating flexibility to cater to diverse audience needs, priorities, and perspectives. Transparent acknowledgement of such situations is crucial. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/HTJMW.

Indexed as

Guidelines as TopicHealth PolicyPolicy MakingHumansHealth policyKnowledge translationPolicy briefPolicy-makingPublic health

Identifiers

PMID41656285
PMCPMC12983617

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.