A major area of emphasis for the American College of Epidemiology (ACE) is the intersection of epidemiology and policymaking. Although the development of policies and regulations in public health relies on epidemiologic evidence, the methods for evaluating and incorporating such evidence into policymaking are not well established.  Ad hoc, time consuming, and occasionally vexing, the process of synthesizing epidemiologic and other evidence into a rational basis for policy may lend itself to crosscutting lessons learned.  Policy decisions themselves must remain a matter of case-by-case consideration, but ACE can help discern the successful elements of a more general framework.

To better understand the intersection of epidemiology and policy, the ACE Policy Committee hosted a workshop in April 2009 at Washington University in St. Louis. The invited panelists included experts from diverse disciplines with extensive policy experience. The workshop resulted in four case studies and an overview article that were published in the Annals of Epidemiology. The Policy Committee has created teaching slides that go along with each case study. In using these, please credit the American College of Epidemiology and the Annals of Epidemiology.

Brownson RC, Hartge P, Samet JM, Ness RB. From epidemiology to policy: toward more effective practice. Ann Epidemiol. 2010;Jun;20(6):409-411.

Mercer SL, Sleet DA, Elder RW, Cole KH, Shults RA, Nichols JL. Translating evidence into policy: lessons learned from the case of lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers. Ann Epidemiol. 2010;Jun;20(6):412-420. [PDF | PPT]
Widome R, Samet JM, Hiatt RA, et al. Science, prudence, and politics: the case of smoke-free indoor spaces. Ann Epidemiol. 2010;Jun;20(6):428-435. [PDF | PPT]
Brownson RC, Chriqui JF, Burgeson CR, Fisher MC, Ness RB. Translating epidemiology into policy to prevent childhood obesity: the case for promoting physical activity in school settings. Ann Epidemiol. 2010;Jun;20(6):436-444. [PDF | PPT]
Samet JM, McMichael GH, 3rd, Wilcox AJ. The use of epidemiological evidence in the compensation of veterans. Ann Epidemiol. 2010;Jun;20(6):421-427. [PDF | PPT]
Summary matrix of approaches and lessons across the four cases.
Presentation by Jonathan Samet: From Epidemiologic Evidence to Policy. Johns Hopkins Summer Institute; June 25, 2010.
Presentation by Patricia Hartge: Epidemiology in Health Policy, Regulation and Law. Presentation to the Committee on Science, Technology & Law (National Academy of Sciences); May 17, 2010