Evidence-informed decision making in occupational health and safety
Decisions to (de-)implement occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions are not always supported by the best available scientific evidence. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how researchers can support OSH decision makers in using the best available evidence when (de-)implementing OSH interventions. In the first part of the thesis, we looked at the quality of evidence from research studies that can inform policy makers’ and other stakeholders’ decisions. In the second part of the thesis, we analysed how OSH decision makers can make evidence-informed decisions from both a population and individual perspective. The thesis consists of five studies: two Cochrane systematic reviews, an analysis of the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in OSH, the implementation of the evidence-to-decision framework for policy decisions regarding (de-)implementing return to work coordination interventions, and the development and feasibility study of a decision aid for healthcare workers on the use of double gloves to prevent needle-stick injuries. We found moderate to very low-quality evidence from OSH intervention studies. Most trials do not fulfil the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) which negatively impacts the risk of bias assessments, and thus the quality of the evidence in OSH. The evidence-to-decision framework for policy makers and a decision-aid for workers enabled a systematic and transparent approach to decision making that is informed by the best available evidence for all relevant decision-making criteria, such as effectiveness, costs, and personal values.
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107162027/cover.jpg
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168897/Front_matter.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168899/Chapter_1.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168901/Chapter_2.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168903/Chapter_3.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168905/Chapter_4.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168907/Chapter_5.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168911/Chapter_7.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168913/Chapter_8.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168915/Chapter_9.pdf
https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/107168917/Back_matter.pdf
https://dare.uva.nl/personal/pure/en/publications/evidenceinformed-decision-making-in-occupational-health-and-safety