Making better use of natural experimental evaluation in population health

Key messages• Natural experimental evaluations can provide useful information to guide decision making about interventions• Most discussion has focussed on what quantitative methods are suitable for natural experimental evaluationsKey definitions and concepts remain contested and there is a lack of consensus about the circumstances in which natural experimental evaluations can provide trustworthy and useful evidence for decision-making• Guidance should help identify the circumstances that make for good natural experimental evaluation, and a range of applicable methods