Making a Reality of Evidence-Based Practice: Some Lessons from the Diffusion of Innovations

The 1990s saw an upsurge of interest in using research evidence to inform public sector policy and practice. Yet, if such evidence is to have impact, ways must be found to move beyond the simple dissemination of research findings. Strategies need to be developed which encourage the uptake and utilisation of evidence. In exploring ways in which evidence-based practice might be achieved, the lessons gleaned from an examination of the literature on the diffusion of innovations are presented. The implications of these lessons for ongoing organizational learning are also outlined.