Building the Science of Evidence-Informed Prevention Policy: A Multi-level Model for Supporting Substance Misuse Prevention

Project Summary If science is to inform policy and ultimately improve public health, the field needs an effective strategy for directly supporting policymakers’ use of research evidence. However, our field lacks an evidence-based model designed for supporting state policymakers’ use of prevention research in crafting legislation. Instead, we continue to largely rely on ad hoc strategies for translating prevention research (e.g., opportunistic outreach and responding to policymakers’ requests if or when they are made). Accordingly, we propose an experimental study of a formal, theory-based approach for supporting policymakers’ use of scientific evidence that does not involve lobbying— the Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC) Model. The RPC fosters productive engagement between the policy and research communities by implementing systematic capacity building and outreach strategies. Previous experimental work on the RPC demonstrated the ability of this model to increase engagement between researchers and policymakers, increase policymakers’ value for research evidence, and improve their use of scientific evidence in their policymaking.1 We propose a state-level randomized controlled trial of the RPC (N = 30 state legislatures) that will evaluate the model’s ability to improve engagement between state policymakers’ and the prevention science community, build policymakers’ awareness and value of substance misuse prevention research, and subsequently their use of research evidence throughout the policymaking process. To accomplish this, we will test three specific research aims. Aim 1 will assess historical and current use of research evidence in state legislation pertaining to substance misuse prevention. This will involve qualitative coding of bills introduced by state legislatures over the last five years. Aim 2 will compare the frequency and quality of engagement with prevention researchers between the intervention and control conditions. Additionally, we will assess how the RPC model influences policymakers’ value and awareness of substance misuse prevention over time using a validated survey across three time points. Aim 3 will evaluate the effectiveness of the RPC on legislators’ actual use of research in legislation by observing and quantifying changes in legislator behavior related to research use. Improving the use of scientific information in policymaking can reduce population-level substance misuse by increasing the availability of evidence-based prevention programs and policies.