Table 5 Barriers to evidence use: summary of types by theme

Information

• Irrelevance of research

• Unclear definition of evidence

• Negative perceptions of research

• Limited access to information

• Mismatch of research to complex reality

• Time required to produce research

• Excess quantity of information

Organization (Structure and Process)

• Time limitations

• Lack of internal research resources

• Human resource constraints

• Financial constraints

• Lack of data and systems

• Deficient planning processes

• Absence of processes

• Poor support from senior management

• Rigid program silos

• Competing priorities

• Poor communication

Organization (Culture)

• Decision-making

• Crisis management

• Resistance to change

• Politically influenced decisions

• Challenging the promotion of evidence use

Individual Skills

• Research literacy

• Research utilization

• Management

Interaction

• Decision-maker/researcher gap

• Mutual mistrust