When good evidence is not enough: The role of context in bowel cancer screening policy in New Zealand

Authors

Kathy Flitcroft, University of Sydney
James Gillespie, University of Sydney
Stacy Carter, University of SydneyFollow
Lyndal Trevena, University of Sydney
Glenn P. Salkeld, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

111584

Publication Details

Flitcroft, K. L., Gillespie, J. A., Carter, S. M., Trevena, L. J. & Salkeld, G. P. (2011). When good evidence is not enough: The role of context in bowel cancer screening policy in New Zealand. Evidence and Policy: a journal of research, debate and practice, 7 (3), 307-326.

Abstract

Bowel cancer is a serious health problem in developed countries. Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ) reviewed the same randomised controlled trial evidence on the benefits and harms of population-based bowel cancer screening. Yet only NZ, with the highest age standardised rate of bowel cancer mortality, decided against introducing a bowel cancer screening programme. This case study of policy making explores the unique resource, ethical, institutional and political environments in which the evidence was considered. It highlights the centrality of context in assessing the relative worth of evidence in policy making and raises questions about the suitability of knowledge utilisation strategies.