[Critical factors for institutionalizing evidence-informed decision-making in healthcare organizationsFactores críticos para la institucionalización de la toma de decisiones basada en la evidencia en las organizaciones de salud].

OBJECTIVE

To map critical factors for sustainable processes in the institutionalization of evidence-informed decision-making in public health organizations.

METHOD

A rapid critical interpretative synthesis was carried out based on searches conducted in databases, websites, and reference lists, with findings categorized into an appropriate framework.

RESULTS

Twenty studies were analyzed and six dimensions of critical factors were addressed: 1) governance, aimed at dealing with difficulties in the organizational context and motivation for change, together with a management style that has a long-term vision and invests in communication tools; 2) standardized routine processes, involving the characteristics of information that facilitate its incorporation into organizational practices; 3) leadership and commitment, revealing the importance of identifying and engaging leaders who can influence the adoption of evidence-informed policies in organizations; 4) resources, which correspond to the need for training programs that ensure the availability of a team with the skills needed to identify research evidence within a supportive organizational infrastructure; 5) partnerships, collective action, and support, which show the importance of involving stakeholders in collaborative processes, using exchange structures; and 6) culture, related to efforts to bring research and policy closer together, so that they are more receptive to organizational changes.

CONCLUSION

The identified critical factors can provide a reference framework to support improvement planning and the institutionalization of evidence use. The results are applicable to organizations that formulate and implement public health policies and other social policies.