Health, 2018, 10, 502-515 http://www.scirp.org/journal/health ISSN Online: 1949-5005 ISSN Print: 1949-4998 DOI: 10.4236/health.2018.104040 Apr. 30, 2018 502 Health Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Decision-Making: Views, Attitudes and Practices of Health Policy Makers in Lusaka Province of Zambia Patricia Katowa-Mukwato 1* , Lonia Mwape 2 , Mwaba Chileshe Siwale 1 , Emmanuel Mwila Musenge 1 , Margaret Maimbolwa 3 1 Department of Basic and Clinical Nursing Sciences, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia 2 Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Ridgeway Campus, Lusaka, Zambia 3 Department of Midwifery, Women and Child Health, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia Abstract Background: The integration of relevant high-quality research evidence into the health decision and policy formulation process is a key strategy for im- proving health systems especially in developing countries such as Zambia. However, the lack of capacity to understand and value research evidence by policy and decision makers makes it difficult for them to find and use research evidence in a timely manner even when motivated to do so. This study aimed to establish the views, attitudes and practices of policy makers on the use of research evidence in policy and decision-making process in Zambia. Metho- dology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Lusaka, Zambia among selected public health decision and policy making institutions. A purposive sample of 21 consenting policy makers who were working in dif- ferent positions in the Ministry of Heal th Headquarters, Provincial and District Health Offices, Health Professions Regulatory Bodies, United Na- tions Agencies, International Non-Governmental Organizations and Uni- versity Deans from the University of Zambia participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The IBM® SPSS® Sta- tistics for Windows Version 20.0 was used for data analysis. Results: The concept of Evidence Informed Health Policy was not well understood such that only less than half (47.5%) of the participants reported having heard spe- cifically about Evidence Informed Health Policy meanwhile almost two thirds (61.9%) reported that they used research evidence in decision making and How to cite this paper: Katowa-Mukwato, P., Mwape, L., Siwale, M.C., Musenge, E.M. and Maimbolwa, M. (2018) Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Decision-Making: Views, Attitudes and Practices of Health Policy Makers in Lusaka Province of Zam- bia. Health, 10, 502-515. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2018.104040 Received: March 12, 2018 Accepted: April 27, 2018 Published: April 30, 2018 Copyright © 2018 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access