SPECIAL FEATURES:METHODS Utility of Qualitative Research Findings in Evidence-Based Public Health Practice Susan M.Jack ABSTRACT Epidemiological data, derived from quantitative studies, provide important information about the causes, prevalence, risk correlates, treatment and prevention of diseases, and health issues at a population level. However, public health issues are complex in nature and quantitative research findings are insufficient to support practitioners and administrators in making evidence-informed decisions. Upshur’s Synthetic Model of Evidence (2001) situates qualitative research findings as a credible source of evidence for public health practice. This article answers the following questions: (1) where does qualitative research fit within the paradigm of evidence-based practice and (2) how can qualitative research be used by public health professionals? Strategies for using qualitative research findings instrumentally, conceptually, and symbolically are identified by applying Estabrooks’ (1999) conceptual structure of research utilization. Different research utilization strategies are illustrated through the use of research examples from the field of work on intimate partner violence against women. Recommendations for qualitative researchers disseminating findings and for public health practitioners/policy makers considering the use of qualitative findings as evidence to inform decisions are provided. Key words: evidence-based nursing, public health nursing research, qualitative research, research utilization. For many practitioners, the term ‘‘evidence-based’’ practice implies that the evidence required for in- forming clinical and policy decisions is based on em- pirical or quantitative research findings and, in particular, results from the ‘‘preeminent gold stand- ards’’ of systematic reviews and randomized control- led trials (Rycroft-Malone et al., 2004). Given that public health practice has been traditionally informed by the discipline of epidemiology, emphasis has been placed on using quantitative methods, appropriately so, to address questions of prevalence, effectiveness, and causation. However, with increasing understand- ing that contextual factors influence how successfully programs or policies are carried out, there is an im- portant role for qualitative research methods and findings within public health. This article addresses the following questions: (1) where does qualitative re- search fit within the paradigm of evidence-based pub- lic health and (2) how can qualitative research be used by public health nurses and policy makers? To situate qualitative research findings as a credible source of research evidence for public health practice, Upshur’s Synthetic Model of Evidence (2001) will be described. Solutions to the question of qualitative research utility will be identified through the application of Esta- brooks’ (1999) conceptual structure of research utili- zation. Specific qualitative research examples from the field of work on intimate partner violence (IPV) against women, an emerging public health priority, will be used to illustrate the different concepts. Defining Evidence Evidence has been defined as ‘‘an observation, fact, or organized body of information offered to support or justify inferences or beliefs in the demonstration of some proposition or matter at issue’’ (Upshur, 2001, p. 7). However, with the emergence of evidence-based practice paradigms, there has been significant debate about what type of information actually constitutes Susan M. Jack, R.N., Ph.D., is Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Correspondence to: Susan Jack, HSC 2J30 School of Nursing, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5. E-mail: jacksm@mcmaster.ca 277 Public Health Nursing Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 277–283 0737-1209/r 2006, The Authors Journal Compilation r 2006, Blackwell Publishing, Inc.