Power of information: Closing the gap between research and policy

States play an increasing role in setting U.S. health policy. A survey of 292 state government policymakers finds that officials are overwhelmed by the volume of information they receive and have a strong preference for information that is concise and more relevant to current debates. Younger officials are more likely to use electronic information, while older policymakers prefer printed material. Organizations of government professionals are trusted sources of information, and state agencies are a key source of data and information. Policymakers expressed a strong desire for tools to help them identify research on specific topics.