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Table 2 Main purpose for use of information

From: Type, frequency and purpose of information used to inform public health policy and program decision-making

Main purpose for use of information type

Internal data and report N (%)

Policy, legislation and legal information N (%)

Medical/Clinical evidence N (%)

Experience, expertise and advice N (%)

Academic research evidence N (%)

Online information N (%)

Instrumental

192 (53.3)

182 (53.1)

128 (56.1)

148 (44.8)

44 (30.3)

96 (33.0)

Conceptual

107 (30.8)

99 (28.9)

53 (23.2)

118 (35.8)

73 (50.3)

149 (51.2)

Symbolic

48 (13.8)

62 (18.1)

47 (20.6)

64 (19.4)

28 (19.3)

46 (15.8)

Total use (1684)

347

343

228

330

145

291

  1. Pearson Chi square = χ2 (10, n = 1684) = 83.52, p = 0.000.
  2. Note: % given is percentage of column total.