Are decisions by purchasers in an English health district evidence-based?

Objectives: First, to investigate how many decisions by one commissioning body (district health authority) were based on evidence of effectiveness from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs. Second, to investigate whether other types of quantitative studies and qualitative studies could be used as evidence to support commissioning decisions.

Method: From three planning documents (for 1997-1998), all statements were identified.