Policy analysis provides a framework to understand various competing positions on an issue. These strategies have specific designs and methods that help clinicians examine issues that are not amenable to research. If these approaches are not appropriate for solving the specific clinical problem, it is important to examine other clinical data that might exist. For example, when questions relate to nosocomial infections the best data source may be the infection control department. If questions relate to quality of care, the quality management department may track infection information.
People often forget about information their institutions can provide.
If data are reliable and valid, they may provide helpful answers to infection or other clinical questions. Not long ago, blood was considered sterile. No one would have believed that blood and body fluids could be highly infectious with blood-borne diseases. Now clinicians know to never handle blood or body fluids without gloves. Often we rely on others' clinical expertise when the question has no answer.