of interest. For example, participation and selection processes for committees that generate reports such as the Guide to Community Preventive Services (http://www.thecommunityguide.org/) or Common Community Measures for Obesity Prevention (http://www.activelivingresearch.org/node/11698) are highly rigorous and systematic. Expert knowledge is particularly helpful in answering “What” or “How” questions, although consensus reports usually also include a rationale for why action is needed. Examples of this type of evidence include national committee reports based on deliberative processes; guidelines from national associations, health foundations, and committed practitioners or health professional organizations; and other expert statements. Table 5-10 provides examples of this type of evidence and how it might be used. Also see Chapter 7 for further discussion of the use of expert opinion and experience.

Locating evidence from the expanded perspective proposed by the committee requires access to a broad base of resources that extends beyond research journals. Databases used by researchers and decision makers and their intermediaries typically incorporate