How evidence based policy can drive meaningful change

Researchers from the University of Calgary published a paper in 2015 titled Policy change eliminating body checking in non-elite ice hockey leads to a threefold reduction in injury and concussion risk in 11 and 12 year old players in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

This paper has been cited 81 times across seven categories, with nearly 20% of those citations occurring within two years. Compared to other publications in the same field of Sports Science, this paper is exceptionally well cited, receiving about 13 times more citations than average.

Highly influential, the paper led to the policy change banning body checking in non elite ice hockey for 11 and 12 year olds and resulted in a threefold reduction in injury and concussion risk.*

The paper on policy change in ice hockey exemplifies how evidence based research can drive meaningful change. It highlights the powerful role that well placed evidence can play in shaping effective, real-world policies and improving athlete safety.

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At BMJ Group, we prioritise making a tangible impact through our publications. While scholarly influence is important, its true value
lies in its implications for policy and clinical guidelines, and in driving meaningful change in health and social care.