Please note this application is under active development. If you spot any errors or something isn't working, please contact us at evidence.service@wales.nhs.uk.

Evidence Maps

What are Evidence Maps?

Our evidence maps provide structured access to an up-to-date, high-level, and robust body of evidence on a range of topics. Reliable evidence sources are searched by the Evidence Service team within Public Health Wales and any relevant guidelines and systematic reviews identified are categorised and included in our maps. These maps are valuable resources for professionals, researchers, and practitioners, helping you to identify and access relevant and reliable secondary level research to support your work.

Explore our maps

You can explore our current evidence maps by clicking through to any of the topics of interest below.

  • 1. Adult Mental Wellbeing | Adult Mental Wellbeing

    Last Updated: June 13, 2024

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, high level, robust body of evidence on the broad topic of the most effective and cost-effective universal or selective group interventions for maintaining and improving the mental wellbeing of adults over 18 years of age.

  • 2. Adult Vaccination | Interventions to increase uptake

    Last Updated: Jan. 9, 2024

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, robust body of secondary evidence on interventions to increase vaccination in adults. Sources included in the map may provide evidence which addresses the following question: What interventions are effective at increasing the uptake of vaccinations amongst adults (≥ 18 years)?

    Date of last search: Jan 2024. Next update due: Jan 2025. 

  • 3. Alcohol | TBC

    Last Updated: Jan. 17, 2024

    Currently under development

    Date of last search: April 2024. Next update due: In progress

  • 4. Child and Young People (CYP) mental wellbeing | Interventions for improving wellbeing

    Last Updated: April 17, 2024

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, high level, robust body of evidence on the broad topic of the most effective and cost-effective universal or selective group interventions for maintaining and improving the mental wellbeing of CYP up to 18 years of age.

    Date of last search: Jan 2024.  Next update due: In progress

  • 5. Childhood Vaccination | Interventions to increase uptake

    Last Updated: Jan. 24, 2024

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, high level, robust body of evidence on the broad topic of childhood vaccination. This map can be used to establish whether relevant and comprehensive secondary evidence has been published to answer specific questions on increasing uptake of  vaccination in children up to 18 years of age and is intended for a range of audiences.

    Date of last search: Jan 2024. Next update due: Jan 2025.

  • 6. Loneliness | Interventions to reduce Loneliness & Social Isolation

    Last Updated: July 3, 2023

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, robust body of secondary evidence on interventions to reduce loneliness and social isolation in adults. Sources included in the map may provide evidence which addresses the following question(s): 1) What interventions are effective in reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation in adults (16+ years)? 2) What interventions are effective in increasing perceived social support?

    Date of last search: May 2023. Next update due: May 2024.

  • 7. Physical Activity | Interventions to increase physical activity

    Last Updated: Nov. 8, 2023

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, robust body of secondary evidence on interventions to increase physical activity. Sources included in the map may provide evidence which addresses the following question: What interventions are effective for increasing physical activity?

    Date of last search: Dec 2021. Next update due: June 2024.

  • 8. Substance Misuse | Primary Prevention Interventions

    Last Updated: Aug. 15, 2023

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, robust body of secondary evidence on interventions to prevent of substance misuse. Sources included in the map may provide evidence which addresses the following question: What interventions are effective for the primary prevention of substance misuse in children, adolescents or adults?

    Date of last search: Jan 2023. Next update due: June 2024.

  • 9. Suicide & Self Harm | Interventions to reduce rates of suicide and self-harm

    Last Updated: May 15, 2024

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, robust body of secondary evidence on interventions to reduce rates of suicide and self-harm. Sources included in the map may provide evidence which addresses the following question: What are the most effective universal (targeting the general population), selective (focusing on high risk sub-groups) and indicated (to reduce reoccurrence in those with known suicidal ideation and self-harm) interventions for preventing intentional self-harm and suicide among those aged 10 and over?

    Date of last search: May 2024. Next update due: May 2025.

  • 10. Tobacco | Prevention & De-Normalisation Interventions

    Last Updated: Aug. 29, 2023

    This map identifies and outlines the evidence base surrounding the prevention (reducing uptake) and de-normalisation (reducing acceptability) of tobacco use, as per areas 2 and 4 of the Welsh Government Tobacco Control Action Plan for Wales.

    Date of last search: Jan/Feb 2024. Next update due: Jan/Feb 2025.

  • 11. Tobacco Cessation | Smoking Cessation Interventions

    Last Updated: Jan. 22, 2024

    This map provides structured access to an up to date, robust body of secondary evidence on interventions surrounding cessation of tobacco use, as per areas 2-4 of The Welsh Government Tobacco Control Action Plan for Wales. Sources included in the map may provide evidence which addresses the following question: what interventions are effective for smoking cessation?

    Please Note: Varenicline (brand name Champix) is not currently available in the UK. It has been withdrawn as a precaution because of an impurity found in the medicine. It is not yet known whether it will be available again in future.

    Date of last search: Nov 2022.  Next update due: November 2024

Who we are

Public Health Wales is the national public health agency in Wales. We work to protect and improve health and well-being and reduce health inequalities for the people of Wales.

The Evidence Service within Public Health Wales was set up in 2014 to help ensure good quality research evidence is at the heart of public health decision making in Wales. We aim to produce high quality evidence products, with transparent methods and processes, for the public health system in Wales. And to support colleagues to find, appraise and use evidence to facilitate evidence-based decision making.

Evidence Service Team

Email: evidence.service@wales.nhs.uk

Address: Public Health Wales, 2 Capital Quarter, Tyndall St, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ

Website: https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/observatory/