International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780231201106284246ENMD, MPH, PhD candidate of Gerontology, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MD, PhD, School of Public Health, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC), TUMS-KTE Study Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MD, MPH, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC), TUMS-KTE Study Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MD, MPH, PhD candidate of Epidemiology, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC), TUMS-KTE Study Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Student of Masters in Health Education, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC), TUMS-KTE Study Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.DVM, PhD, School of Public Health, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC), TUMS-KTE Study Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.201103142011052220110521<p>Introduction: An article with a clear message can transfer research knowledge better. However, this is the case when the message suits the type of&nbsp; study methodology (research design) and its results. The objective of&nbsp; this study was to assess the presence of&nbsp; message articles and the type of&nbsp; study methodologies.<br />Methods: Articles published between 2001 and 2006, on <br />maternal care, diabetes, and tuberculosis, which were based on <br />studies performed on the Iranian population were investigated. A systematic search was performed in foreign databases &lsquo;Pubmed, Medline, and Embase&rsquo;, and national databases &lsquo;Iranmedex, SID (Scientific Information Database), and Iranpsych&rsquo;. Seven hundred and ninety‑five articles were examined for the type of&nbsp; study methodology and presence of&nbsp; an actionable message (one that specifies what and how an action should be carried out).<br />Results: Among the 795 articles accessed, cross‑sectional studies were the most frequent (50.9%) and systematic reviews were the least frequent (0.4%). Cohort cases were observed in 6.9% of&nbsp; the cases. Actionable messages were observed in 22.1% of&nbsp; all the cases and 24.7% of&nbsp; the cross‑sectional studies.<br />Conclusions: Cohort studies increased from 5% in 2001 to 6.9% <br />in 2006, but the shortage of&nbsp; systematic reviews represented a major weakness in the country&rsquo;s knowledge production process. Studies with a higher level of&nbsp; evidence such as systematic reviews, and cohort and interventional studies should be among the priorities of&nbsp; knowledge production in the country.<br />Keywords: Evidence‑based medicine, knowledge management, <br />knowledge dissemination, knowledge translation, research design</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/140http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/140/380