Table 1 Overview of the definitions “policy” and examples for policymaking in the present scoping review

Definition of policy in this scoping review:

 • Decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society (World Health Organization and Policy Evaluation Network) [6, 7].

 • A policy can be seen as a macro-level intervention or is followed by an intervention.

 • A policy is supposed to change a system not an individual (addresses group of people) [8]. A policy that has a positive effect on one issue can have a negative effect on another issue at the same time.

Distinctions made for identified document types:

 • Policy evaluation: evaluation of macro-level laws/regulations, adopted and implemented at the level of geographically defined political or administrative units, such as supra-national organizations, states, regions, or municipalities.

 • Evidence of effectiveness for policymaking: assessment of interventions or evidence on information which has the potential to become a policy intervention.

 • Recommendations to guide policymaking: guidelines and recommendations by institutions to adopt or implement interventions which have the potential to become a policy.