Table 6. Recommendations for modelers.

Recommendations	Why this is important
Invest in building relationships with decision-makers, both formal and informal to better understand research needs and emerging policy priorities	•   Decision-makers are more likely to engage in discussion about research or modeled evidence with partners they trust     •   Collaboration during a crisis like COVID-19 is easier when positive working relationships between decision-makers and modelers already exist
Develop models that are responsive to the priorities of decision-makers and the needs of public health organizations and communities, and incorporate local and regional data	•   The likelihood that decision-makers will use modeled outputs is higher when the model is relevant to decision needs     •   Decision-makers place higher trust in local data
Engage decision-makers early and throughout the process of developing models	•   When decision-makers are consulted and engaged in the process of developing models, they develop a better understanding and awareness of the role that modeling can play in informing decisions     •   Continuous and iterative engagement can help to ensure the relevance of models     •   Co-production can help to build trust in the relationship between decision-makers and modelers
Commit to communicating modeling assumptions and outputs in clear and easy-to-understand formats for use in decision-making	•   Communication can help to improve the relevance of models     •   Decision-makers who trust and understand modeled outputs are more likely to use them to inform policy and practice