What steps can researchers take to increase research uptake by policymakers? A case study in China

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Empirical analysis of the connections between research and health policymaking is scarce in middle-income countries. In this study, we focused on a national multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) healthcare provider training programme in China as a case study to examine the role that research plays in influencing health policy. We specifically focused on the factors that influence research uptake within the complex Chinese policymaking process. Qualitative data were collected from 34 participants working at multilateral organizations, funding agencies, academia, government agencies and hospitals through 14 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions with 10 participants each. Themes were derived inductively from data and grouped based on the ‘Research and Policy in Developing countries’ framework developed by the Overseas Development Institute. We further classified how actors derive their power to influence policy decisions following the six sources of power identified by Sriram et al. We found that research uptake by policymakers in China is influenced by perceived importance of the health issues addressed in the research, relevance of the research to policymakers’ information needs and government’s priorities, the research quality and the composition of the research team. Our analysis identified that international donors are influential in the TB policy process through their financial power. Furthermore, the dual roles of two government agencies as both evidence providers and actors who have the power to influence policy decisions through their technical expertise make them natural intermediaries in the TB policy process. We concluded that resolving the conflict of interests between researchers and policymakers, as suggested in the ‘two-communities theory’, is not enough to improve evidence use by policymakers. Strategies such as framing research to accommodate the fast-changing policy environment and making alliances with key policy actors can be effective to improve the communication of research findings into the policy process, particularly in countries undergoing rapid economic and political development.</jats:p>

Challenges for research uptake for health policymaking and practice in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

“…Mapping the political dimensions and policy demand (5,30,41,66,67,72,76,79,83,88,89,93,98,99,109,(117)(118)(119)(120)(121)(122)(123)(124)(125)(127)(128)(129)(130) , the existence of political will and commitment (41, 52, 63, 69, 84, 104-107, 109, 112, 122, 130-136, 138, 139) , policy interest of decisionmakers' (30,89,99,120,122) , and key policy and governance features (41,72,83,123) are key drivers in evidence-informed health policymaking and implementation in LMICs. An in-depth understanding of the role of politics, how societies organize themselves in achieving collective health goals, and how different stakeholders interact in the health policymaking process (5,66,67,88,119,120,124,125,(127)(128)(129) is critical in evidence translation planning. The action of policymakers may be in uenced...…”

“…We found several papers on understanding the research uptake context (41, 52, 63, 68-92, 94-114, 116, 137) . This included understanding of the political dimension and interest (5,30,41,66,67,72,76,79,83,88,89,93,98,99,109,(117)(118)(119)(120)(121)(122)(123)(124)(125)(127)(128)(129)(130) , lack of political will (41,52,63,107,112,131,132) , political commitment (69, 84, 104-106, 109, 122, 130, 132-136, 138, 139) , leadership (70,77,97,131,(135)(136)(137)(140)(141)(142) , and health policy research priority setting (30, 69-71, 75, 77, 80, 84, 98, 106, 107, 109, 130, 134, 138, 139, 143-150) .…”

Constraints to Conducting Agricultural Research Uptake Activities Among Researchers in Rivers State, Nigeria

“…Lack of funding and poor linkages between academia, industry and policymakers were consistently mentioned by researchers to be the major barrier to conducting research uptake activity. Strengthening alliances with key policy actors could be an effective means of improving the communication of research findings into the policy process (Shishi, Mishal & Helena, 2020). Similarly, Erismann et al (2021) in their study of how to bring research evidence into policy found that direct engagement of stakeholders with researchers, involvement of stakeholders in the design and implementation of the research project and stakeholders' participation to coproduce knowledge were essential in fostering research uptake into policies and practices.…”

“…Linkage and funding factors as highlighted by researchers during the interview schedule could be the prominent factors having a significant influence on their involvement in research uptake activities. Shishi et al (2020) found that researchers' collaboration with policymakers in research conduct encourages involvement in uptake activities and as well increases the effectiveness of their research uptake activities. This collaboration should begin with research planning to ensure that the needs and interests of concerned policymakers and industrialists are addressed in the research (Ifeanyi-obi, 2022) thereby sustaining their commitment and participation throughout the research life span.…”

Development assistance, donor–recipient dynamic, and domestic policy: a case study of two health interventions supported by World Bank–UK and Global Fund in China

“…The study does not assume that DAH is apolitical [ 51 ]. Rather, it suggests that with more resources and a broader scientific network, DAH donors can effectively contribute to domestic policy formulation and post-DAH sustainability while achieving strategic interests by continuously interacting with recipients [ 52 , 53 ]. In other words, the donor–recipient dynamic can reach a point where DAH maximizes sustainable health outcomes.…”