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Shabankareh K, Hamidi A, Soleymani MR, Sajadi HS, Alavi M. Faculty members as academic knowledge brokers in Iran's health sector: a social network analysis study. Health Res Policy Syst 2024; 22:53. [PMID: 38685079 PMCID: PMC11057138 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-024-01141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interaction between researchers and policymakers is an essential factor to facilitate the evidence-informed policymaking. One of the effective ways to establish this relationship and promote evidence-informed policymaking is to employ people or organizations that can play the role of knowledge brokers. This study aims to analyze the communication network and interactions between researchers and policymakers in Iran's health sector and identify key people serving as academic knowledge brokers. METHODS This study was a survey research. Using a census approach, we administered a sociometric survey to faculty members in the health field in top ten Iranian medical universities to construct academic-policymaker network using social network analysis method. Network maps were generated using UCINET and NetDraw software. We used Indegree Centrality, Outdegree Centrality, and Betweenness Centrality indicators to determine knowledge brokers in the network. RESULTS The drawn network had a total of 188 nodes consisting of 94 university faculty members and 94 policymakers at three national, provincial, and university levels. The network comprised a total of 177 links, with 125 connecting to policymakers and 52 to peers. Of 56 faculty members, we identified four knowledge brokers. Six policymakers were identified as key policymakers in the network, too. CONCLUSIONS It seems that the flow of knowledge produced by research in the health field in Iran is not accomplished well from the producers of research evidence to the users of knowledge. Therefore, it seems necessary to consider incentive and support mechanisms to strengthen the interaction between researchers and policymakers in Iran's health sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Shabankareh
- Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Hamidi
- Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Soleymani
- Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Haniye Sadat Sajadi
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, University Research and Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mousa Alavi
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Garavito GAA, Moniz T, Mansilla C, Iqbal S, Dobrogowska R, Bennin F, Talwar S, Khalid AF, Vindrola-Padros C. Activities used by evidence networks to promote evidence-informed decision-making in the health sector- a rapid evidence review. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:261. [PMID: 38418985 PMCID: PMC10903073 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10744-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence networks facilitate the exchange of information and foster international relationships among researchers and stakeholders. These networks are instrumental in enabling the integration of scientific evidence into decision-making processes. While there is a global emphasis on evidence-based decision-making at policy and organisational levels, there exists a significant gap in our understanding of the most effective activities to exchange scientific knowledge and use it in practice. The objective of this rapid review was to explore the strategies employed by evidence networks to facilitate the translation of evidence into decision-making processes. This review makes a contribution to global health policymaking by mapping the landscape of knowledge translation in this context and identifying the evidence translation activities that evidence networks have found effective. METHODS The review was guided by standardised techniques for conducting rapid evidence reviews. Document searching was based on a phased approach, commencing with a comprehensive initial search strategy and progressively refining it with each subsequent search iterations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement was followed. RESULTS The review identified 143 articles, after screening 1135 articles. Out of these, 35 articles were included in the review. The studies encompassed a diverse range of countries, with the majority originating from the United States (n = 14), followed by Canada (n = 5), Sweden (n = 2), and various other single locations (n = 14). These studies presented a varied set of implementation strategies such as research-related activities, the creation of teams/task forces/partnerships, meetings/consultations, mobilising/working with communities, influencing policy, activity evaluation, training, trust-building, and regular meetings, as well as community-academic-policymaker engagement. CONCLUSIONS Evidence networks play a crucial role in developing, sharing, and implementing high-quality research for policy. These networks face challenges like coordinating diverse stakeholders, international collaboration, language barriers, research consistency, knowledge dissemination, capacity building, evaluation, and funding. To enhance their impact, sharing network efforts with wider audiences, including local, national, and international agencies, is essential for evidence-based decision-making to shape evidence-informed policies and programmes effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Andrés Alarcón Garavito
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Moniz
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cristián Mansilla
- McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Syka Iqbal
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rozalia Dobrogowska
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
| | - Fiona Bennin
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
| | - Shivangi Talwar
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Cecilia Vindrola-Padros
- Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) - Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK.
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Mecaskey J, Verboom B, Liverani M, Mijumbi-Deve R, Jessani NS. Improving institutional platforms for evidence-informed decision-making: getting beyond technical solutions. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:5. [PMID: 36647051 PMCID: PMC9841961 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-022-00948-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purely technical interventions aimed at enhancing evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) have rarely translated into organizational institutionalization or systems change. A panel of four presentations at the Health Systems Global 2020 conference provides a basis for inference about contextual factors that influence the establishment and sustainability of institutional platforms to support EIDM. These cases include local structures such as citizen panels in Uganda, regional knowledge translation structures such as the West African Health Organization, global multilateral initiatives such as the "One Health" Quadrapartite and regional public health networks in South-East Asia. They point to the importance of political economy as well as technical capability determinants of evidence uptake and utilization at institutional, organizational and individual levels. The cases also lend support to evidence that third-party (broker and intermediary) supportive institutions can facilitate EIDM processes. The involvement of third-party supranational organizations, however, poses challenges in terms of legitimacy and accountability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ben Verboom
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Liverani
- grid.8991.90000 0004 0425 469XDepartment of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom ,grid.174567.60000 0000 8902 2273School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Rhona Mijumbi-Deve
- The Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES), Kampala, Uganda ,grid.412988.e0000 0001 0109 131XAfrica Centre for Evidence, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nasreen S. Jessani
- grid.11956.3a0000 0001 2214 904XCentre for Evidence Based Health Care, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD United States of America
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Jessani NS, Williamson RT, Choonara S, Gautier L, Hoe C, Jafar SK, Khalid AF, Rodríguez Salas I, Turcotte-Tremblay AM, Rodríguez DC. Evidence attack in public health: Diverse actors' experiences with translating controversial or misrepresented evidence in health policy and systems research. Glob Public Health 2022; 17:3043-3059. [PMID: 34996335 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.2020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bringing evidence into policy and practice discussions is political; more so when evidence from health studies or programme data are deemed controversial or unexpected, or when results are manipulated and misrepresented. Furthermore, opinion and misinformation in recent years has challenged our notions about how to achieve evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). Health policy and systems (HPS) researchers and practitioners are battling misrepresentation that only serves to detract from important health issues or, worse, benefit powerful interests. This paper describes cases of politically and socially controversial evidence presented by researchers, practitioners and journalists during the Health Systems Research Symposium 2020. These cases cut across global contexts and range from public debates on vaccination, comprehensive sexual education, and tobacco to more inward debates around performance-based financing and EIDM in refugee policy. The consequences of engaging in controversial research include threats to commercial profit, perceived assaults on moral beliefs, censorship, fear of reprisal, and infodemics. Consequences for public health include research(er) hesitancy, contribution to corruption and leakage, researcher reflexivity, and ethical concerns within the HPS research and EIDM fields. Recommendations for supporting researchers, practitioners and advocates include better training and support structures for responding to controversy, safe spaces for sharing experiences, and modifying incentive structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen S Jessani
- Centre for Evidence-Based Health CareStellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Shakira Choonara
- Shakira Choonara Development Consulting, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lara Gautier
- Département de Gestion, d'Évaluation et de Politique de Santé, École de Santé Publique de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Connie Hoe
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sakeena K Jafar
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Irene Rodríguez Salas
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Health System Impact Fellowship, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Turcotte-Tremblay
- Health & Science Section, La Nación Newspaper, San José, Costa Rica.,Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public health, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniela C Rodríguez
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Lewis D, Rahman MF, Twinomuhangi R, Haque S, Huq N, Huq S, Ribbe L, Ishtiaque A. University-Based Researchers as Knowledge Brokers for Climate Policies and Action. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH 2022; 35:656-683. [PMID: 35603007 PMCID: PMC9112648 DOI: 10.1057/s41287-022-00526-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Responding effectively to climate crisis requires strong science-policy links to be put in place. Past research on the research-policy interface indicates longstanding challenges that have become more acute in the case of climate science, since this requires multi-disciplinary approaches and faces distinctive political challenges in linking knowledge with policy. What can be learned from the experiences of university-based researchers seeking to influence policy as they try to operate in the brokering space? With this in mind, an empirical study was designed to capture the detailed views and experiences of forty researchers in four universities across four countries-Bangladesh, Germany, Uganda and UK. It found a wide range of different researcher attitudes to policy engagement, diverse methods of engaging, a preference for working with government and civil society over private sector policy actors, and a perceived need for more university support. The findings suggest a need to rethink conditions for engagement to create spaces for knowledge exchange and cooperation that can contribute to policies for societal transformation. More attention also needs to be paid to interdisciplinary research approaches, improving research connections with private sector actors, and strengthening university research links with local communities. Finally, the position of university based researchers in the Global South will require strengthening to improve North-South knowledge exchange, capacity development, and incentives for policy engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lewis
- London School of Economics & Political Science, London, UK
| | - M. Feisal Rahman
- International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Independent University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Revocatus Twinomuhangi
- Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Shababa Haque
- International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Independent University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Saleemul Huq
- International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Independent University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Asif Ishtiaque
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
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Singh S, Holvoet N, Dewachter S. A Relational Understanding of Co-Educating and Learning: Information Sharing and Advice Seeking Behavior in a Dairy Cooperative in Gujarat, India. JOURNAL OF CO-OPERATIVE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcom.2021.100150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Jessani NS, Rohwer A, Schmidt BM, Delobelle P. Integrated knowledge translation to advance noncommunicable disease policy and practice in South Africa: application of the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) framework. Health Res Policy Syst 2021; 19:82. [PMID: 34001141 PMCID: PMC8127442 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-021-00733-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In response to the “know–do” gap, several initiatives have been implemented to enhance evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). These include individual training, organizational culture change management, and legislative changes. The importance of relationships and stakeholder engagement in EIDM has led to an evolution of models and approaches including integrated knowledge translation (IKT). IKT has emerged as a key strategy for ensuring that engagement is equitable, demand-driven, and responsive. As a result, the African-German Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) incorporated an IKT approach to influence noncommunicable diseases (NCD) policy and practice. We documented the phased process of developing, implementing, and monitoring the IKT approach in South Africa; and explored the appropriateness of using the exploration, preparation, implementation, and sustainment (EPIS) framework for this purpose. Methods We mapped the South Africa IKT approach onto the EPIS framework using a framework analysis approach. Notes of team meetings, stakeholder matrices, and engagement strategies were analysed and purposefully plotted against the four phases of the framework in order to populate the different constructs. We discussed and finalized the analysis in a series of online iterations until consensus was reached. Results The mapping exercise revealed an IKT approach that was much more iterative, dynamic, and engaging than initially thought. Several constructs (phase-agnostic) remained important and stable across EPIS phases: stable and supportive funding; committed and competent leadership; skilled and dedicated IKT champions; diverse and established personal networks; a conducive and enabling policy environment; and boundary-spanning intermediaries. Constructs such as “innovations” constantly evolved and adapted to the changing inner and outer contexts (phase-specific). Conclusions Using the EPIS framework to interrogate, reflect on, and document our IKT experiences proved extremely relevant and useful. Phase-agnostic constructs proved critical to ensure resilience and agility of NCD deliberations and policies in the face of highly dynamic and changing local contexts, particularly in view of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Bridging IKT with a framework from implementation science helps to reflect on this process and can guide the development and planning of similar interventions and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen S Jessani
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. .,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Anke Rohwer
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Bey-Marrie Schmidt
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.,School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Peter Delobelle
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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8
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Pfadenhauer LM, Grath T, Delobelle P, Jessani N, Meerpohl JJ, Rohwer A, Schmidt BM, Toews I, Akiteng AR, Chapotera G, Kredo T, Levitt N, Ntawuyirushintege S, Sell K, Rehfuess EA. Mixed method evaluation of the CEBHA+ integrated knowledge translation approach: a protocol. Health Res Policy Syst 2021; 19:7. [PMID: 33461592 PMCID: PMC7813167 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-020-00675-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Collaboration for Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) is a research consortium concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases. CEBHA+ seeks to engage policymakers and practitioners throughout the research process in order to build lasting relationships, enhance evidence uptake, and create long-term capacity among partner institutions in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda in collaboration with two German universities. This integrated knowledge translation (IKT) approach includes the formal development, implementation and evaluation of country specific IKT strategies. Methods We have conceptualised the CEBHA+ IKT approach as a complex intervention in a complex system. We will employ a comparative case study (CCS) design and mixed methods to facilitate an in-depth evaluation. We will use quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, quarterly updates, and a policy document analysis to capture the process and outcomes of IKT across the African CEBHA+ partner sites. We will conduct an early stage (early 2020) and a late-stage evaluation (early 2022), triangulate the data collected with various methods at each site and subsequently compare our findings across the five sites. Discussion Evaluating a complex intervention such as the CEBHA+ IKT approach is complicated, even more so when undertaken across five diverse countries. Despite conceptual, methodological and practical challenges, our comparative case study addresses important evidence gaps: While involving decision-makers in the research process is gaining traction worldwide, we still know very little regarding (i) whether this approach really makes a difference to evidence uptake, (ii) the mechanisms that make IKT successful, and (iii) relevant differences across socio-cultural contexts. The evaluation described here is intended to provide relevant insights on all of these aspects, notably in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is expected to contribute to the science of IKT overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Pfadenhauer
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377, Munich, Germany. .,Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany.
| | - Tanja Grath
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Delobelle
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA), University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.,Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Jette, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nasreen Jessani
- Centre for Evidence Based Health Care, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, 21205, USA
| | - Joerg J Meerpohl
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 86, 79110, Freiburg Im Breigau, Germany.,Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Berliner Allee 2, 79110, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anke Rohwer
- Centre for Evidence Based Health Care, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Bey-Marrié Schmidt
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow Valley, Tygerburg, 7500, South Africa
| | - Ingrid Toews
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Berliner Allee 2, 79110, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ann R Akiteng
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Plot 1 Upper Mulago Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gertrude Chapotera
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Private Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Tamara Kredo
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow Valley, Tygerburg, 7500, South Africa.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Naomi Levitt
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA), University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | | | - Kerstin Sell
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Eva A Rehfuess
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
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Higher Education Institutions as Knowledge Brokers in Smart Specialisation. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12073044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The effectiveness of societal interaction has become a key aspect in evaluating the success of higher education institutions (HEIs) in performing their duties. These factors have been built into institutional funding models, and the funding of research follows a similar approach. External stakeholders are now having to share in undertaking some of the functions that will define higher education institutions’ external activities, societal interaction and impact on society. The European Union’s smart specialisation strategy is such a factor. This initiative allows higher education institutions to implement policies by building regional clusters. The counterparts of higher education institutions in these clusters of smart specialisation are knowledge-intensive enterprises, high-tech service providers, educational institutions, the Arctic Smartness Specialisation Platform and other centers of expertise for smart specialisation. In this paper, we have analysed the role of higher education institutions as knowledge brokers in smart specialisation though a qualitative analysis of 20 interviews conducted during the implementation of the smart specialisation project. Our findings show that the knowledge broker role can be promoted from four perspectives: the social dimension of networks; decision-making and control; cluster building; and exchange elements. The clarification and legitimation of the role of higher education institutions as knowledge brokers in these areas would give smart specialisation more impetus to reach its goals.
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Jessani NS, Valmeekanathan A, Babcock C, Ling B, Davey-Rothwell MA, Holtgrave DR. Exploring the evolution of engagement between academic public health researchers and decision-makers: from initiation to dissolution. Health Res Policy Syst 2020; 18:15. [PMID: 32039731 PMCID: PMC7011533 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-019-0516-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Relationships between researchers and decision-makers have demonstrated positive potential to influence research, policy and practice. Over time, interest in better understanding the relationships between the two parties has grown as demonstrated by a plethora of studies globally. However, what remains elusive is the evolution of these vital relationships and what can be learned from them with respect to advancing evidence-informed decision-making. We therefore explored the nuances around the initiation, maintenance and dissolution of academic-government relationships. METHODS We conducted in-depth interviews with 52 faculty at one school of public health and 24 government decision-makers at city, state, federal and global levels. Interviews were transcribed and coded deductively and inductively using Atlas.Ti. Responses across codes and respondents were extracted into an Excel matrix and compared in order to identify key themes. FINDINGS Eight key drivers to engagement were identified, namely (1) decision-maker research needs, (2) learning, (3) access to resources, (4) student opportunities, (5) capacity strengthening, (6) strategic positioning, (7) institutional conditionalities, and (8) funder conditionalities. There were several elements that enabled initiation of relationships, including the role of faculty members in the decision-making process, individual attributes and reputation, institutional reputation, social capital, and the role of funders. Maintenance of partnerships was dependent on factors such as synergistic collaboration (i.e. both benefit), mutual trust, contractual issues and funding. Dissolution of relationships resulted from champions changing/leaving positions, engagement in transactional relationships, or limited mutual trust and respect. CONCLUSIONS As universities and government agencies establish relationships and utilise opportunities to share ideas, envision change together, and leverage their collaborations to use evidence to inform decision-making, a new modus operandi becomes possible. Embracing the individual, institutional, networked and systems dynamics of relationships can lead to new practices, alternate approaches and transformative change. Government agencies, schools of public health and higher education institutions more broadly, should pay deliberate attention to identifying and managing the various drivers, enablers and disablers for relationship initiation and resilience in order to promote more evidence-informed decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen S Jessani
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America.
- Center for Evidence Based Health Care, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Africa Centre for Evidence, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Akshara Valmeekanathan
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - Carly Babcock
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - Brenton Ling
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - Melissa A Davey-Rothwell
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - David R Holtgrave
- School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
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11
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Jessani NS, Siddiqi SM, Babcock C, Davey-Rothwell M, Ho S, Holtgrave DR. Factors affecting engagement between academic faculty and decision-makers: learnings and priorities for a school of public health. Health Res Policy Syst 2018; 16:65. [PMID: 30045730 PMCID: PMC6060478 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-018-0342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schools of public health (SPHs) are increasingly being recognised as important contributors of human, social and intellectual capital relevant to health policy and decision-making. Few studies within the implementation science literature have systematically examined knowledge exchange experiences within this specific organisational context. The purpose of this study was therefore to elicit whether documented facilitators and barriers to engaging with government decision-makers resonates within an academic SPH context. We sought to understand the variations in such experiences at four different levels of government decision-making. Furthermore, we sought to elicit intervention priorities as identified by faculty. Methods Between May and December 2016, 211 (34%) of 627 eligible full-time faculty across one SPH in the United States of America participated in a survey on engagement with decision-makers at the city, state, federal and global government levels. Surveys were administered face-to-face or via Skype. Descriptive data as well as tests of association and logistic regression analyses were conducted using STATA. Results Over three-quarters of respondents identified colleagues with ties to decision-makers, institutional affiliation and conducting policy-relevant research as the highest facilitators. Several identified time constraints, academic incentives and financial support as important contributors to engagement. Faculty characteristics, such as research areas of expertise, career track and faculty rank, were found to be statistically significantly associated with facilitators. The top three intervention priorities that emerged were (1) creating incentives for engagement, (2) providing funding for engagement and (3) inculcating an institutional culture around engagement. Conclusions The data suggest that five principal categories of factors – individual characteristics, institutional environment, relational dynamics, research focus and funder policies – affect the willingness and ability of academic faculty to engage with government decision-makers. This study suggests that SPHs could enhance the relevance of their role in health policy decision-making by (1) periodically measuring engagement with decision-makers; (2) enhancing individual capacity in knowledge translation and communication, taking faculty characteristics into account; (3) institutionalising a culture that supports policies and practices for engagement in decision-making processes; and (4) creating a strategy to expand and nurture trusted, relevant networks and relationships with decision-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen S Jessani
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America.
| | - Sameer M Siddiqi
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Carly Babcock
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Melissa Davey-Rothwell
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Shirley Ho
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - David R Holtgrave
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
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Jessani N, Kennedy C, Bennett S. The Human Capital of Knowledge Brokers: An analysis of attributes, capacities and skills of academic teaching and research faculty at Kenyan schools of public health. Health Res Policy Syst 2016; 14:58. [PMID: 27484172 PMCID: PMC4971650 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-016-0133-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Academic faculty involved in public health teaching and research serve as the link and catalyst for knowledge synthesis and exchange, enabling the flow of information resources, and nurturing relations between 'two distinct communities' - researchers and policymakers - who would not otherwise have the opportunity to interact. Their role and their characteristics are of particular interest, therefore, in the health research, policy and practice arena, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the individual attributes, capacities and skills of academic faculty identified as knowledge brokers (KBs) in schools of public health (SPH) in Kenya with a view to informing organisational policies around the recruitment, retention and development of faculty KBs. METHODS During April 2013, we interviewed 12 academics and faculty leadership (including those who had previously been identified as KBs) from six SPHs in Kenya, and 11 national health policymakers with whom they interact. Data were qualitatively analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to unveil key characteristics. RESULTS Key characteristics of KBs fell into five categories: sociodemographics, professional competence, experiential knowledge, interactive skills and personal disposition. KBs' reputations benefitted from their professional qualifications and content expertise. Practical knowledge in policy-relevant situations, and the related professional networks, allowed KB's to navigate both the academic and policy arenas and also to leverage the necessary connections required for policy influence. Attributes, such as respect and a social conscience, were also important KB characteristics. CONCLUSION Several changes in Kenya are likely to compel academics to engage increasingly with policymakers at an enhanced level of debate, deliberation and discussion in the future. By recognising existing KBs, supporting the emergence of potential KBs, and systematically hiring faculty with KB-specific characteristics, SPHs can enhance their collective human capital and influence on public health policy and practice. Capacity strengthening of tangible skills and recognition of less tangible personality characteristics could contribute to enhanced academic-policymaker networks. These, in turn, could contribute to the relevance of SPH research and teaching programs as well as evidence-informed public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen Jessani
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 United States of America
| | - Caitlin Kennedy
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 United States of America
| | - Sara Bennett
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 United States of America
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