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Samimi S, Zarei J, Jamshidnezhad A, Fadaei Dehcheshmeh N. Evaluating information management system in epidemic infectious diseases in Iran. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21020. [PMID: 39251705 PMCID: PMC11384764 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71938-7] [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: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Health information management is a vital and constructive component of the health system, refers to the process of producing and collecting, organising and storing, analysing, disseminating and using information. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the information management system in epidemic infectious diseases in Iran, specifically focusing on the registration, reporting, quality, confidentiality, and security of infectious disease data. This assessment was conducted from the perspective of policymakers and experts responsible for data registration and reporting. After examining the processes of registering and reporting infectious disease data and interviewing experts, a researcher-designed questionnaire was prepared to evaluate the infectious disease information management system. To assess the content validity of the Content Validity Index and Content Validity Ratio Index, a questionnaire was utilized. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha. By employing purposeful sampling and adhering to the inclusion criteria, 150 participants were included in the study. Questionnaires were distributed via email, WhatsApp, or Telegram to employees at various levels of Iran's health and treatment systems who were responsible for registering and reporting infectious disease data. The study encompassed 100 participants who successfully concluded the research. The results highlight that the key strength of healthcare data registration lies in its ability to "depict the epidemic curve during outbreaks of infectious diseases." Conversely, a notable weakness was the "insufficient collaboration from non-academic sectors (e.g., clinics, private laboratories) in registering and reporting infectious diseases. The present study's findings suggest that the issue lies not in the framework itself, but rather in the execution and functionality of the strategies. We can cultivate a repository of reliable and beneficial data by incorporating initiatives like training programs, enforcing regulations with consequences for inadequate data documentation, offering both material and motivational rewards, and streamlining all data collection and reporting systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Samimi
- Department of Health Information Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Javad Zarei
- Department of Health Information Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Amir Jamshidnezhad
- Department of Health Information Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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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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Semahegn A, Manyazewal T, Hanlon C, Getachew E, Fekadu B, Assefa E, Kassa M, Hopkins M, Woldehanna T, Davey G, Fekadu A. Challenges for research uptake for health policymaking and practice in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:131. [PMID: 38057873 PMCID: PMC10699029 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-01084-5] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An estimated 85% of research resources are wasted worldwide, while there is growing demand for context-based evidence-informed health policymaking. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), research uptake for health policymaking and practice is even lower, while little is known about the barriers to the translation of health evidence to policy and local implementation. We aimed to compile the current evidence on barriers to uptake of research in health policy and practice in LMICs using scoping review. METHODS The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses-extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Both published evidence and grey literature on research uptake were systematically searched from major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (EBSCO), Global Health (Ovid)) and direct Google Scholar. Literature exploring barriers to uptake of research evidence in health policy and practice in LMICs were included and their key findings were synthesized using thematic areas to address the review question. RESULTS A total of 4291 publications were retrieved in the initial search, of which 142 were included meeting the eligibility criteria. Overall, research uptake for policymaking and practice in LMICs was very low. The challenges to research uptake were related to lack of understanding of the local contexts, low political priority, poor stakeholder engagement and partnership, resource and capacity constraints, low system response for accountability and lack of communication and dissemination platforms. CONCLUSION Important barriers to research uptake, mainly limited contextual understanding and low participation of key stakeholders and ownership, have been identified. Understanding the local research and policy context and participatory evidence production and dissemination may promote research uptake for policy and practice. Institutions that bridge the chasm between knowledge formation, evidence synthesis and translation may play critical role in the translation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agumasie Semahegn
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Tsegahun Manyazewal
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Services and Population Research Department, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eyerusalem Getachew
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bethelhem Fekadu
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Esubalew Assefa
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Health Economics and Policy Research Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | | | - Michael Hopkins
- Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Tassew Woldehanna
- College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gail Davey
- Global Health & Infection Department, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
- School of Public Health, College of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abebaw Fekadu
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health & Infection Department, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
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Majdzadeh R, Sajadi HS, Yazdizadeh B, Doshmangir L, Ehsani-Chimeh E, Mahdavi M, Mehrdad N, Lavis J, Nikooee S, Mohtasham F, Mohseni M, Akbari P, Asgardoon MH, Rezaei N, Neyazi N, Ghaffarifar S, Haghdoost AA, Khodayari-Zarnaq R, Mosadeghrad AM, Pourabbasi A, Rafinejad J, Toyserkanamanesh R. Policy options for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran: overall SASHA project findings. Health Res Policy Syst 2022; 20:10. [PMID: 35033096 PMCID: PMC8760808 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The institutionalization of evidence-informed health policy-making (EIHP) is complex and complicated. It is complex because it has many players and is complicated because its institutionalization will require many changes that will be challenging to make. Like many other issues, strengthening EIHP needs a road map, which should consider challenges and address them through effective, harmonized and contextualized strategies. This study aims to develop a road map for enhancing EIHP in Iran based on steps of planning. Methods This study consisted of three phases: (1) identifying barriers to EIHP, (2) recognizing interventions and (3) measuring the use of evidence in Iran's health policy-making. A set of activities was established for conducting these, including foresight, systematic review and policy dialogue, to identify the current and potential barriers for the first phase. For the second phase, an evidence synthesis was performed through a scoping review, by searching the websites of benchmark institutions which had good examples of EIHP practices in order to extract and identify interventions, and through eight policy dialogues and two broad opinion polls to contextualize the list of interventions. Simultaneously, two qualitative-quantitative studies were conducted to design and use a tool for assessing EIHP in the third phase. Results We identified 97 barriers to EIHP and categorized them into three groups, including 35 barriers on the “generation of evidence” (push side), 41 on the “use of evidence” (pull side) and 21 on the “interaction between these two” (exchange side). The list of 41 interventions identified through evidence synthesis and eight policy dialogues was reduced to 32 interventions after two expert opinion polling rounds. These interventions were classified into four main strategies for strengthening (1) the education and training system (6 interventions), (2) the incentives programmes (7 interventions), (3) the structure of policy support organizations (4 interventions) and (4) the enabling processes to support EIHP (15 interventions). Conclusion The policy options developed in the study provide a comprehensive framework to chart a path for strengthening the country’s EIHP considering both global practices and the context of Iran. It is recommended that operational plans be prepared for road map interventions, and the necessary resources provided for their implementation. The implementation of the road map will require attention to the principles of good governance, with a focus on transparency and accountability. Video abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Majdzadeh
- Community Based Participatory Research Center, Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Haniye Sadat Sajadi
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, University Research and Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Yazdizadeh
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Doshmangir
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elham Ehsani-Chimeh
- National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahdavi
- National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Mehrdad
- Nursing Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - John Lavis
- McMaster Health Forum and Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.,Africa Centre for Evidence, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sima Nikooee
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farideh Mohtasham
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Mohseni
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Paria Akbari
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Niloofar Rezaei
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narges Neyazi
- International Campus, School of Public Health, Health Economics and Management Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Trusted Organization for Research and Development, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Saeideh Ghaffarifar
- Medical Education Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Haghdoost
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Rahim Khodayari-Zarnaq
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad
- School of Public Health, Health Information Management Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ata Pourabbasi
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Rafinejad
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Toyserkanamanesh
- Department of Treatment and Social Support, IRAN Drug Control Headquarter, Tehran, Iran
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Doshmangir L, Yazdizadeh B, Sajadi HS, Mohtasham F, Majdzadeh R. What is going on in the future for evidence-informed health policymaking in Iran? J Evid Based Med 2021; 14:285-290. [PMID: 34904390 DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Leila Doshmangir
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Iranian Center of Excellence in Health Management, School of Management & Medical Informatics, and Social Determinants of Health Services Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Bahareh Yazdizadeh
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haniye Sadat Sajadi
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, University Research & Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farideh Mohtasham
- Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Majdzadeh
- Community-Based Participatory Research Center, Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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