Synthesizing and Evaluating Valid and Reliable Research

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 6

Qualitative Research Methods Evaluation

There is a growing interest globally to apply evidence in health policy and decision making as a way of improving the performance of health systems. Use of evidence seeks to enhance effectiveness in the public sphere and policy making. Evaluation of research methods provides a criteria of judging actions and activities in terms of values, criteria and standards. The evaluation of research methods is important to healthcare managers and policy makers in that it provides a means for improving health outcomes. This paper will look at four article that explore the use of evidence in health policy development.

“Climate for evidence informed health system policymaking in Cameroon and Uganda before and after the introduction of knowledge translation platforms: a structured review of governmental policy documents” is a systematic study that assesses changes in Uganda and Cameroon before and after the establishment of Knowledge Translation Platforms in the country. The sample and population used was appropriate in that the researchers reviewed 54 documents. The use of evidence in dealing with health problems has remained limited over time and across countries. This study reveals that the use of research evidence in framing health policies has remained scarce but is growing over time. The conclusion from this study is that stakeholders in the health sector should raise the profile of evidence as an input in health policy making and decision making. The findings from this study can be applied by health stakeholders globally to shape health plans and policies. However, there are limitations to this study especially in regard to methods used. The structured review of policy documents or instance ignores the politics that prevailed during the drafting and formulation of the policies. The research design can also not account for the individual processes that played a role in the preparation of the policy documents that were reviewed in this study (Ongolo-Zogo, Lavis, & Tomson, 2015).

“Evidence-informed policy formulation and implementation: a comparative case study of two national polices for improving health and social care in Sweden” is an exploratory study that explores two national policies aimed at improving health and social care in Sweden. The study also tests a new conceptual model for formulating policies that are based on empirical evidence. The study is a qualitative research which was carried out using a longitudinal case study approach. Findings from the study indicate that the roles of the policy actors greatly influence the choice of strategies employed in policy making. The strength of this study lies in its use of cases from the same country. The use of multiple data collection methods also boosted its credibility. However, use of the cases from the same country is also a limitation in that the results cannot be generalized to other countries.

Onwujekwe’s “Role and use of evidence in policymaking: an analysis of case studies from the health sector in Nigeria” examines the role of the various types of evidence in developing health policy in Nigeria. The study is a cross-sectional qualitative study which was carried out by utilizing the case study method. In this study, the role of evidence in the development of healthy policy was examined by comparing three case studies that represent different health policies. The result from the study indicate that evidence is perceived as vital in supporting decision making and drafting policies as well as in setting agendas in health policies. The conclusion from this study is that the use of evidence in developing policies in Nigeria and other countries can enhance the quality of decisions arrived at. The study can therefore be applied in improving the quality of evidence that is used in decision making. However, the study could have limitations due to its reliance on policy actors as respondents given the potential for recall bias that potentially arises from this situation (Onwujekwe, 2015).

Langlois’s “Enhancing evidence informed policymaking in complex health systems: lessons from multi-site collaborative approaches” is a qualitative study that explores the impact multi-site evidence in policy making in low-resource settings. The study which was carried out in a number of jurisdictions underlines the importance of evidence in solving implementation problems that arise from the implementation of programs. The study also revealed that policymakers involved in the buddying process recognize the value of evidence. The conclusion of the study is that due consideration should be given to fit-for purpose approaches when implementing policies. Also, there is a need to involve policy makers in collaborative approaches that require the application of evidence given the adaptive nature of health systems (Langlois, 2016).

This four studies are similar in that they examine the key role that evidence plays in health decision making and policy formulation. The results from this study indicate a wide use of evidence in the drafting and formulation of health policies. The study by Onwujekwe for instance reveals that formal evidence is critical in identifying the need for the policy and in initiating the policy development process. The conclusion from Strehlenert, Richter-Sundberg, Nystrom, & H.Hasson’s article is that policy makers apply evidence to influence the quality of their decisions. The studies also indicate that policy actors both in the developing world and the developed world are increasingly adopting the use of evidence in the formulation and implementation of health plans and programs.

Langlois, E. (2016). Enhancing evidence informed policymaking in complex health systems: lessons from multi-site collaborative approaches. Health Res Policy Syst.

Ongolo-Zogo, P., Lavis, J., & Tomson, G. (2015). Climate for evidence informed health system policymaking in Cameroon and Uganda before and after the introduction of knowledge translation platforms: a structured review of governmental policy documents. Health Research Policy and Systems.

Onwujekwe, O. (2015). Role and use of evidence in policymaking: an analysis of case studies from the health sector in Nigeria. Health Research Policy Systems .

Strehlenert, H., Richter-Sundberg, L., Nystrom, M., & H.Hasson. (2015). Evidence-informed policy formulation and implementation: a comparative case study of two national polices for improving health and social care in Sweden. Implement Sci. 10.