03340nas a2200289 4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653005700079653004900136653002100185100001600206700001300222700001300235700001200248700001500260700001500275700001200290700001300302700001600315700001200331245018900343856009800532300001300630490000700643520238600650022001403036 2020 d bPublic Library of Science (PLoS) 10 aGeneral Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 10 aGeneral Agricultural and Biological Sciences 10 aGeneral Medicine 1 aOnwujekwe O 1 aEtiaba E 1 aMbachu C 1 aArize I 1 aNwankwor C 1 aEzenwaka U 1 aOkeke C 1 aEzumah N 1 aUzochukwu B 1 aOelke N 00 aDoes improving the skills of researchers and decision-makers in health policy and systems research lead to enhanced evidence-based decision making in Nigeria?—A short term evaluation uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238365&type=printable ae0238365 0 v15 3 aIntroduction
Health care decision makers require capacity to demand and use research evidence for effective decision making. Capacity to undertake health policy and systems research (HPSR) and teaching is low in developing countries. Strengthening the capacity of producers and users of research is a more sustainable strategy for developing the field of HPSR in Africa, than relying on training in high-income countries.
Methods
Data were collected from 118 participants who had received the capacity building, using a pre-tested questionnaire. Respondents included health research scientists from institutions (producers) and decision makers (users) in the public health sector, in Anambra and Enugu states, southeast Nigeria. Data were collected on participants’ progress with proposed group activities in their short- term goals; effects of these activities on evidence-informed decision making and constraints to implementing activities. Univariate analysis was done using SPSS version 16.
Findings
All prioritised activities were carried out. However, responses were low. Highest response for an activity amongst producers was 39.1%, and 44.4% for users. Some of the activities implemented positively influenced changes in practice; like modification of existing policies and programme plans. There was a wide range of responses between producers of evidence (0.0–39.1%) and users (2.7–44.4%) across both study states. Lack of authority to implement activities was the major constraint (42-9-100.0% across activities), followed by financial constraints (70.6%).
Conclusion
Capacity building intervention improved skills of a critical mass of research scientists, policymakers and practitioners, towards evidence-based decision making. Participants committed to undertake proposed activities but faced a number of constraints. These need to be addressed, especially the decision space and authority, improving funding to implement activities that influence Getting Research into Policy & Practice (GRIPP). Being at different stages of planning and implementing proposed activities; participants require continuous technical and financial support to successfully implement activities and engage meaningfully within and across professional boundaries and roles, in order to achieve short-, medium- and long- term goals. a1932-6203