Table 1.
Factors identified as influencing research use: a comparison between the findings of this study and that of two earlier systematic reviews.*
| Systematic review 1 [9] | Systematic review 2 [12] | This study |
| Interaction (or the lack of interaction) and trust between policy makers and researchers | Interaction between policy makers and researchers Trust in the research and the researcher |
An interactive relationship between policy makers and researchers in which the researchers are able to receive the evidence and interpret it for members of the bureaucracy |
| The timeliness, relevance and quality of the research | The quality, timing and timeliness of the research; and the perceived relevance of the research | The evidence being regarded as being of good quality and therefore trustworthy Appropriate evidence available at the right time, in this case when a solution to the problem of the high maternal mortality rate was being sought |
| The inclusion of effectiveness data | - | - |
| The political environment including political (in)stability and community pressure | - | A political environment that is conducive to policy making |
| The extent to which research confirmed existing policies | - | - |
| Bureaucratic processes including power and budget struggles | Political and bureaucratic conflict | A bureaucracy that is open to change rather than obstructive |
| The availability of research summaries with clear recommendations | Publishing findings in a manner that is accessible beyond a scientific audience | - |
| - | The importance of management support | - |
| - | The skill and attitude of those receiving the research | - |
| - | The existence of policy networks | A functioning policy network that includes researchers, policy makers and bureaucrats |
| - | - | The evidence being received in the context of a positive attitude towards research utilisation, particularly with regard to evidence from randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews. |
* For each review, and for this study, we have attempted to list each of the factors identified as influencing research uptake into policy making. Where similar factors were identified by each review/study, these are listed in the same row of the table. An empty cell indicates that the relevant review/study did not identify this factor as important.