Table 2.
Summary of perceived barriers to EIDM and potential solutions
| Barriers to EIDM | Potential solutions to identified barriers |
|---|---|
| Weak linkage and networking between researches and users of evidence | Creation of networks that will ensure a strong linkage between producers and users of evidence |
| • Involvement of both producers and users of evidence in research conceptualisation, evidence generation and dissemination | |
| • Users of evidence communicating identified problems to producers of evidence | |
| • Creation of knowledge exchange forum among users and producers of evidence | |
|
• Institutionalising exchange programmes and feedback strategy through meetings and workshops • Collaborating with existing research institutions such as the Health Policy Research Group | |
| Poor demand and support for research evidence | Creation of a supportive research evidence environment |
| • Advocacy for demand and supply-driven research | |
| • Collaboration between research institutions and users of evidence | |
| • Increased uptake of research findings by users of evidence (to motivate producers) | |
| Promulgate legislative back up for integrating research evidence in decision-making | |
| • Developing and implementing an evidence-based framework in SMoH | |
| Weak capacity to undertake and use research evidence | Continuous and sustainable capacity-building on EIDM |
| • Sustainable capacity-building workshops on EIDM | |
| • Continuous training on data management for officers for M&E, HMIS and planning officers | |
| Moribund research unit in Department for PRS | Revival of the research unit in Department of PRS |
| • Recruitment of health systems researchers and health economists in the department to enable translational research | |
| • Conducting research and evaluation of implemented programmes | |
| • Periodic/annual research review meetings | |
| Non-existence of SHREC | Institutionalisation of SHREC |
| • Ensure and coordinate ethical conduct in health research in the state among other functions | |
| • Constitution of a technical working group for research | |
| Lack of funds | Fund generation |
| • State budgetary allocation for health research and programme evaluation | |
| • Advocating/sourcing funds for health research from donor agencies, philanthropists, etc. | |
| Weak HMIS | Creation of ICT research centre for strengthening HMIS |
| • Creating a functional database for storing health data and research evidence | |
| • Establishing a central evidence repository website | |
| • Recruitment and training of medical record officers in health facilities | |
| • Harmonising facility data collection tools across health facilities | |
| Political interference | Minimise political interference |
| • Media sensitisation on a need to reduce the occurrence and consequences of political inference and nepotism in the health sector | |
| Limited decision space of users of evidence | Adopting/developing an evidence-based framework in SMoH |
EIDM evidence-informed decision-making, HMIS health management information system, ICT information communication and technology, M&E monitoring and evaluation, PRS Planning Research and Statistics, SHREC State Health Research Ethics Committee, SMoH State Ministry of Health