Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry
Background There is need to strengthen institutions and mechanisms that can more systematically promote interactions between researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders who can influence the uptake of research findings. In this article, we report the outcome of a two-way secondment model betw...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2018-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3430_58ba939f63d71b0971180addf715114d.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818974902978347008 |
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| author | Chigozie Jesse Uneke Abel Ebeh Ezeoha Henry Chukwuemeka Uro-Chukwu Chinonyelum Thecla Ezeonu Jonathan Igboji |
| author_facet | Chigozie Jesse Uneke Abel Ebeh Ezeoha Henry Chukwuemeka Uro-Chukwu Chinonyelum Thecla Ezeonu Jonathan Igboji |
| author_sort | Chigozie Jesse Uneke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
There is need to strengthen institutions and mechanisms that can more systematically promote interactions between researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders who can influence the uptake of research findings. In this article, we report the outcome of a two-way secondment model between Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and Ebonyi State Ministry of Health (ESMoH) in Nigeria as an innovative collaborative strategy to promote capacity enhancement for evidence-to-policy-to-action.
Methods
This study was an exploratory design with a quantitative cross-sectional survey technique. A secondment memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between heads of EBSU and ESMoH. The secondment program lasted six months with ten researchers and ten policy-makers spending up to two days per week in each other’s organization. The secondee researchers got engaged in policy-making and implementation activities in ESMoH, while the policy-maker secondees got involved in research activities in EBSU. Secondees evidence-to-policy capacity enhancement meetings were held and questionnaires designed in 5-point Likert scale were used to assess their impact.
Results
The secondee policy-makers and researchers admitted having considerable knowledge of secondment with mean ratings (MNRs) of 3.40 and 3.74 respectively on the 5 points scale. Secondment appeared to be more common in the policy-makers’ organization (MNRs: 2.80-3.07) than in the researchers’ institution (MNRs: 2.58-2.84). The secondee policy-makers participated in some academic and research activities including serving in research ethics committee in EBSU and provided policy-making perspective to the activities. The secondee researchers supported the policymaking process in ESMoH through policy advisory roles, and provided capacity enhancement for staff of the ministry on the use of research evidence in policy-making. There was a noteworthy increase on knowledge of policy analysis and contextualization among the secondees ranging from 20.7% to 50.4% and 31.3% to 42.8% respectively following a training session. A Society for Health Policy Research and Knowledge Translation was established by mutual agreement of secondees as a platform to permanently institutionalize the collaboration.
Conclusion
The outcome of this study clearly suggests that secondment has great potential in promoting evidence informed policy-making and merits further consideration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:47:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68b62191ad5b4fc69752ed49d4871305 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:47:27Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-68b62191ad5b4fc69752ed49d48713052022-12-21T19:34:53ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392018-06-017652253110.15171/IJHPM.2017.123Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health MinistryChigozie Jesse Uneke0Abel Ebeh Ezeoha1Henry Chukwuemeka Uro-Chukwu2Chinonyelum Thecla Ezeonu3Jonathan Igboji4African Institute for Health Policy & Health Systems, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NigeriaAfrican Institute for Health Policy & Health Systems, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NigeriaNational Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, NigeriaDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NigeriaEbonyi State Ministry of Health, Abakaliki, NigeriaBackground There is need to strengthen institutions and mechanisms that can more systematically promote interactions between researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders who can influence the uptake of research findings. In this article, we report the outcome of a two-way secondment model between Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and Ebonyi State Ministry of Health (ESMoH) in Nigeria as an innovative collaborative strategy to promote capacity enhancement for evidence-to-policy-to-action. Methods This study was an exploratory design with a quantitative cross-sectional survey technique. A secondment memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between heads of EBSU and ESMoH. The secondment program lasted six months with ten researchers and ten policy-makers spending up to two days per week in each other’s organization. The secondee researchers got engaged in policy-making and implementation activities in ESMoH, while the policy-maker secondees got involved in research activities in EBSU. Secondees evidence-to-policy capacity enhancement meetings were held and questionnaires designed in 5-point Likert scale were used to assess their impact. Results The secondee policy-makers and researchers admitted having considerable knowledge of secondment with mean ratings (MNRs) of 3.40 and 3.74 respectively on the 5 points scale. Secondment appeared to be more common in the policy-makers’ organization (MNRs: 2.80-3.07) than in the researchers’ institution (MNRs: 2.58-2.84). The secondee policy-makers participated in some academic and research activities including serving in research ethics committee in EBSU and provided policy-making perspective to the activities. The secondee researchers supported the policymaking process in ESMoH through policy advisory roles, and provided capacity enhancement for staff of the ministry on the use of research evidence in policy-making. There was a noteworthy increase on knowledge of policy analysis and contextualization among the secondees ranging from 20.7% to 50.4% and 31.3% to 42.8% respectively following a training session. A Society for Health Policy Research and Knowledge Translation was established by mutual agreement of secondees as a platform to permanently institutionalize the collaboration. Conclusion The outcome of this study clearly suggests that secondment has great potential in promoting evidence informed policy-making and merits further consideration.http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3430_58ba939f63d71b0971180addf715114d.pdfResearchersPolicy-makersCollaborationEvidence-InformedSecondmentNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Chigozie Jesse Uneke Abel Ebeh Ezeoha Henry Chukwuemeka Uro-Chukwu Chinonyelum Thecla Ezeonu Jonathan Igboji Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry International Journal of Health Policy and Management Researchers Policy-makers Collaboration Evidence-Informed Secondment Nigeria |
| title | Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry |
| title_full | Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry |
| title_fullStr | Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry |
| title_short | Promoting Researchers and Policy-Makers Collaboration in Evidence-Informed Policy-Making in Nigeria: Outcome of a Two-Way Secondment Model between University and Health Ministry |
| title_sort | promoting researchers and policy makers collaboration in evidence informed policy making in nigeria outcome of a two way secondment model between university and health ministry |
| topic | Researchers Policy-makers Collaboration Evidence-Informed Secondment Nigeria |
| url | http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3430_58ba939f63d71b0971180addf715114d.pdf |
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