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Majdzadeh R, Sajadi HS, Yazdizadeh B, et al. Policy options for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran: overall SASHA project findings. Health Res Policy Syst. 2022;20(1):10doi: 10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0.
Majdzadeh, R., Sajadi, H. S., Yazdizadeh, B., Doshmangir, L., Ehsani-Chimeh, E., Mahdavi, M., Mehrdad, N., Lavis, J., Nikooee, S., Mohtasham, F., Mohseni, M., Akbari, P., Asgardoon, M. H., Rezaei, N., Neyazi, N., Ghaffarifar, S., Haghdoost, A. A., Khodayari-Zarnaq, R., Mosadeghrad, A. M., Pourabbasi, A., Rafinejad, J., & Toyserkanamanesh, R. (2022). Policy options for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran: overall SASHA project findings. Health research policy and systems, 20(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0
Majdzadeh, Reza, et al. "Policy options for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran: overall SASHA project findings." Health research policy and systems vol. 20,1 (2022): 10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0
Majdzadeh R, Sajadi HS, Yazdizadeh B, Doshmangir L, Ehsani-Chimeh E, Mahdavi M, Mehrdad N, Lavis J, Nikooee S, Mohtasham F, Mohseni M, Akbari P, Asgardoon MH, Rezaei N, Neyazi N, Ghaffarifar S, Haghdoost AA, Khodayari-Zarnaq R, Mosadeghrad AM, Pourabbasi A, Rafinejad J, Toyserkanamanesh R. Policy options for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran: overall SASHA project findings. Health Res Policy Syst. 2022 Jan 15;20(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0. PMID: 35033096.
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Health Res Policy Syst. 2022 Jan 15;20(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0.

Policy options for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran: overall SASHA project findings.

Health research policy and systems

Reza Majdzadeh, Haniye Sadat Sajadi, Bahareh Yazdizadeh, Leila Doshmangir, Elham Ehsani-Chimeh, Mahdi Mahdavi, Neda Mehrdad, John Lavis, Sima Nikooee, Farideh Mohtasham, Mahsa Mohseni, Paria Akbari, Mohammad Hossein Asgardoon, Niloofar Rezaei, Narges Neyazi, Saeideh Ghaffarifar, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, Rahim Khodayari-Zarnaq, Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Ata Pourabbasi, Javad Rafinejad, Reza Toyserkanamanesh

Affiliations

  1. Community Based Participatory Research Center, Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. [email protected].
  2. Knowledge Utilization Research Center, University Research and Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  3. Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  4. Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
  5. National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  6. Nursing Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  7. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  8. McMaster Health Forum and Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
  9. Africa Centre for Evidence, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  10. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  11. International Campus, School of Public Health, Health Economics and Management Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  12. Trusted Organization for Research and Development, Kabul, Afghanistan.
  13. Medical Education Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
  14. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
  15. School of Public Health, Health Information Management Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  16. Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  17. Department of Treatment and Social Support, IRAN Drug Control Headquarter, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 35033096 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-021-00803-0

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The institutionalization of evidence-informed health policy-making (EIHP) is complex and complicated. It is complex because it has many players and is complicated because its institutionalization will require many changes that will be challenging to make. Like many other issues, strengthening EIHP needs a road map, which should consider challenges and address them through effective, harmonized and contextualized strategies. This study aims to develop a road map for enhancing EIHP in Iran based on steps of planning.

METHODS: This study consisted of three phases: (1) identifying barriers to EIHP, (2) recognizing interventions and (3) measuring the use of evidence in Iran's health policy-making. A set of activities was established for conducting these, including foresight, systematic review and policy dialogue, to identify the current and potential barriers for the first phase. For the second phase, an evidence synthesis was performed through a scoping review, by searching the websites of benchmark institutions which had good examples of EIHP practices in order to extract and identify interventions, and through eight policy dialogues and two broad opinion polls to contextualize the list of interventions. Simultaneously, two qualitative-quantitative studies were conducted to design and use a tool for assessing EIHP in the third phase.

RESULTS: We identified 97 barriers to EIHP and categorized them into three groups, including 35 barriers on the "generation of evidence" (push side), 41 on the "use of evidence" (pull side) and 21 on the "interaction between these two" (exchange side). The list of 41 interventions identified through evidence synthesis and eight policy dialogues was reduced to 32 interventions after two expert opinion polling rounds. These interventions were classified into four main strategies for strengthening (1) the education and training system (6 interventions), (2) the incentives programmes (7 interventions), (3) the structure of policy support organizations (4 interventions) and (4) the enabling processes to support EIHP (15 interventions).

CONCLUSION: The policy options developed in the study provide a comprehensive framework to chart a path for strengthening the country's EIHP considering both global practices and the context of Iran. It is recommended that operational plans be prepared for road map interventions, and the necessary resources provided for their implementation. The implementation of the road map will require attention to the principles of good governance, with a focus on transparency and accountability. Video abstract.

© 2022. The Author(s).

Keywords: Evidence; Health research system; Iran; Knowledge translation; Policy-making

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