Dec 16, 2013 | research methodology
Dagenais, C., Malo, M., Robert, E., Ouimet, M., Berthelette, D., & Ridde, V. (2013). Knowledge transfer on complex social interventions in public health: a scoping study. (W. Glanzel, Ed.) PLoS ONE, 8(12), e80233. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080233. [texte intégral]
Résumé
Objectives
Scientific knowledge can help develop interventions that improve public health. The objectives of this review are (1) to describe the status of research on knowledge transfer strategies in the field of complex social interventions in public health and (2) to identify priorities for future research in this field.
Method
A scoping study is an exploratory study. After searching databases of bibliographic references and specialized periodicals, we summarized the relevant studies using a predetermined assessment framework. In-depth analysis focused on the following items: types of knowledge transfer strategies, fields of public health, types of publics, types of utilization, and types of research specifications.
Results
From the 1,374 references identified, we selected 26 studies. The strategies targeted mostly administrators of organizations and practitioners. The articles generally dealt with instrumental utilization and most often used qualitative methods. In general, the bias risk for the studies is high.
Conclusion
Researchers need to consider the methodological challenges in this field of research in order to improve assessment of more complex knowledge transfer strategies (when they exist), not just diffusion/dissemination strategies and conceptual and persuasive utilization.
Oct 28, 2013 | research methodology
Bertone, M. P., Meessen, B., Clarysse, G., Hercot, D., Kelley, A., Kafando, Y., Lange, I., Pfaffmann, J., Ridde, V., Sieleunou, I., Witter, S. (2013). Assessing communities of practice in health policy: a conceptual framework as a first step towards empirical research. Health Research Policy and Systems, 11(1), 39. doi:10.1186/1478-4505-11-39 (open access)
Abstract
Communities of Practice (CoPs) are groups of people that interact regularly to deepen their knowledge on a specific topic. Thanks to information and communication technologies, CoPs can involve experts distributed across countries and adopt a ‘transnational’ membership. This has allowed the strategy to be applied to domains of knowledge such as health policy with a global perspective. CoPs represent a potentially valuable tool for producing and sharing explicit knowledge, as well as tacit knowledge and implementation practices. They may also be effective in creating links among the different ‘knowledge holders’ contributing to health policy (e.g., researchers, policymakers, technical assistants, practitioners, etc.).
CoPs in global health are growing in number and activities. As a result, there is an increasing need to document their progress and evaluate their effectiveness. This paper represents a first step towards such empirical research as it aims to provide a conceptual framework for the analysis and assessment of transnational CoPs in health policy.
The framework is developed based on the findings of a literature review as well as on our experience, and reflects the specific features and challenges of transnational CoPs in health policy. It organizes the key elements of CoPs into a logical flow that links available resources and the capacity to mobilize them, with knowledge management activities and the expansion of knowledge, with changes in policy and practice and, ultimately, with an improvement in health outcomes. Additionally, the paper addresses the challenges in the operationalization and empirical application of the framework.
Jul 22, 2013 | health policy analysis, research methodology
In third position, an article by Valéry Ridde et Florence Morestin:
Jun 14, 2013 | health policy analysis, research methodology
A Torbica, M De Allegri, D Yugbare Belemsaga, A Medina-Lara, V Ridde (2013). What factors influence health policy entrepreneurs in West Africa? (Working paper) [pdf]
Abstract
This paper investigates the agenda-setting criteria used by policy entrepreneurs directly involved in the implementation of user-fee abolition or reduction policies for maternal care services in Africa. The study uses an experimental technique, best-worst scaling (BWS), to identify the criteria that drive their decision making. Results suggest that political commitment and impact on health are identified as the most important criteria, while international pressure and donor money are ranked as the least important. Respondents confirm that a strong leadership role is required at the governmental level in order to effect policy change, but attribute relatively little importance in decision making for increasing equity of health care among population groups or for the ability of the health system capacity to carry out new policy.
Jun 11, 2013 | health policy analysis, research methodology
Valéry Ridde, Christian Dagenais, Michèle Boileau (2013). An exploratory synthesis of knowledge brokering in public health. Santé publique, 25(2), 137–146. [pdf. article in French]
Abstract
There is a call for public health policies and interventions to be evidence-based. Also, using knowledge brokers to foster the use of research results is increasingly recommended. This article presents an exploratory synthesis of the current state of knowl- edge on this new strategy. We conducted a scoping study by consulting the main databases. Nineteen articles were included in the analysis, which was designed with a grid developed iteratively. The synthesis shows that knowledge brokering initiatives include i) planning activities (stakeholder identification, creation of networks and partnerships, context analysis, problem identifica- tion, needs identification), ii) support to the brokers (training, technical support, development of a practice guide), and iii) the brokerage activities themselves (information management, liaison between knowledge producers and users, training of users). Only four articles presented empirical data on the effects of brokers’ activities. Three were associated with increased knowledge in the target audience. No study showed any impact on clinical behaviours or on public policy content. This synthesis highlights the challenges involved in knowledge brokering activities, as well as the characteristics and skills a broker should possess. While knowledge brokering appears promising, efforts must nowbe made to evaluate it more system- atically to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Recherche originale
Jun 7, 2013 | research methodology
Léna D’Ostie-Racine, Christian Dagenais, Valéry Ridde (2013). Étude d’évaluabilité de la stratégie d’évaluation d’une organisation non gouvernementale (ONG) d’aide humanitaire basée au Burkina Faso et au Niger. Dans J. C. Suárez-Herrera & M.-J. Blain (dir.), La recherche en santé mondiale : perspectives socio-anthropologiques (pp. 167–182). Montréal: ACFAS. [pdf]
