The process of developing an expert guided indicator framework to assess governments’ efforts and progress in strengthening rehabilitation in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is described. A systems methodology - concept mapping - was used to capture, aggregate and confirm the knowledge of diverse stakeholders on measures thought to be useful for monitoring the implementation of the Convention with respect to health related rehabilitation. Fifty-six individuals generated a list of 107 indicators through online brainstorming which were subsequently sorted by 37 experts from the original panel into non overlapping categories. Forty-one participants rated the indicators for importance and feasibility. Multivariate statistical techniques where used to explore patterns and themes in the data and create the indicators’ organizing framework which was verified and interpreted by a select number of participants.
Globalization and Health (2018) 14:96 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0410-5
There is widespread evidence of failure to implement health interventions that have been demonstrated to be cost-effective by high-quality research; this failure affects both high-income and low-income countries. Low-income countries face additional challenges to using research evidence including: the weakness of their health systems, the lack of professional regulation and a lack of access to evidence. There is a 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. The concept of public engagement with health research requires a public that is both informed and active. Even when systematic reviews are available further work is needed to translate their findings into guidelines or messages that are understandable to patients and health professionals. Many of the commonly used approaches for keeping health professionals' knowledge up-to-date appear to have small or inconsistent effects. The evidence-base is more extensive for interventions directed towards professionals, such as education, reminders or feedback, than for those directed at organisations or patients. The effect of interventions varies according to the setting and the behaviour that is targeted. Case studies in low-income settings suggest that some strategies can result in increased coverage of evidence-based interventions, but there is a lack of evidence from systematic reviews of rigorous research. Given the potential for near-term improvements in health, finding more effective ways of promoting the uptake of evidence-based interventions should be a priority for researchers, practitioners and policy-makers
This report from a workshop discusses what is meant by policy and the policy process, and the move from the traditional linear approach to presenting alternative models. It sets out a framework for thinking about the interaction between research and policy and deals with the challenges that are facing researchers and policy makers. The conclusion suggests that the impact of research is uncertain and contingent on social and political context
This extensive resource guide and handbook is designed to help development professionals, programme planners, trainers, policy makers and child advocates to develop integrated approaches to working with young children living in poverty. It is organised into seven sections: the basics of early childhood development; needs assessment; setting project goals and objectives; choosing an appropriate approach; creating the infrastructure to deliver services; evaluation; and costs and financing.
"This guide has been developed to enable programme planners and managers to carry out a rapid situtation analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health so that programmes may be designed or improved on the basis of sound, up-to-date information."