Abstract
Evidence-informed policies can produce social and economic impacts and equity and health benefits. Interaction between researchers in politics depends on the interests of social stakeholders and favorable political environments. This paper seeks to understand the meanings and researchers' perspectives of interaction processes between scientists and decision-makers that would influence the research impact on the health policy. This is a qualitative content analysis study conducted in 2014 to identify the core meanings and relationships between research and politics. The paper builds on the RAPID program approach of the Overseas Development Institute. Fourteen researchers who conducted maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality studies sponsored by the Health Ministry were interviewed. Researchers focused on the production of knowledge, strengthening of research capacities and dissemination of results. On some occasions, researchers also participated in the definition of clinical care policies and performance of health services. They pointed to barriers to interact and produce an impact on politics due to tensions in the political, economic and social context, as well as to institutional and organizational changes in the health sector and to the academic evaluation system.
Highlights
There has been growing recognition that policies and health systems management are best implemented in terms of their effectiveness, efficacy and performance insofar as policymakers and decision-makers seize evidence and experience validated by research results
This paper seeks to understand the meanings and perspectives of researchers on the impact of research on politics and how they evaluate the processes and dynamics of interaction between scientists, decision-makers and professionals that influence the use of research results in the Brazilian health policy
The influence and legitimacy of researchers and decision-makers Some researchers have recorded experiences of participation in national maternal health care policies decision-making settings. They argued that this participation stemmed from the academic legitimacy recognized by health authorities and at the same time revealed the influence of researchers in the power and political making relationships: I am participating in a consultancy for the maternity quality assessment program linked to the release of additional funding for the institutions [...] there is a great tension between researchers and the power of the Ministry of Health [...] when you try to interfere a little more with technical arguments ... for example, we proposed something to put in the evaluation and the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries vetoed ... that would require tinkering... with maternity directors
Summary
There has been growing recognition that policies and health systems management are best implemented in terms of their effectiveness, efficacy and performance insofar as policymakers and decision-makers seize evidence and experience validated by research results. Studies on transfer of knowledge and interfaces between research and policy tend to emphasize the need to overcome barriers and generate favorable conditions to make the relationship between researchers and health policy formulators effective These conditions would promote the appropriate participation and interaction of stakeholders in the elaboration and implementation of the research policy; the improved identification of knowledge gaps by research users; quality assurance of research results; the training of health professionals for research; the experience of researchers’ involvement at political and decision-making levels in politics; the demand for research by health policymakers; the improvement of synthesis mechanisms, dissemination and disclosure of results, institutional capacity and mechanisms for critical use by formulators and different audiences at national and local levels[4,5,6]. This paper points to opportunities and challenges perceived by the researchers for the greater involvement of academia in the development of policies
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