Abstract
Background: Knowledge translation (KT) is a process that ensures that research evidence gets translated into policy and practice. In Nigeria, reports indicate that research evidence rarely gets into policymaking process. A major factor responsible for this is lack of KT capacity enhancement mechanisms. The objective of this study was to improve KT competence of an implementation research team (IRT), policymakers and stakeholders in maternal and child health to enhance evidence-informed policymaking. Methods: This study employed a “before and after” design, modified as an intervention study. The study was conducted in Bauchi, north-eastern Nigeria. A three-day KT training workshop was organized and 15 modules were covered including integrated and end-of-grant KT; KT models, measures, tools and strategies; priority setting; managing political interference; advocacy and consensus building/negotiations; inter-sectoral collaboration; policy analysis, contextualization and legislation. A 4-point Likert scale pre-/post-workshop questionnaires were administerd to evaluate the impact of the training, it was designed in terms of extent of adequacy; with “grossly inadequate” representing 1 point, and “very adequate” representing 4 points.Results: A total of 45 participants attended the workshop. There was a noteworthy improvement in the participants’ understanding of KT processes and strategies. The range of the preworkshop mean of participants knowledge of modules taught was from 2.04-2.94, the range for the postworkshop mean was from 3.10–3.70 on the 4-point Likert scale. The range of percentage increase in mean for participants’ knowledge at the end of the workshop was from 13.3%–55.2%.Conclusion: The outcome of this study suggests that using a KT capacity building programme e.g., workshop, health researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders can acquire capacity and skill that will facilitate evidence-to-policy link.
Highlights
Canada Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) defines knowledge translation (KT) as “a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve the health of people, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system”.1 Knowledge translation (KT) has been described as a complex multidimensional phenomenon, a call has been made on the need for better comprehension of its processes including the mechanisms, methods, measurements, and factors influencing it from individual and contextual perspectives.[2]
We present the outcome of a training workshop designed to enhance the capacity of an MNCH implementation research team (IRT) to effectively undertake KT and to promote evidence informed policymaking and improve maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria
Up to 19 participants were from the ministry of health and its associated agencises including, State primary health care development agency 4 (8.9%), ministry of health 6 (13.3%) and the Local government area health unit 9 (20%) (Table 1)
Summary
Canada Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) defines knowledge translation (KT) as “a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve the health of people, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system”.1 KT has been described as a complex multidimensional phenomenon, a call has been made on the need for better comprehension of its processes including the mechanisms, methods, measurements, and factors influencing it from individual and contextual perspectives.[2]. KT has been described as a complex multidimensional phenomenon, a call has been made on the need for better comprehension of its processes including the mechanisms, methods, measurements, and factors influencing it from individual and contextual perspectives.[2] KT is the meeting ground between research and practice-the two fundamentally different processes that KT has knit together via relationships that can be described as communicative.[3] KT process is by no means simple because of the involvement of a wide range of interactions between those who produce knowledge (research evidence) and those in position to use knowledge for policymaking. Conclusion: The outcome of this study suggests that using a KT capacity building programme e.g., workshop, health researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders can acquire capacity and skill that will facilitate evidence-to-policy link
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