Ensuring policy-relevant reviews: building capacity amongst review authors and policy makers

Article type
Authors
Oliver S1, Lewin S2, Hill S3, Ranson K4
1EPPI-Centre, Institute of Education, United Kingdom
2Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Heatlh Services / MRC South Africa, Norway
3Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group, Australia
4WHO Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research
Abstract
Objectives:

To discuss approaches to building capacity to make reviews more relevant to policy makers.

Description:

Policy-relevant reviews to inform health systems decisions often require complex negotiations between review author teams, review support organisations (such as The Cochrane Collaboration) and review funders. A structured discussion will focus on: • how these different groups can work together collaboratively; • the order of policy-relevant input and methodological input during the review process; • how to involve other stakeholders; • how to build capacity amongst review authors and policy makers; and • how to gather lessons and evaluate progress regarding capacity building. The workshop will begin with an introduction to lessons learnt from both reviews initiated by review authors and those commissioned by policy makers; approaches to capacity building and culture change within organisations undertaking systematic reviews and within policy organisations; and options for evaluation whilst working together and afterwards. Small group discussion will focus on challenges and solutions encountered in the production of reviews for strengthening health systems, and how review authors and policy makers can capture and share their learning and evaluate collaborative working. The workshop will draw on examples of reviews suggested by the facilitators and participants.