Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Policymakers in Ministry of Health (MoH), Malaysia has been working to identify health research priority setting to improve utilization of health research resources in term of funding, personnel, and equipment in the most effective way under 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025. To make evidence-informed decisions regarding the health research priority areas in the medical landscapes, the research core team under 12th Malaysia Plan needs to provide evidence to justify reasons on the selected areas identified as health priorities. The process for health research priority-setting adapts the use of evidence-based practice in decision making.
Objective
This report aims to describe the steps of health research priority-setting in Malaysia and improve the use of resources for optimum uptake of research by using evidence-based practice and improve the health and wellbeing of all Malaysian.
Methods:
Step 1 – Engagement with decision-makers and stakeholders.
All decision-makers and stakeholders were identified through their area of expertise. The list included public and private medical universities, research providers, research funders, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. They were asked about the 1) specific gaps in the area for health research, 2) skills and knowledge of relevance to the areas for health research and 3) health research objectives and outcomes.
Step 2 – Providing support, information sharing and coordination related to setting health priorities
The core team for health research priority-setting developed a survey form for both academics and stakeholders/policymakers which is called an advisory committee, in order to identify key health research areas to be prioritised.
Step 3 – Health research priority identification phase.
Participants were split into a few working groups based on subject expertise to identify general priority research areas within their domain. Each group began by reviewing a list of potential health research topics and the knowledge gaps around that topic.
Step 4 – Draft ranking, advocate and support for all types of systematic reviews in identifying gaps for research priority
Topics were placed in high priority, moderate priority, or low priority categories. These first draft will be presented to the whole group in plenary and an extensive discussion was held to refine the list. Lists were then revised into a second draft form.
Step 5 – Product document for health research priority-setting.
The final draft which will be developed by the working group will be shared with all policymakers, stakeholders and researchers of the MoH, Malaysia and public and private medical universities for further comments.
Conclusions:
Organizing this systematic priority setting process lays the groundwork for future priority setting workshops to be conducted using internationally recognized best practices.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
We invited NGOs and public at large to determine their area of interest during the preparation of health research priority-setting.
Policymakers in Ministry of Health (MoH), Malaysia has been working to identify health research priority setting to improve utilization of health research resources in term of funding, personnel, and equipment in the most effective way under 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025. To make evidence-informed decisions regarding the health research priority areas in the medical landscapes, the research core team under 12th Malaysia Plan needs to provide evidence to justify reasons on the selected areas identified as health priorities. The process for health research priority-setting adapts the use of evidence-based practice in decision making.
Objective
This report aims to describe the steps of health research priority-setting in Malaysia and improve the use of resources for optimum uptake of research by using evidence-based practice and improve the health and wellbeing of all Malaysian.
Methods:
Step 1 – Engagement with decision-makers and stakeholders.
All decision-makers and stakeholders were identified through their area of expertise. The list included public and private medical universities, research providers, research funders, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. They were asked about the 1) specific gaps in the area for health research, 2) skills and knowledge of relevance to the areas for health research and 3) health research objectives and outcomes.
Step 2 – Providing support, information sharing and coordination related to setting health priorities
The core team for health research priority-setting developed a survey form for both academics and stakeholders/policymakers which is called an advisory committee, in order to identify key health research areas to be prioritised.
Step 3 – Health research priority identification phase.
Participants were split into a few working groups based on subject expertise to identify general priority research areas within their domain. Each group began by reviewing a list of potential health research topics and the knowledge gaps around that topic.
Step 4 – Draft ranking, advocate and support for all types of systematic reviews in identifying gaps for research priority
Topics were placed in high priority, moderate priority, or low priority categories. These first draft will be presented to the whole group in plenary and an extensive discussion was held to refine the list. Lists were then revised into a second draft form.
Step 5 – Product document for health research priority-setting.
The final draft which will be developed by the working group will be shared with all policymakers, stakeholders and researchers of the MoH, Malaysia and public and private medical universities for further comments.
Conclusions:
Organizing this systematic priority setting process lays the groundwork for future priority setting workshops to be conducted using internationally recognized best practices.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
We invited NGOs and public at large to determine their area of interest during the preparation of health research priority-setting.