Article type
Abstract
Background: Policy/decision-makers often face urgent situations where quick decisions or actions must be made. However, they encounter challenges such as time constraints to summarize the available information, inadequate skills and knowledge to analyze available information, and difficulty finding relevant, reliable, and up-to-date information sources, all of which significantly hinder effective decision-making in such times. Facilitating policymaking through the timely delivery of high-quality research evidence during urgent situations or crises is crucial in achieving the broader goal of reducing healthcare disparities, improving healthcare systems and the overall well-being of communities.
Objective: We aimed to identify opportunities to facilitate timely access to evidence to inform policies and decisions during urgent situations and crises at the national level.
Methods: We conducted an interactive workshop with 20 policymakers in Kampala in September 2023. Participants were purposively selected following the ministry-level government structure and their role in the decision-making process. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the information collected.
Results: Opportunities to facilitate timely access to evidence for policies and decisions in urgent situations and crises included: 1) Enhancing access to relevant data and information by proactively engaging policymakers. 2) Exploring information technology innovations such as artificial intelligence or digitalization of data to enhance access to data and information. 3) Increasing the visibility of evidence synthesis institutions, through publishing of their evidence products and tapping into existing engagement opportunities with policymakers such as senior management committee meetings. Moreover, to ensure sustainability, participants highlighted the following: enhancing capacity for policy and research development through establishing training opportunities for policymakers to improve their awareness in accessing relevant data and information sources and embedding research into policy through mapping of priority areas to ensure alignment with policymakers' needs.
Conclusion: To ensure timely access to evidence to inform policies/decisions during urgent situations, it's imperative to improve data access, leverage technological innovations, and enhance the visibility of evidence-generation institutions. Most importantly, establishing a framework of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) can further strengthen collaborative efforts in evidence-informed decision-making.
Objective: We aimed to identify opportunities to facilitate timely access to evidence to inform policies and decisions during urgent situations and crises at the national level.
Methods: We conducted an interactive workshop with 20 policymakers in Kampala in September 2023. Participants were purposively selected following the ministry-level government structure and their role in the decision-making process. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the information collected.
Results: Opportunities to facilitate timely access to evidence for policies and decisions in urgent situations and crises included: 1) Enhancing access to relevant data and information by proactively engaging policymakers. 2) Exploring information technology innovations such as artificial intelligence or digitalization of data to enhance access to data and information. 3) Increasing the visibility of evidence synthesis institutions, through publishing of their evidence products and tapping into existing engagement opportunities with policymakers such as senior management committee meetings. Moreover, to ensure sustainability, participants highlighted the following: enhancing capacity for policy and research development through establishing training opportunities for policymakers to improve their awareness in accessing relevant data and information sources and embedding research into policy through mapping of priority areas to ensure alignment with policymakers' needs.
Conclusion: To ensure timely access to evidence to inform policies/decisions during urgent situations, it's imperative to improve data access, leverage technological innovations, and enhance the visibility of evidence-generation institutions. Most importantly, establishing a framework of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) can further strengthen collaborative efforts in evidence-informed decision-making.