Supporting the use of research evidence in decision-making in crisis zones in low- and middle-income countries: a critical interpretive synthesis.

Ahmad Firas Khalid, John N Lavis, Fadi El-Jardali, Meredith Vanstone
Author Information
  1. Ahmad Firas Khalid: Health Policy PhD Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. kkhalida@mcmaster.ca. ORCID
  2. John N Lavis: Health Policy PhD Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
  3. Fadi El-Jardali: Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
  4. Meredith Vanstone: Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Decision-makers in crisis zones are faced with the challenge of having to make health-related decisions under limited time and resource constraints and in light of the many factors that can influence their decisions, of which research evidence is just one. To address a key gap in the research literature about how best to support the use of research evidence in such situations, we conducted a critical interpretive synthesis approach to develop a conceptual framework that outlines the strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones.
METHODS: We systematically reviewed both empirical and non-empirical literature and used an interpretive analytic approach to synthesise the results and develop the conceptual framework. We used a 'compass' question to create a detailed search strategy and conducted electronic searches in CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SSCI and Web of Science. A second reviewer was assigned to a representative sample of articles. We purposively sampled additional papers to fill in conceptual gaps.
RESULTS: We identified 21 eligible papers to be analysed and purposively sampled an additional 6 to fill conceptual gaps. The synthesis resulted in a conceptual framework that focuses on evidence use in crisis zones examined through the lens of four systems - political, health, international humanitarian aid and health research. Within each of the four systems, the framework identifies the most actionable strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use.
CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a new conceptual framework that outlines strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones within different systems. This study expands on the literature pertaining to evidence-informed decision-making.

Keywords

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MeSH Term

Decision Making
Developing Countries
Disasters
Evidence-Based Practice
Health Policy
Health Services Administration
Humans
International Cooperation
Politics
Time Factors

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0evidencezonesresearchuseconceptualcrisisframeworkaddressinterpretivesynthesissystemsliteraturestrategiesleveragefacilitatorsbarriersdecisionsconductedcriticalapproachdevelopoutlinesusedpurposivelysampledadditionalpapersfillgapsfourhealthstudydecision-makingBACKGROUND:Decision-makersfacedchallengemakehealth-relatedlimitedtimeresourceconstraintslightmanyfactorscaninfluencejustonekeygapbestsupportsituationsMETHODS:systematicallyreviewedempiricalnon-empiricalanalyticsynthesiseresults'compass'questioncreatedetailedsearchstrategyelectronicsearchesCINAHLEMBASEMEDLINESSCIWebSciencesecondreviewerassignedrepresentativesamplearticlesRESULTS:identified21eligibleanalysed6resultedfocusesexaminedlens-politicalinternationalhumanitarianaidWithinidentifiesactionableCONCLUSIONS:presentsnewwithindifferentexpandspertainingevidence-informedSupportinglow-middle-incomecountries:BarriersCrisisCriticalDecision-makingEvidenceFacilitatorsHealthKnowledgetranslationLMICs

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