Utilization of Research in Health System Decision Making

The ultimate goal of all health studies is to promote human health and increase equity in health. Many decisions are made at international and regional level to achieve these goals. How much the research is utilized in these decision makings? This study was designed to throw light on the utilization of knowledge in the health sector’s policy makings. This study was done qualitatively, through 10 in-depth interviews and 6 focus group discussions with researchers of macro level (Ministry of Health managers and policy makers) and peripheral level (researchers and service providers). Many problems were seen at different levels of knowledge utilization in the knowledge producing and utilizing sectors and in the exchange atmosphere between them. These problems were classified into characteristics of research, researchers and decision makers, human resources management, research and plan management, and politics in research and decision making. Absence of a clear plan for connecting knowledge producers and users is another barrier in reaching an ideal level of knowledge translation. Barriers and their respective solutions need to be identified through a comprehensive study at various levels in order to strengthen knowledge utilization in the health sector. Focus needs to be laid on the National Innovation System as one of the necessary infrastructures for conducting such purposeful plans.