Study On Mechanism To Promote Translation Of Health Policy Research Evidence Into Health Policy

Background:With the new era move forward,scientific decision-making has been an inevitable trend and demand,and evidence-informed decision-making is one way of scientific decision-making.However,in the fields of health administration,evidence-informed decision-making has not yet played a key role.WHO and AHSPR launched Evidence-informed Policy Network(EVIPNet) project in 2005 which tends to promote scientific decision-making and improve quality of policy in low and middle-income countries.One of the key concerns of EVIPNet is how to promote translation of health policy research evidence into health policy.Objective:(1) To understand the status quo of health policy developing of Sichuan,researchers' involvement in policy development and translation of research evidence into health policy;(2) to investigate factors influence the translation of research evidence into health policy;(3) to explore translation mechanism of research evidence into health policy of Sichuan.Method:Quantitative and qualitative methods are used.In-depth interviews were conducted to 37 individuals that include all main experts in the field of health policy,department level and division level health policy makers from all level health administrations of Chengdu,Sichuan.16 research projects of experts were also surveyed.Descriptive analysis done and results summarized.Results:Health policy making of Sichuan follow such steps:proposing policy issue, investigation and research,forming preliminary proposal,demonstration of the proposal,developing policy document.In steps of policy-making process,experts are most often involved in investigation and research,and demonstration.When developing health policies,health administrative departments consult all available data and information,but rarely consult experts' research evidence.The status quo of translation of research evidence into health policy at present is not optimistic,at least, most of the interviewed policy makers hold the view that experts' research are more or less divorce from reality issues.Policy makers hold the view that health policy experts in Sichuan are "highly involved,but their research evidence rarely translated" in health policy-making,while experts hold the view that they are "highly involved and their research evidence highly translated" in health policy-making.The reasons why policy makers and experts have such difference in their point of view are due to difference of policy developing models and policy types,and lack of research evidence registration and protection mechanism.Factors that contributed to the status quo of translation of research evidence to health policy are:(1) difference between decision-making model and policy types;(2) limits of policy makers' academic ability;(3) attitude of policy makers;(4) policy developing framework are hard to breakthrough;(5) experts' problem;(6) lack of effective channels of communication and exchangesConclusion:(1) health policy makers and experts have different views of the role of health experts in decision making,however,experts play a considerable role in policy making generally;(2) factors that influence translation of research evidence into health policy exist in Sichuan(3) necessary means have to been taken to promote translation of research evidence in health policy,which include awareness improving,capacity-building,communication and incentive mechanisms developing and especially introduction of intermediaries to promote translation of research evidence into policy.