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Assessing the impact of health research on health policies: a study of the Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana

Overview of attention for article published in BMC Health Services Research, June 2017
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Title
Assessing the impact of health research on health policies: a study of the Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana
Published in
BMC Health Services Research, June 2017
DOI 10.1186/s12913-017-2383-0
Pubmed ID
Authors

Blanca Escribano-Ferrer, Jayne Webster, Margaret Gyapong

Abstract

The importance of assessing research impact is increasingly recognised. Ghana has a long tradition of research dating from the 1970s. In the Ghana Health Service there are three health research centres under the Research and Development Division. Dodowa Health Research Centre (DHRC) is the youngest in the country dating from the 1990s. The objective of this study is to analyse the influence of the research conducted in DHRC on national and local health policies. The study used the Research Impact Framework. Six projects were selected based on a set of criteria. Thirteen interviews were conducted with researchers and policy makers using a semi-structured interview guide. DHRC had numerous policy impacts in terms of researchers participating in policy networks, increasing political capital and influencing policy documents. Factors identified to be associated with policy impact included collaboration with policy makers at the design stage, addressing health priorities, and communicating results mainly through the participation in annual review meetings. DHRC was successful in influencing health policies. Recommendations were made that could be included in the DHRC strategic planning to improve the research process and its policy impact.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 53 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 53 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 11 21%
Student > Bachelor 6 11%
Researcher 5 9%
Student > Master 4 8%
Lecturer 3 6%
Other 9 17%
Unknown 15 28%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Nursing and Health Professions 9 17%
Social Sciences 7 13%
Medicine and Dentistry 5 9%
Business, Management and Accounting 4 8%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 2 4%
Other 8 15%
Unknown 18 34%