When, why and how do policy makers use commissioned rapid reviews of research in health policies and programs?

Abstract

Background Access to timely, relevant research in health policy making has the potential to improve health outcomes by increasing the likelihood that decisions are informed by the best available evidence. Governments around the world are investing in strategies to increase the use of research in policies and programs, yet there is little evidence of their effectiveness. Objective The thesis addressed the following questions: 1. When do policymakers seek research through commissioned rapid reviews? 2. How do policymakers use commissioned rapid reviews and in what ways does use vary? 3. Can knowledge brokers play a useful role in aligning the focus of commissioned rapid reviews with the agency’s needs, and if so, what contributes to their effectiveness? Methods This thesis uses multiple methods to examine policymakers’ use of research within the Evidence Check rapid review program, with a view to developing a nuanced understanding of when, why and how policymakers seek and use research. Results Most health policymakers commissioned rapid reviews in response to questions arising in policy development and agenda setting and to identify alternative solutions to policy problems. Eighty-nine percent of commissioned rapid reviews were used by the policymakers who commissioned them, in multiple and diverse ways. Research was used in instrumental and conceptual ways with little symbolic use reported. There was some variation in use by different agencies. The clarity of the rapid reviews’ purpose, review questions, scope, method and report format improved significantly following knowledge. Knowledge brokers worked closely with policymakers to understand the policy context and how the review would be used in practice, characterised in this thesis as coproduction. Brokers used facilitative, diagnostic, interpretative and deliberative functions. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the value of commissioned rapid reviews to policy agencies and suggest that consideration be given to using knowledge brokers more widely to clarify how research can inform policy. Future research could examine the generalisability of these findings to other rapid review programs, and indeed other commissioned research programs. The thesis discusses the implications of these findings for increasing the use of research.