Waqa Gade, Mavoa Helen, Snowdon Wendy, Moodie Marj, Nadakuitavuki Rigieta, Mc Cabe Marita, Swinburn Boyd
Pacific Research Centre for the Prevention of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (C-POND), Fiji School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Aug 7;13:725. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-725.
Evidence-informed policy-making (EIPM) is optimal when evidence-producers (researchers) and policy developers work collaboratively to ensure the production and use of the best available evidence. This paper examined participants' perceptions of knowledge-brokering strategies used in the TROPIC (Translational Research in Obesity Prevention in Communities) project to facilitate the use of obesity-related evidence in policy development in Fiji.
Knowledge-brokers delivered a 12-18 month programme comprising workshops targeting EIPM skills and practical support for developing evidence-informed policy briefs to reduce obesity. The programme was tailored to each of the six participating organizations. Knowledge-brokering strategies included negotiating topics that were aligned to the goals of individual organizations, monitoring and evaluating time-management skills, accommodating other organizational and individual priorities, delivering practical sessions on use of appropriate research tools and supporting individual writing of policy briefs. Two qualitative methods were used to examine individuals' perceptions of skills obtained, opportunities afforded by the TROPIC project, facilitators and inhibiters to planned policy brief development and suggestions for improved programme delivery. Forty-nine participants completed an electronic word table and then participated in a semi-structured interview. An independent interviewer conducted structured interviews with a high-ranking officer in each organization to examine their perceptions of TROPIC engagement strategies. Data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, with the first author and another experienced qualitative researcher analyzing data sets separately, and then combining analyses.
Many participants believed that they had increased their skills in acquiring, assessing, adapting and applying evidence, writing policy briefs and presenting evidence-based arguments to higher levels. Many participants preferred one-to-one meetings to group activities to ensure early resolution of developing issues and to refine policy briefs. Perceived barriers to EIPM were lack of knowledge about data sources, inadequate time to develop evidence-informed briefs, and insufficient resources for accessing and managing evidence.
An innovative knowledge-brokering approach utilizing skill development and mentorship facilitated individual EIPM skills and policy brief development. The TROPIC model could stimulate evidence-based policy action relating to obesity prevention and other policy areas in other Pacific countries and elsewhere.
当证据生产者（研究人员）和政策制定者协同工作以确保最佳可用证据的产生和使用时，基于证据的政策制定（EIPM）是最理想的。本文研究了参与者对TROPIC（社区肥胖预防转化研究）项目中所使用的知识中介策略的看法，该项目旨在促进斐济在政策制定中使用与肥胖相关的证据。
知识中介开展了一个为期12 - 18个月的项目，包括针对EIPM技能的研讨会以及为制定基于证据的政策简报以减少肥胖提供实际支持。该项目是为六个参与组织量身定制的。知识中介策略包括协商与各组织目标一致的主题、监测和评估时间管理技能、兼顾其他组织和个人优先事项、举办关于使用适当研究工具的实践课程以及支持个人撰写政策简报。采用两种定性方法来研究个人对所获得技能的看法、TROPIC项目提供的机会、计划政策简报制定的促进因素和阻碍因素以及对改进项目实施的建议。49名参与者完成了一个电子文字表格，然后参加了半结构化访谈。一名独立访谈者对每个组织的一名高级官员进行了结构化访谈，以考察他们对TROPIC参与策略的看法。对数据进行了描述性和主题性分析，第一作者和另一位经验丰富的定性研究人员分别对数据集进行分析，然后合并分析结果。
许多参与者认为他们在获取、评估、改编和应用证据、撰写政策简报以及向更高层面陈述基于证据的论点方面的技能有所提高。许多参与者更喜欢一对一会议而非小组活动，以确保早期解决发展中问题并完善政策简报。EIPM的感知障碍包括对数据源缺乏了解、制定基于证据的简报时间不足以及获取和管理证据的资源不足。
一种利用技能发展和指导的创新知识中介方法促进了个人EIPM技能和政策简报的制定。TROPIC模式可以激发其他太平洋国家和其他地区与肥胖预防及其他政策领域相关的基于证据的政策行动。
