SUPPORT Tools for Evidence-informed Policymaking in health 6: Using research evidence to address how an option will be implemented

Abstract

This article is part of a series written for people responsible for making decisions about health policies and programmes and for those who support these decision makers.After a policy decision has been made, the next key challenge is transforming this stated policy position into practical actions. What strategies, for instance, are available to facilitate effective implementation, and what is known about the effectiveness of such strategies? We suggest five questions that can be considered by policymakers when implementing a health policy or programme. These are: 1. What are the potential barriers to the successful implementation of a new policy? 2. What strategies should be considered in planning the implementation of a new policy in order to facilitate the necessary behavioural changes among healthcare recipients and citizens? 3. What strategies should be considered in planning the implementation of a new policy in order to facilitate the necessary behavioural changes in healthcare professionals? 4. What strategies should be considered in planning the implementation of a new policy in order to facilitate the necessary organisational changes? 5. What strategies should be considered in planning the implementation of a new policy in order to facilitate the necessary systems changes?

Improving Access to Skilled Attendance at Delivery: A Policy Brief for Uganda

“…The methods used to prepare the policy brief use the SUPPORT Tools for evidenceinformed health policy making (1)(2)(3). The policy brief assesses a health systems problem, potential policy options to address the problem, and strategies for implementing those options.…”

The experience of implementing the board of trustees’ policy in teaching hospitals in Iran: an example of health system decentralization

“…Selecting an appropriate implementation approach can facilitate an effective policy implementation. Strategic planning for the implementation of a policy is needed to facilitate the necessary behavioral and motivational changes in various stakeholders (39). Incomplete implementation of the board of trustees' policy made it unbalanced and superficial.…”

Formulación de Políticas Nutricionales informadas por la Evidencia

“…Los artículos revisan a fondo cómo usar la investigación para definir adecuadamente un problema, cómo establecer un marco de opciones posibles para abordar dicho problema, cómo evaluar la aplicabilidad de la evidencia, cómo tener en cuenta la equidad, cómo evaluar los costes de su implementación o incluso cómo monitorizar y evaluar las políticas implementadas. Ha llegado el momento de reflexionar sobre estos y otros muchos temas que plantean estos magníficos 19 artículos 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] , y ha llegado el momento de pedir que todas aquellas personas relacionadas (ya sea de forma directa o indirecta) con la toma de decisiones en políticas nutricionales tomen consciencia de la necesidad urgente de que dicha toma de decisiones sea bien informada a través de la evidencia científica, y hacerles saber que disponen de 18 herramientas estupendas (llamadas SUPPORT tools) para ayudarles en la implementación de un sistema que conduzca a la posibilidad de tener un sistema de gestión de salud más eficiente.…”