Water, Global Change and Health: Research Gaps, Research Priorities

Background: The objectives of this article are to describe the process followed in development of the Swaziland’s national health research agenda (NHRA); and to provide an overview of the health research priorities that emerged from that process.Discussion: Swaziland followed a fourteen step process to develop it’s NHRA, namely: search and review of the existing health research priority setting guidelines; situation analysis included review of Swaziland’s socio-economic indicators; identification of research stakeholders; identification of the preliminary main broad research themes; development of questionnaire on ranking of main research themes; workshops with each of the eight stakeholders; ranking of major health themes and identification of sub-themes; identification of research gaps under each sub-theme and main research areas; scoring of research areas; research areas were grouped by sub-themes and ranked; collating research areas ranked as number one in each sub-theme; providing content to the agenda; preparation of the zero NHRA draft report; preparation of the first NHRA draft report taking into account critical inputs from stakeholders; and stakeholder’s final validation of the NHRA draft report. The paper provides an overview of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, injuries and health system research gaps under four categories of research: situation (burden and determinants); improvement of existing interventions; effectiveness of interventions; and feasibility of developing new capacities (tools and products).Conclusion: The National Health Research Department, with the support of the National Health Research Review Board, will be responsible for dissemination, preparation of rolling annual action plans to secure government funds for implementation of NHRA, promoting adherence among stakeholders, establishing a registry of R4H, establishing a knowledge translation platform, building of public-private-partnerships for research, mobilization of external resources, coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the NHRA. KeywordsSwaziland, National Health Research Agenda, Health Research Priorities, Research Stakeholders, Research Gaps

Download Full-text

Patients, clinicians and researchers working together to improve cardiovascular health: a qualitative study of barriers and priorities for patient-oriented research

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031187 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. e031187 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maria-Jose Santana ◽

Sandra Zelinsky ◽

Sadia Ahmed ◽

Chelsea Doktorchik ◽

Matthew James ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Research ◽

Heart Diseases ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Research Programme ◽

Advisory Council ◽

Future Research ◽

Prediction And Prevention ◽

Participatory Health Research ◽

Working Together ◽

Oriented Research

ObjectivesThe overall goal of this study is to identify priorities for cardiovascular (CV) health research that are important to patients and clinician-researchers. We brought together a group of CV patients and clinician-researchers new to patient-oriented research (POR), to build a multidisciplinary POR team and form an advisory committee for the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta.DesignThis qualitative POR used a participatory health research paradigm to work with participants in eliciting their priorities. Therefore, participants were involved in priority setting, and analysis of findings. Participants also developed a plan for continued engagement to support POR in CV health research.SettingLibin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.ParticipantsA total of 23 participants, including patients and family caregivers (n=12) and clinician-researchers (n=11).ResultsParticipants identified barriers and facilitators to POR in CV health (lack of awareness of POR and poor understanding on the role of patients) and 10 research priorities for improving CV health. The CV health research priorities include: (1) CV disease prediction and prevention, (2) access to CV care, (3) communication with providers, (4) use of eHealth technology, (5) patient experiences in healthcare, (6) patient engagement, (7) transitions and continuity of CV care, (8) integrated CV care, (9) development of structures for patient-to-patient support and (10) research on rare heart diseases.ConclusionsIn this study, research priorities were identified by patients and clinician-researchers working together to improve CV health. Future research programme and projects will be developed to address these priorities. A key output of this study is the creation of the patient advisory council that will provide support and will work with clinician-researchers to improve CV health.

Download Full-text