Health Research Policy and Systems最新文献

{"title":"Empowering communities: a case study of integrated knowledge translation in the A/C study.","authors":"Agatha Nyambi, Shamara Baidoobonso, Winston Husbands, Pascal Djiadeu, Clémence Ongolo-Zogo, Muna Aden, Egbe Etowa, Wangari Tharao, Lawrence Mbuagbaw","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01513-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01513-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Ontario, Black people make up approximately 5% of the population and routinely account for over 20% of new HIV diagnoses. The A/C Study, a community-led cross-sectional study among Black Canadians, was designed to examine the factors that augment HIV risk and vulnerability for Black communities and inform policy and practice in Ontario, Canada, regarding HIV prevention and care for Black people. Knowledge translation (KT) was integrated throughout the research process as a core component of the study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adhering to the principles of self-determination and autonomy in community-based participatory research, this study was led by Black researchers and was guided by an integrated knowledge translation (IKT) approach. The research team developed a KT plan including: (1) push activities to disseminate the study findings, (2) pull activities to help interested stakeholders \"pull\" information about the research and (3) linkage and exchange activities. Community members played an integral role in all aspects of the research, including KT activities, and contributed to the study's design and implementation and to the interpretation of findings. Significant efforts were made to build partnerships and trust with stakeholders and community members to support study implementation.</p><p><strong>Outputs: </strong>The KT outputs include a community report and fact sheets available in English and French. There were also numerous community presentations, six conference abstracts and several multimedia and digital products. Community members co-led a World Café to share research findings and generate qualitative data to better understand the survey results and a research summit to develop an action plan for moving forward. Seven peer-reviewed manuscripts have been published with several more manuscripts in progress. Study data are available upon request to interested stakeholders.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Through active community involvement and engagement, the A/C Study generated a range of KT products. The information has been presented in various settings and formats to prioritize community audiences and support culturally appropriate and responsive knowledge sharing. These KT efforts underscore the importance of community involvement and partnership at all stages of the research process. The experiences, strengths and challenges of the IKT approach provide a case study of implementation in an equity-focused context.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13371460/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148455683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceived effectiveness of factors and intervention strategies for promoting evidence-based policymaking in Japan: a cross-sectional survey among policymakers, researchers and knowledge brokers.","authors":"Yuko Arimura, Yuko Yanagawa, Shota Kiuchi, Chikoto Suzuki, Haruka Matsuyama, Hinako Wakabayashi, Hisaya Tomori, Kenji Takehara, Sonoko Sensaki","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01501-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01501-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Evidence-based policymaking (EBPM) improves the quality of decision-making and ensures that necessary policies reach the populations who need them. Although EBPM-promoting factors have been conceptually explored, interventions that comprehensively address these factors remain under-investigated. Through qualitative research, we previously identified 25 factors that promote EBPM. Thus, this study aimed to (1) evaluate the perceived effectiveness of factors that promote EBPM and (2) assess the perceived effectiveness of interventions designed to address these factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Japan among three stakeholder groups: policymakers, researchers and knowledge brokers (KBs). Participants assessed the perceived effectiveness of the 25 factors and 75 corresponding intervention strategies. The mean scores were calculated for each factor, and the proportion of respondents who considered each intervention effective within its respective factor was determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 154 invited participants, 55 completed the survey, including policymakers (n = 15), researchers (n = 25) and KBs (n = 15). The highest-rated factor was \"organizing and disseminating leverageable evidence and data\" (mean = 4.53), which included the intervention \"development of data infrastructure easily utilizable by researchers while ensuring personal information protection\", selected as effective by 78.2% of the respondents. The second highest-rated factor was \"enhancing the knowledge and skills of policymakers and researchers in policymaking processes, EBPM, and research\" (mean = 4.37). Within this factor, two interventions shared the highest selection rate (72.3%): \"establishment of an in-ministry training system enabling policymakers to acquire essential skills regardless of department\" and \"development and provision of EBPM-related educational content for professional organizations (academic societies) and policymakers\".</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study identified the perceived effectiveness of 25 EBPM-promoting factors and 75 related interventions in the Japanese policymaking context on the basis of input from policymakers, researchers and KBs. These findings provide a foundation for the implementation of strategies by outlining practical interventions. The descriptive trends in perceived effectiveness across stakeholders suggest that implementation should reflect each group's priorities, roles and constraints. This study contributes to EBPM literature by systematically linking factors with interventions and demonstrating how stakeholder perspectives differ, thereby strengthening the basis for promoting EBPM in practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13644055/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148420658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond the horizon: new directions in research coproduction.","authors":"Anita Kothari, Chris McCutcheon, Ian D Graham","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01510-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01510-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research coproduction is no longer a subordinate approach; it is reshaping how health research is conceived, conducted and applied. Integrated knowledge translation (IKT), the Canadian term for coproduction, champions researchers and knowledge users in producing research that is relevant and actionable. In 2018, the Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network (IKTRN) launched its first concept paper series, emphasizing methodological foundations. In 2024, a second call invited deeper theoretical engagement, resulting in this collection, which addresses structural and relational dimensions of coproduction. Across the 17 papers in this series, 3 themes dominate: power, partnership strategies and infrastructure. Several papers interrogate power in research relationships, noting conceptual inconsistencies and proposing strategies such as reflexivity, culturally responsive approaches and inclusive language to mitigate inequities. Others examine partnership management, emphasizing trust as a dynamic process and recommending actions, such as continuous communication, to strengthen engagement with Indigenous communities, migrants and ethnically diverse populations. A third theme addresses infrastructure, highlighting the need for resources, leadership and tailored training to sustain coproduction, particularly for trainees. Collectively, these contributions signal an evolution from methodological concerns towards systemic considerations of equity and sustainability. They underscore that coproduction is not merely a set of techniques, but a structural and relational endeavour requiring institutional commitment and adequate resourcing. This collection invites researchers, funders and policy-makers to reflect on their roles in advancing these priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13348091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148420645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global partnerships for local impact: Strengthening HTA capacity in Asia and Africa through collaborative experiences.","authors":"Lapad Pongcharoenyong, Brandon Wen Bing Chua, Shiela Marie Gines Selisana-Chaipanya, Inthira Suya, Leslie Ong, Saudamini Vishwanath Dabak, Yot Teerawattananon","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01504-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01504-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Health technology assessment (HTA) is recognized as a critical tool for informing health policy decisions and advancing sustainable universal health coverage (UHC). For over a decade, the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation (HITAP) has undertaken systematic efforts to strengthen HTA capacity across Asia and Africa. This study reviews HITAP's experience in capacity strengthening to inform strategies for effective international collaboration and capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A document review of HITAP's capacity-strengthening initiatives from 2010 to mid-2025 was conducted using HITAP's internal documentation. Initiatives were categorized according to the Individual, Node, Network and Environment (INNE) framework and by activity type, with data analyzed descriptively. In addition, key informant interviews (KII) were conducted with key HTA decision-makers from 7 countries who had prior engagement with HITAP, and thematic analysis was applied to the KII data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 278 HTA capacity-strengthening activities across 25 countries were identified from 2010 to mid-2025. The majority of the initiatives (n = 151) were with countries in Asia, were programmatic (n = 128) instead of ad hoc and involved mostly knowledge sharing (26%) and research and project collaborations (21%). Out of 11 countries in Africa, only 3 had programmatic engagements with HITAP (n = 30), involving mostly advising and mentoring (30%). Analysis of annual activity frequency shows that, in the post-pandemic period (2022 onwards), multi-country engagements have increased as collaborative activities have transitioned to include a larger number of countries within a single event. KII participants reported that these collaborations enhanced awareness and recognition of HTA among key stakeholders including policy-makers, strengthened technical capacity within the Ministry of Health and partner organizations, and generated outputs such as HTA guidelines, publications, dedicated HTA units, a Memorandum of Understanding and institutional or regulatory reforms at all 4 INNE levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Collaborations for strengthening capacity for HTA are critical and will shape the next decades as countries strive to achieve and sustain UHC. Contextual approaches, underpinned by a multi-pronged approach, with an emphasis on joint initiatives across countries, are needed to ensure HTA remains relevant and responsive to evolving priorities in the changing international context.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632135/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148420607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Impact assessment of telehealth medical nutrition therapy for managing cardiovascular disease risk in rural and remote NSW: the Healthy Rural Hearts study.","authors":"Kurtis F Budden, Tracy L Schumacher, Raquel Cameron, Priscilla Viana Da Silva, Leanne J Brown, Penny Milson, Carissa Alderton, Jaimee Herbert, Ilyse Jones, Annabelle Williams, Erin D Clarke, John Attia, Clare E Collins, Shanthi A Ramanathan","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01509-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01509-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13343606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148411503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing evidence-informed policy: outcomes of the global research agenda on knowledge translation.","authors":"Evelina Chapman, Bastien Kolt, Annette Boaz, Robert F Terry, Ahmed Mandil, Tarang Sharma, Daniel F Patiño-Lugo, Tanja Kuchenmüller","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01503-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01503-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Knowledge Translation (KT) research investigates methods to promote the uptake of research by practitioners, managers and policy-makers. Rooted in decades of interdisciplinary scholarship showing that evidence use is shaped by social sense‑making, institutions and politics, KT has moved beyond a linear \"research to policy\" model. Yet, persistent gaps between evidence and decision‑making, as well as uneven institutional capacity and fragmented KT research motivated the development of WHO's Global Research Agenda: to prioritize rigorous, context‑sensitive KT research that addresses systemic, governance and practical barriers to sustained evidence‑informed policy-making (EIP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From October 2023 to March 2025, a structured five-step approach was undertaken, starting with synthesizing existing evidence on KT strategies and priorities, and complemented by primary data from a global survey. These inputs were used to develop a conceptual framework to organize KT research priority areas. This framework guided a global consultative process, which engaged diverse interest-holders through online consultations and Delphi surveys to jointly identify research gaps, opportunities and priority areas for inclusion in the final research agenda.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The initial step of evidence synthesis identified 120 research areas. Through the global consultative process, these were refined to 19 priority research areas organized into three domains: (1) research on KT/EIP interventions, (2) research on barriers, facilitators and opportunities for KT/EIP and (3) research on KT/EIP methods, standards, measurement, theories and frameworks. Specific research areas include strategies to institutionalize KT, contextual factors influencing evidence uptake and exploring innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study proposes a prioritized research agenda to guide future KT/EIP research and inform funding decisions. The agenda requires sustained engagement with interest-holders to maximize its impact. Future research should validate and refine the priorities, and ensure relevance, utility and effective implementation across diverse settings. The GRA is more than a technical checklist; it is a strategic roadmap for navigating the political and institutional dimensions of evidence use, enabling a shift beyond supply-side fixes toward a relational, politically aware KT/EIP approach. This shift is essential to embed evidence use in routine decision-making, strengthen system resilience and advance health equity through sustained institutional reform.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617678/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148375528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping evidence for health policy and systems decision-making: a spectrum approach bridging tacit and scientific knowledge across local and global contexts.","authors":"D Waithaka, B Tsofa, C Glenton, J Nzinga, A Koduah, E Barasa, S Lewin, U Gopinathan","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01502-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01502-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Research on evidence-informed decision-making has commonly focused on scientific evidence. However, this does not reflect the diversity of evidence used in real-world policy settings or give decision-makers a clear way to characterize and compare different evidence sources. This article describes the development of a spectrum approach to map the types of evidence used in health policy decisions and support more systematic and transparent judgements about their nature and applicability to different decisions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The approach was developed in four stages. First, we conducted a targeted literature search to identify key papers defining the concept of \"evidence\". From these, we initially categorized evidence as binary according to its nature (either tacit or scientific) and its geographic scope (either global or local). Second, we tested these categorizations using findings from a global systematic review and an empirical study on vaccine policy-making in Kenya. This showed that binary categorizations were inadequate for capturing the range of evidence informing decisions and transparently presenting how evidence sources vary in their generation and contextual applicability. Third, iterative team deliberations about these limitations led us to develop a spectrum approach that maps evidence along two intersecting axes: tacit-scientific and local-global. Finally, stakeholders provided feedback on the clarity, relevance and applicability of this approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The spectrum approach positions evidence along two axes: tacit to scientific (the extent to which evidence is independent of individual experience, documented and generated through systematic, transparent and reproducible processes) and global to local (in relation to the decision setting). Positioning evidence along axes rather than in binary categories allowed us to distinguish evidence that varies along these dimensions, visualize the forms of global and local evidence available and where gaps exist, and reflect more explicitly on the applicability of different evidence sources to specific decision contexts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Binary categorizations inadequately reflect variation in how evidence is generated and what evidence can be useful for decision-making. By mapping evidence across intersecting tacit-scientific and global-local continua, the spectrum approach offers a clear and inclusive framework that can support researchers and decision-makers in drawing more fully on the breadth of evidence available to inform health systems decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148360073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A qualitative descriptive study to explore evaluation and effects of partnered rehabilitation research in Canada.","authors":"Brenda J Tittlemier, Juliette Cooper, Linda C Li, Roberta L Woodgate, Kathryn M Sibley","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01505-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01505-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Partnered rehabilitation research, where researchers and knowledge users (e.g. clinicians, administrators, clients) collaborate on research decision-making and activities, may enhance the use of evidence in clinical practice. Previous research identified gaps in formal evaluation and demonstrated effects of the partnering process in rehabilitation research. This study explored evaluation and effects of partnering on the research process and outcomes, and how partnering contributed to those effects.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a qualitative descriptive study. Eligible participants were researchers and knowledge users involved in partnered rehabilitation research in Canada who could understand English. We developed an interview guide on the basis of a published framework of partnering in research and a model of partnering in community-based research. We completed semi-structured interviews with seven researchers and six knowledge users, most of whom identified as women and White. Participants had a range of rehabilitation research experience from a few years to decades. We used reflexive thematic analysis to interpret the findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No participants formally evaluated their partnerships, citing challenges such as limited time, but believed it could be valuable. Accordingly, participants described many effects of partnering. We developed one main theme, \"Partnering is an Interactive Process Shaping Research and those Involved,\" along with three subthemes, \"Partnering Influences the Research Process from Beginning to End,\" \"Learning through Partnering: Building Individual Research Knowledge, Skills and Capacity\" and \"The Effects of Partnering are Driven by Multiple Factors.\" Participants described effects of partnering on the research process, outcomes and individuals; and factors that contributed to the effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite the absence of evaluation, participants identified important impacts on research design, outcomes and individual learning that were influenced by an array of contributing factors. Persisting lack of evaluation of partnering in rehabilitation research may be restricting comprehensive understanding of the effects of partnering. Future research should prioritize approaches that balance rigor and relevance, and clarify who is best to lead evaluation activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13579909/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148328842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Instituting solidarity: the role of research institutes in advancing global health equity.","authors":"M Ndu, H Healey, J Natukunda, U Karunakara, C Atuire, E Nouvet","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01500-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01500-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the increasing discourse around equity, social justice and partnership, global health (GH) research remains shaped by entrenched asymmetries in funding, authorship, data ownership and priority-setting. Solidarity, framed variously as a moral principle or political stance, has been promoted as both corrective and a necessary response to these inequities. Yet, the operationalization of solidarity within research institutes (RIs) (i.e. how leaders interpret, institutionalize and negotiate solidaristic commitments) remains underexplored. This paper draws on findings from a global study of meanings and practices relevant to solidarity among diverse GH stakeholders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In 2024-2025, we conducted exploratory qualitative research using semistructured interviews (N = 75) with a range of GH stakeholders. In this paper, we draw on the 13 interviews conducted with leaders of GH RIs to highlight findings specific to solidarity in and for GH research. Data analysis was conducted using team-based thematic analysis supported by NVIVO 15 (QSR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified five themes in research institute leaders' accounts of how solidarity is or is not enactment in their GH research experience. Each theme describes a requirement or outcome of solidarity-informed research, and includes that such research: (1) generates tangible equitable results or outcomes; (2) accounts for how relationships and impacts unfold over time; (3) operationalizes and depends on less hierarchical ways of working; (4) demands fair distribution of burdens and benefits in research; and (5) requires deep, active listening.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This paper provides insight on how solidarity is understood and can be actualized in GH research practice, according to directors in GH RIs who occupy critical roles in structuring and legitimizing GH research agendas. The findings emphasize the need to treat solidarity in and for GH research not as a static ethical ideal, but as a dynamic, relational practice requiring reflexivity, structural reforms and sustained commitment. RIs, as ethical actors, must reconfigure their practices to meaningfully institutionalize solidarity through co-design, authorship, partnership and funding practices. Ultimately, this paper contributes to a growing agenda to reimagine GH research not merely as a technical endeavour but also as a site of political and ethical action.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13528029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148277136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluability assessment of a targeted national anti-child poverty policy: option appraisal for evaluating the Scottish Child Payment.","authors":"Michal Shimonovich, Olivia K L Hamilton, Peter Craig, Gerard McCartney, Anna Pearce, S Vittal Katikireddi, Rachel M Thomson","doi":"10.1186/s12961-026-01489-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12961-026-01489-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Scottish Child Payment (SCP) is a recurring cash transfer introduced in 2021 for low-income families, unique within the United Kingdom and forming a core part of the Scottish Government's statutory child poverty reduction strategy. As a long-term, population-level intervention, the SCP presents an important opportunity to generate evidence on the impact of cash transfers. However, multiple policy changes have made evaluation design challenging. We conducted an evaluability assessment (EA) to identify feasible, policy-relevant evaluation options.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Our five-stage EA approach included: (1) EA inception, (2) developing a theory of change, (3) prioritizing outcomes and identifying available data, (4) developing evaluation designs and (5) appraisal and reporting. Two stakeholder workshops, informed by evidence reviews, were held. The first refined the Scottish Government's theory of change. The second focussed on identifying priority outcomes, available data sources and suitable evaluation designs. Stakeholders reviewed a final report summarizing these options.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Given extensive existing and planned qualitative research, stakeholders agreed that a quantitative evaluation should be given precedence. They agreed that child development and child and maternal health and wellbeing outcomes should be prioritized and measured using administrative data. Due to data access constraints, SCP exposure would be estimated using eligibility indicators rather than direct receipt. Evaluating effects on health inequalities for Scottish Government-identified priority family groups compared with the rest of the population was considered important, though linkage of household-level benefits data remains limited. We identified four feasible natural experimental designs: before-and-after analysis, interrupted time series (ITS), controlled ITS and regression discontinuity design (RDD). Each design may be suited to different questions, populations and outcome types, with multiple designs likely to be helpful.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This EA demonstrates that a robust quantitative evaluation of the SCP is both valuable and feasible, but must be tailored to specific outcomes, implementation phases and evolving policy contexts. Linked administrative data offer strong potential, though advocating for more precise measures of SCP receipt and household socioeconomic context to explore inequalities should continue. Estimating the SCP's effect on child and maternal health should be a priority to inform the design of future poverty reduction policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12870,"journal":{"name":"Health Research Policy and Systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13647560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}