%0 Journal Article
%T Translating research into policy: lessons learned from eclampsia treatment and malaria control in three southern African countries
%A Godfrey Woelk
%A Karen Daniels
%A Julie Cliff
%A Simon Lewin
%A Esperan£¿a Sevene
%A Benedita Fernandes
%A Alda Mariano
%A Sheillah Matinhure
%A Andrew D Oxman
%A John N Lavis
%A Cecilia Lundborg
%J Health Research Policy and Systems
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1478-4505-7-31
%X We used a qualitative case-study methodology to explore the policy making process. We carried out key informants interviews with a range of research and policy stakeholders in each country, reviewed documents and developed timelines of key events. Using an iterative approach, we undertook a thematic analysis of the data.Prior experience of particular interventions, local champions, stakeholders and international networks, and the involvement of researchers in policy development were important in knowledge translation for both case studies. Key differences across the two case studies included the nature of the evidence, with clear evidence of efficacy for MgSO4 and ongoing debate regarding the efficacy of bed nets compared with spraying; local researcher involvement in international evidence production, which was stronger for MgSO4 than for malaria vector control; and a long-standing culture of evidence-based health care within obstetrics. Other differences were the importance of bureaucratic processes for clinical regulatory approval of MgSO4, and regional networks and political interests for malaria control. In contrast to treatment policies for eclampsia, a diverse group of stakeholders with varied interests, differing in their use and interpretation of evidence, was involved in malaria policy decisions in the three countries.Translating research knowledge into policy is a complex and context sensitive process. Researchers aiming to enhance knowledge translation need to be aware of factors influencing the demand for different types of research; interact and work closely with key policy stakeholders, networks and local champions; and acknowledge the roles of important interest groups.The evidence-based medicine approach, which focused initially on clinical decision-making, has more recently been extended to policy and management decisions, where it is sometimes referred to as 'evidence-based' or 'evidence-informed' policy making [1-3]. Increasingly, the use of glob
%U http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/7/1/31