ArticleHealth research policy and systems2023
Challenges for research uptake for health policymaking and practice in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.
Article in Health research policy and systems, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed.
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- The PIECES multi-site comparative case study protocol: mixed methods implementation evaluation of adapting, implementing and tailoring primary cancer prevention programmes in diverse contexts.Implementation science communications · 2026Article
- A rapid tool for understanding how knowledge users engage with research findings in research-for-development contexts.Health research policy and systems · 2026Article
- Research preparedness and competence among Nigerian medical and dental students applying for a research fellowship.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Determinants of collaboration dynamics and challenges in North-South data-driven health research in the African context: an epistemic injustice perspective.Frontiers in research metrics and analytics · 2026Article
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- Implementation research can enhance health research systems and reduce dependency on external aid.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Adaptation and implementation of a clinical protocol for pre-eclampsia with severe features and eclampsia in a teaching hospital in Ghana: a study protocol.Critical care science · 2026Article
- Exploratory mixed-methods analysis of the determinants of use of health research evidence among planning teams in Tanzania.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Periodontal diseases in Africa.Periodontology 2000 · 2025Review
- Development, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative clinical trial operations training program for Africa (ClinOps).BMC medical education · 2025Article
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- Article processing charges and health research output in low-income countries: funding cuts, implications for health policy and system management.Frontiers in health services · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAn estimated 85% of research resources are wasted worldwide, while there is growing demand for context-based evidence-informed health policymaking. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), research uptake for health policymaking and practice is even lower, while little is known about the barriers to the translation of health evidence to policy and local implementation. We aimed to compile the current evidence on barriers to uptake of research in health policy and practice in LMICs using scoping review.
methodsThe scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses-extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Both published evidence and grey literature on research uptake were systematically searched from major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (EBSCO), Global Health (Ovid)) and direct Google Scholar. Literature exploring barriers to uptake of research evidence in health policy and practice in LMICs were included and their key findings were synthesized using thematic areas to address the review question.
resultsA total of 4291 publications were retrieved in the initial search, of which 142 were included meeting the eligibility criteria. Overall, research uptake for policymaking and practice in LMICs was very low. The challenges to research uptake were related to lack of understanding of the local contexts, low political priority, poor stakeholder engagement and partnership, resource and capacity constraints, low system response for accountability and lack of communication and dissemination platforms.
conclusionImportant barriers to research uptake, mainly limited contextual understanding and low participation of key stakeholders and ownership, have been identified. Understanding the local research and policy context and participatory evidence production and dissemination may promote research uptake for policy and practice. Institutions that bridge the chasm between knowledge formation, evidence synthesis and translation may play critical role in the translation process.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.