Development of Health Research Capacity

Dr Namrita Mesuria

BDS FSMed

Need for research

• Research capacity is weak in developing countries

• Analysis of the burden of illnesses and their determinants to identify and set priorities among health problems

• Investigate and answer problems

• The development of new tools and methodologies to measure and promote health equity

• To advance understanding of disease

Need for research

• Evidence based medicine

• Interdisciplinary approach

• Facilitate development & understanding of computer skills

Need for research

• Increase scientific knowledge

• Improve patient care

• Develop critical thinking

• Clinicians help 1 person but a researcher helps all people

What is health research capacity

• Ability to define problems

• Set objectives and priorities

• Identify solutions to national health problems

• Use results effectively

Barriers and Challenges• Priority setting

• No demand for research at work

• Political instability

• Allocation and mobilization of resources

• Dissemination and utilization of resources

• Funding

Support for research

• Joining national, regional and international organizations

• Local, regional, global grants

• Data bases for developing countries – HINARI, WHO

• Follow guidelines for conducting research

• Available forum for publication

Research process• Problem identification

• Literature review

• Objectives

• Methodology– Ethics approval, consent– Sampling– Data entry and analysis

• Results and discussion

• Dissemination of findings

Research potential of new graduates

• Technical skills

• Collaboration network

• Wide dissemination of findings

• Funding and assistance from NGOs, international agencies

• Multi-sectorial approach to health

Recommendations

• Involve policy-makers and community

• Effective use of human resources

• Set up research groups

• Appropriate research training/mentoring

• Seek guidance from local/international research bodies

Recommendations

• Utilize technical skills of new graduates

• Incorporate a research requirement as job description

• Provide incentives – promotion

• Wide dissemination of data

• Establish an electronic database

• Improve access to internet

References

• Pryor J & Morse Z, Fiji Report on National Health Research Systems Workshop 15, 16 May 2007

• Ali S, Strengthening Health Research Capacity of Nurses – The Need for Evidence Based Practice, 2008

• Chitr S & Ratana S, Strengthening health research capacity in developing countries: a critical element for achieving health equity, BMJ 2000;321:813-817

THANK YOU