Research

Health systems research in Lao PDR: capacity development for getting research into policy and practice

Kristina Jönsson¹ , Göran Tomson^2,3 , Christer Jönsson⁴ , Sengchanh Kounnavong⁵ and Rolf Wahlström²

¹Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University, Scheelevägen 15, SE-223 70 Lund, Sweden

²Division of International Health (IHCAR), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

³Medical Management Centre (MMC), Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

⁴Department of Political Science, Lund University, Box 52, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden

⁵National Institute of Public Health (NIOPH), Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR

author email corresponding author email

Health Research Policy and Systems 2007, 5:11doi:10.1186/1478-4505-5-11

Published:	16 October 2007

Abstract

Background

Lao PDR is a low-income country with an urgent need for evidence-informed policymaking in the healthcare sector. During the last decade a number of Health Systems Research (HSR) projects have been conducted in order to meet this need. However, although knowledge about research is increasing among policymakers, the use of research in policymaking is still limited.

Methods

This article investigates the relationship between research and policymaking from the perspective of those participating in HSR projects. The study is based on 28 interviews, two group discussions and the responses from 56 questionnaires.

Results

The interviewees and questionnaire respondents were aware of the barriers to getting research into policy and practice. But while some were optimistic, claiming that there had been a change of attitudes among policymakers in the last two years, others were more pessimistic and did not expect any real changes until years from now. The major barriers to feeding research results into policy and practice included an inability to influence the policy process and to get policymakers and practitioners interested in research results. Another barrier was the lack of continuous capacity development and high-quality research, both of which are related to funding and international support. Many of the interviewees and questionnaire respondents also pointed out that communication between those conducting research and policymakers must be improved.

Conclusion

The results show that in the case of Lao PDR, research capacity development is at a crucial stage for implementing research into policy and practice. If research is going to make a consistent impact on policymaking in the Lao health care sector, the attitude towards research will need to be changed in order to get research prioritised, both among those conducting research, and among policymakers and practitioners. Our findings indicate that there is awareness about the barriers in this process.