Examining and Contextualizing Approaches to Establish Policy Support Organizations - A Mixed Method Study

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Evidence-Informed Policymaking
• Organizational Development

Background:

• Growing number of policy support organizations (PSOs) aim to integrate evidence into health policymaking.
• Need for practical insights into establishing and operationalizing PSOs in diverse contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify effective approaches for establishing policy support organizations (PSOs).
• To gather practical insights from experienced PSO leaders on development and operationalization.

Main Methods:

• Sequential mixed-methods approach utilizing surveys and in-depth interviews.
• Survey of 19 PSO leaders across various global contexts.
• Interviews with 15 senior managers from nine PSOs.

Main Results:

• Identified four key stages for PSO establishment: awareness, development, assessment, and maturation.
• Detailed insights into strategies for each stage from experienced leaders.
• Findings highlight the importance of context-specific approaches for PSO success.

Conclusions:

• No single approach guarantees success for establishing policy support organizations (PSOs).
• Contextual factors are crucial for tailoring PSO establishment strategies.
• Each country must adapt approaches based on its unique political, health, and research systems.