Health Policy Stakeholders: Perceptions, Benefits, Challenges, and Decision Making

This article analyzes the perception of policy makers and other stakeholders regarding the criteria in the DECIDE framework for making health-oriented decisions. It also discusses the benefits and challenges of involving stakeholders in systematic reviews, the importance of stakeholder involvement in research interventions, and the views of stakeholders on reproductive care in low-income countries.

Running head: HEALTH POLICY STAKEHOLDERS
Health Policy Stakeholders
Name of the student
University name
Author’s note

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HEALTH POLICY STAKEHOLDERS
Table of Contents
Cited article 1:........................................................................................................................3
Statement of purpose..................................................................................................................3
Summary....................................................................................................................................3
Limitations and implications......................................................................................................4
Cited article 2:........................................................................................................................4
Purpose statement.......................................................................................................................4
Summary....................................................................................................................................4
Limitations and implications......................................................................................................5
Cited article 3:........................................................................................................................5
Summary....................................................................................................................................6
Limitations.................................................................................................................................6
Cited article 4:........................................................................................................................7
Summary....................................................................................................................................7
Limitations.................................................................................................................................8
Cited article 5:........................................................................................................................8
Summary....................................................................................................................................8
Limitations and implications......................................................................................................9
Cited article 6:......................................................................................................................10
Summary..................................................................................................................................10
Limitations and implications....................................................................................................10

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References............................................................................................................................12

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Cited article 1:
Vogel, J.P., Oxman, A.D., Glenton, C., Rosenbaum, S., Lewin, S., Gülmezoglu, A.M. and
Souza, J.P. 2013, ‘Policymakers’ and other stakeholders’ perceptions of key
considerations for health system decisions and the presentation of evidence to inform
those considerations: an international survey’, Health research policy and
systems, vol. 11, no. 1, p.19.
Statement of purpose
The purpose of this assignment was to analyse the perception of the policy makers
regarding the criteria in the DECIDE framework which is used for making health oriented
decisions.
Summary
99% of the respondents of the research process mentioned that systematic review of
available evidence base would have helped in improving health oriented decision making.
They supported the use of grading systems and evidence summaries for making health related
decisions. 45% of the respondents mentioned that the grading system should be implemented
across different health decision whereas 38% have responded otherwise and emphasized
upon the importance of a uniform grading system.
A survey method had been employed by the researcher over here where policy
makers from different countries with huge amount of experience in different health policy
making were interrogated through a close ended questionnaire to understand their
perceptions regarding their use of criteria within the DECIDE framework. The responses
were further evaluated through statistical analysis.

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Limitations and implications
On the strength areas of conducting the research study was that diverse group of
responses were found from a group of policy stakeholders across different countries. The
varied amount of responses made the data analysis more comparative. On the other hand,
there was the presence of very high level of healthcare and research experience among the
respondents. However, there were three to four researchers who had moderate level of
experience. Hence, a disparity during the consideration of the results was seen.
The paper could be facilitate the heath policy development process by educating the
regarding the importance of different grading systems in making health related decision.
Cited article 2:
Cottrell, E.K., Whitlock, E.P., Kato, E., Uhl, S., Belinson, S., Chang, C., Hoomans, T.,
Meltzer, D.O., Noorani, H., Robinson, K.A. and Motu’apuaka, M. 2015, ‘Defining
the benefits and challenges of stakeholder engagement in systematic
reviews’, Comparative Effectiveness Research, vol. 2015, no. 1, pp.13-19.
Purpose statement
The article analyses the benefits attached and challenges encountered in engaging
stakeholders in systematic review process. The involvement of the stakeholders can help in
the development of criteria, which can used to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of
systematic reviews.
Summary
Through the study the importance of involving stakeholders in health systematic
reviews have been evaluated. Thus, a number of benefits and challenges have been identified.
The benefits or the advantages have mainly been in the form of establishment of credibility,

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ensuring accountability, improving relevance and quality. However, a number of challenges
have been faced owing to limited time, training resources and matching the right type of
stakeholders to the right time in the systematic review process
The methodology adopted for the research process includes conducting a systematic
literature review along with conducting a series of interviews. The results obtained from the
interviews are made into themes which are further used for doing a thematic analysis.
However, there are a number of research gaps owing to the challenges possessed by the
involvement of the stakeholders in the systematic reviews.
Limitations and implications
The researcher conducted had a number of limitations as neither literature scan nor
the interview process could establish the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement. Although
the results obtained through the research prices have been limited, the themes obtained
through the interview methods helped in effective analysis.
One of the most important aspects of conducting the research study is that the paper
helped in linking the importance of stakeholder involvement in different stages of the review
process rather than involving them only programmatic requirements.
Cited article 3:
Lowes, L., Robling, M. R., Bennert, K., Crawley, C., Hambly, H., Hawthorne, K., … and the
DEPICTED Study Team 2011, ‘Involving lay and professional stakeholders in the
development of a research intervention for the DEPICTED Study’, Health
Expectations : An International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and
Health Policy, vol. 14, no. 3, 250–260. Retrieved from: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-
7625.2010.00625.x

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The paper focuses upon the involvement of lay stakeholders at key stages of the
research. This was done in a view to empower them by providing them input regarding the
research methods and process. The findings further act as enlightenment educating the
stakeholders regarding important health policies and programs.
Summary
Here the lay and professional stakeholders were involved in designing a complex
research intervention. The lay stakeholders consisted of teenagers and adults with diabetes
whereas the professional stakeholders belonged to interdisciplinary teams.
A qualitative research design had been adopted by the researcher over here were
interview questionnaire were offered to the respondents and open –ended questionnaire were
asked to them. The group comprised 13-17 lay stakeholders and 11 professional stakeholders.
The stakeholder action group was responsible for the review of evidence and advising on the
development of ideas for further research. The lay stakeholders emphasized upon the
designing of a patient held tool.
Limitations
There were a number of limitations such as there was lack of information regarding
the extent to which participants can impact the research process. Furthermore, the indicators
relate only to the process and fail to measure the impact of the involvement of successful.
However, stakeholder involvement has been more widely represented across the study which
helped in the understanding of the underlying levels of the thought process of the
stakeholders.

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HEALTH POLICY STAKEHOLDERS
The paper helps in highlighting the importance of the involvement of the family
members of the patients in the research interventions as it help in identification of the
commonly possessed views and myths.
Cited article 4:
Horstmanshof, L. and Moore, K. 2016, ‘Understanding the needs of all the stakeholders:
Issues of training and preparation for health work students and their clinical
educators’, Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, vol. 17, no. 2, pp.93-100.
The paper focuses upon the need to better understand the requirements of the
stakeholders which can further improve the quality of the healthcare services. The paper sets
to establish s a competent care environment by taking into consideration the satisfaction level
of multiple stakeholders.
Summary
In this respect, practical field experiences were utilized were the nursing professional
were put under work integrated learning to understand the importance of work place
satisfaction upon the performance of the stakeholders. In this respect, the nursing
professionals were divided into two focus groups such as clinical exercise physiology masters
and occupational therapies. Each was placed in different settings and their responses were
noted through an interview questions at the end of their training sessions.
Here, interview questions were used for the collection of responses of the participants,
the responses collected were analysed for identification for similar and dissimilar patterns.
These paters were further used to conduct a thematic analysis. Though the questions the
students were asked to reflect upon their lifestyle habits, anxiety and fears of life transition,
personal life goals, mindset and psychological barriers. Though the discussion it was found

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that workplace practices such as continuing education for the nursing professionals along
with effective changes made in workplace policy were found to be effective.
Limitations
The responses to the questions were found to be guided less by intrinsic factors and
more influenced under the authority of a practical training guide. Additionally, the individual
opinions or biases seemed to affect the result of the research.
The paper helped in highlighting the importance of policies in shaping of the
workplace environment for the benefit of the nursing students and other important
stakeholders.
Cited article 5:
Ayanore, M.A., Pavlova, M., Biesma, R. and Groot, W. 2017, ‘Stakeholder's experiences,
expectations and decision making on reproductive care: An ethnographic study of
three districts in northern Ghana’, PloS one, vol.12, no. 11, p.908.
The study here analyses the importance of stakeholder engagement in providing
advanced reproductive care. The study has been particularly conducted with respect to the
Ghana community
Summary
The study focuses upon the varied views of the stakeholders in the reproductive care
services. An ethnographic study approach had been applied over here where filed data had
been collected from March to May in the year 2015. The data had been gathered from women
who had recently given birth. Additionally, the data had also been collected from healthcare
providers and the policy actors. In-depth interviews and focus groups were used for the

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collection of data. The recordings of each and every stakeholder who participated in the
interview process were audio recorded. The audio transcripts were referred to by the
researcher again and again for the identification of similar dissimilar themes. Hence, a
thematic analysis had been conducted over here.
It was found from the research data that post abortion car was minimally covered
under free exemptions policy under antenatal and postnatal care. It had been further
emphasised at the end of the research that in order to arrive at an agreeable standard of care
the private and the national health care agencies need to collaborate. The study focuses upon
the stakeholders view in the provision and advancement of reproductive care. The paper
highlights the different social stigma which affects access to the basic healthcare services in
the downtrodden areas and the role played by the stakeholders in drafting of an effective
policy meeting the requirements of the women in the Ghana community.
Limitations and implications
The research conducted over here had a number of limitations such as there might be
missing of important categories that may have emerged among the stakeholder while
conducting the study. Additionally there may be biases which may prevent the healthcare
professionals as well as the patient population from disclosing the entire information.
The paper helps in highlighting the importance of stakeholder participation into
making important policies for improving the reproductive health of the women in the
downtrodden areas. Hence, it places at the medical channels at the centre of the care and
support provision.

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Cited article 6:
Nabyonga-Orem, J. and Mijumbi, R. 2015, ‘ Evidence for informing health policy
development in Low-income Countries (LICs): perspectives of policy actors in
Uganda’, International Journal of Health Policy and Management, vol. 4, no. 5, 285–
293. Retrieved from:http://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2015.52
The study aims at understanding health policy actors view regarding the evidences
which are found appropriate for the development of an effective health policy. Due to the
limitation of resource in low income countries, use of suitable evidence for guiding making is
still unclear.
Summary
For the collection of data the researcher used exploratory qualitative design. Here, a
diverse group of stakeholders were interviewed regarding the development of health policies
and knowledge transition, which were analysed inductive content analysis techniques. The
interview responses were analysed for doing an effective thematic analysis. It was found that
although policy makers looked for facts they also used evidence based upon context. From
the interview responses it was highlighted that before the changing the health related policies
the feasibility for the change options needs to be considered. It was also emphasized that the
policy should relate to the social, political, economic and cultural aspects of the community.
Limitations and implications
The study highlights the importance of policy informed research agendas. In addition,
it highlights the importance of combination of different types of evidence. However, a
number of limitations had been faced in conducting the study such as lack of research

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infrastructure in low income countries, overdependence on donor for funding activities,
inadequate political will.
On the other hand, the diverse nature of the respondents provided a multi dimensional
perspective, which allows develop a broader picture on the subject. The limitations have also
been provided by the confounding research biases.

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References
Ayanore, M.A., Pavlova, M., Biesma, R. and Groot, W. 2017, ‘Stakeholder's experiences,
expectations and decision making on reproductive care: An ethnographic study of three
districts in northern Ghana’, PloS one, vol.12, no. 11, p. 908.
Cottrell, E.K., Whitlock, E.P., Kato, E., Uhl, S., Belinson, S., Chang, C., Hoomans, T.,
Meltzer, D.O., Noorani, H., Robinson, K.A. and Motu’apuaka, M. 2015, ‘Defining the
benefits and challenges of stakeholder engagement in systematic reviews’, Comparative
Effectiveness Research, vol. 2015, no. 1, pp.13-19.
Horstmanshof, L. and Moore, K. 2016, ‘Understanding the needs of all the stakeholders:
Issues of training and preparation for health work students and their clinical educators’, Asia-
Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, vol. 17, no. 2, pp.93-100.
Lowes, L., Robling, M. R., Bennert, K., Crawley, C., Hambly, H., Hawthorne, K., … and the
DEPICTED Study Team. 2011, ‘Involving lay and professional stakeholders in the
development of a research intervention for the DEPICTED Study’, Health Expectations : An
International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy, vol. 14, no.
3, 250–260. Retrieved from: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00625.x
Nabyonga-Orem, J. and Mijumbi, R. 2015, ‘Evidence for informing health policy
development in Low-income Countries (LICs): perspectives of policy actors in Uganda’,
International Journal of Health Policy and Management, vol. 4, no. 5, 285–293. Retrieved
from: http://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2015.52
Vogel, J.P., Oxman, A.D., Glenton, C., Rosenbaum, S., Lewin, S., Gülmezoglu, A.M. and
Souza, J.P. 2013, ‘Policymakers’ and other stakeholders’ perceptions of key considerations

13
HEALTH POLICY STAKEHOLDERS
for health system decisions and the presentation of evidence to inform those considerations:
an international survey’, Health research policy and systems, vol. 11, no. 1, p.19.