Developing a tool for evaluating health policy analysis report

Abstract

Introduction: Based on the results of reviewing the literature, a tool is not available to evaluate the reporting of health system policy analysis that embraces different dimensions and areas of policy analysis within a framework. thus, according to the breadth and importance of policy analysis, the effect of its reporting on the progress of implementation of policies, formulation of new policies in this area and successfully implementing, the existence of a tool for comprehensive reporting of analysis of various dimensions and details of health policy is necessary. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to design a reporting tool for health system policy analysis. Method: First, data was collected by reviewing the literature. Additional information was collected from semi-structured interviews with experts, researchers, and policymakers. Then, using the results of literature review and semi-structured interviews, as well as holding the expert's panel with the participation of research team members and experts, the initial questions of the health policy analysis evaluation tool were designed. Some articles that policymakers have conducted policy analysis and provided an analytical report on were selected and their data was extracted in a form and finally reported in the form of tables and graphs. Results: The present study was performed in 2 sections. In the first part of the study, first by reviewing the literature and collecting the main areas, a list of items related to each area, a draft checklist with 10 areas and 48 questions was formulated. After holding a panel of experts and applying the opinions of experts, the draft checklist was corrected in the form of 10 areas and 52 questions. Team members then completed the checklist in 10 areas and 60 questions by applying feedback from emails sending to experts about the designed checklist to policy professionals across the country. Finally, during the last panel of experts formed with the agreement of the members of the research team and the current policy experts, the final checklist was designed in the form of 10 areas and a guide of 54 questions in each area. In the second part of the study, which was entitled Identifying and extracting information from policy analysis articles, information was extracted from 142 articles. The studies extracted during the last 28. These studies have been published in 77 different journals. Based on the findings, the policies of 65 different countries have been analyzed and reported. According to the classification of countries based on income, most studies have been in middle- and middle-income countries. Subjects differed in 34 areas, with maternity and child policy policies with 16 cases and health systems and related reforms with 14 cases being the most frequent among the studies. Analysts have often analyzed and reported policies in general. Policy analysts have often used the comprehensive model of the Walt and Gilson policy triangle to conduct policy analysis. Conclusion: In this study, a tool for evaluating health policy analysis reporting studies was designed and developed that can be used as a practical guide for evaluating health policy analysis study reports and a guide for researchers to conduct policy analysis and can be used by researchers and policymakers.