Evaluation of the Evidence Informed Decision making in Malawi (EVIDENT) using policy analysis and prospective case study

The Evidence Informed Decision-making Network for Health Policy and Practice in Malawi (EVIDENT) aims to support use of research in health. This study will examine whether EVIDENT is improving use of research, especially in malaria policy. The study will have two components: an overall evaluation of EVIDENT, and a case study of a research trial that compares drugs used for malaria during pregnancy. This trial will take place in Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania, from 2017-19. The overall EVIDENT evaluation will consider issues such as how EVIDENT has affected links between members, whether members see EVIDENT as useful, and whether EVIDENT has improved use of research findings.

The study will use a workshop with EVIDENT members and interviews and documents about EVIDENT’s activities. The malaria trial will be used as a case study to examine whether and how EVIDENT has affected uptake of the research findings, and identify other issues that affect use of research in Malawi that could be addressed by EVIDENT. The case study methods will include interviews, observation, focus groups and analysis of research and policy documents.

The study aims to support evidence-informed health policy by strengthening EVIDENT and providing lessons about factors that help or hinder the use of research.

This grant was awarded under the scheme's previous name of Master's Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.