Is operational research delivering the goods? The journey to success in low-income countries.
Operational research in low-income countries has a key role in filling the gap between what we know from research and what we do with that knowledge-the so-called know-do gap, or implementation gap. Planned research that does not tangibly affect policies and practices is ineffective and wasteful, especially in settings where resources are scarce and disease burden is high. Clear parameters are urgently needed to measure and judge the success of operational research. We define operational research and its relation with policy and practice, identify why operational research might fail to affect policy and practice, and offer possible solutions to address these shortcomings. We also propose measures of success for operational research. Adoption and use of these measures could help to ensure that operational research better changes policy and practice and improves health-care delivery and disease programmes.
Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Luxembourg, Luxembourg. zachariah@internet.lu
Rony
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Zachariah
Nathan
N
Ford
Dermot
D
Maher
Karen
K
Bissell
Rafael
R
Van den Bergh
Wilma
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van den Boogaard
Tony
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Reid
Kenneth G
KG
Castro
Bertrand
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Draguez
Johan
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von Schreeb
Jeremiah
J
Chakaya
Rifat
R
Atun
Christian
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Lienhardt
Don A
DA
Enarson
Anthony D
AD
Harries
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics*; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty