title: [Priorities for health policy and systems research focused on human resources in health].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identify priorities for health policy and systems research related to human resources in Latin America and Caribbean countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was designed based on a search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and LILACS that contributed previously prioritized research questions. Respondents, mainly researchers and decision-makers, were identified through various sources. The first round, directed at researchers, aimed at refining and adding research questions and prioritizing questions that researchers regarded as relevant or very relevant. The second round was directed at researchers and decision-makers. A question was considered a priority when 50% (or more) of respondents described it as "relevant" or "very relevant."
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first round included 20 questions on human resources and 33/66 researchers responded. Questions suggested by the researchers were added, resulting in 26 questions for the second round, which were sent to 121 researchers and decision-makers. Respondent representation by country was uniform in both rounds. In the second round, 14/26 (54%) questions were described as very relevant. Priority issues related to regulation of the market, integration of education and health care needs, and distribution of human resources. The response rate was 50% in the first round (33/66), and 34% in the second round (41/121).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this exercise provide a starting point for mobilization of resources for health policy and systems research. Identification of health systems research priorities is an effective and efficient strategy for reorienting political, financial, management, and social organization efforts for attaining universal health coverage.
authors.affiliation: Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos de América, reveizl@paho.org.
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reveiz
authors.affiliation: Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos de América, reveizl@paho.org.
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México.
authors.forename: Carlos E Pinzón
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Flórez
authors.affiliation: Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos de América, reveizl@paho.org.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017691:Caribbean Region; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000523:psychology; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
vernacular_title: Prioridades de investigación en políticas y sistemas de salud centradas en los recursos humanos en salud.