title: Improving Nigerian health policymakers' capacity to access and utilize policy relevant evidence: outcome of information and communication technology training workshop.
abstract: Information and communication technology (ICT) tools are known to facilitate communication and processing of information and sharing of knowledge by electronic means. In Nigeria, the lack of adequate capacity on the use of ICT by health sector policymakers constitutes a major impediment to the uptake of research evidence into the policymaking process. The objective of this study was to improve the knowledge and capacity of policymakers to access and utilize policy relevant evidence. A modified "before and after" intervention study design was used in which outcomes were measured on the target participants both before the intervention is implemented and after. A 4-point likert scale according to the degree of adequacy; 1 = grossly inadequate, 4 = very adequate was employed. This study was conducted in Ebonyi State, south-eastern Nigeria and the participants were career health policy makers. A two-day intensive ICT training workshop was organized for policymakers who had 52 participants in attendance. Topics covered included: (i). intersectoral partnership/collaboration; (ii). Engaging ICT in evidence-informed policy making; use of ICT for evidence synthesis; (iv) capacity development on the use of computer, internet and other ICT. The pre-workshop mean of knowledge and capacity for use of ICT ranged from 2.19-3.05, while the post-workshop mean ranged from 2.67-3.67 on 4-point scale. The percentage increase in mean of knowledge and capacity at the end of the workshop ranged from 8.3%-39.1%. Findings of this study suggest that policymakers' ICT competence relevant to evidence-informed policymaking can be enhanced through training workshop.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chigozie Jesse
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Uneke
authors.affiliation: Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; Department of Banking & Finance, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abel Ebeh
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ezeoha
authors.affiliation: Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uro-Chukwu
authors.affiliation: Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; Department of Paediatrics, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chinonyelum Thecla
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ezeonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ogbonnaya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogbu
authors.affiliation: Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Friday
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Onwe
authors.affiliation: Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria ; Catholic Relief Services (Nigeria Program), Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edoga
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000193:education*; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011050:Policy Making
keywords: Information and communication technology; capacity; evidence-informed; policymaker; workshop