Table 2 Factors that influence health policymaking and views and practices on the use of evidence in the region

Factors that Influence Health Policymaking

1-Lack of coordination in governmental/ministerial relations across different ministries (such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, etc.) hindered the health policymaking process.

31 (13.2%)

28 (11.9%)

176 (74.9%)

2-Lack of coordination in government/ health provider relations hindered the health policymaking process.

44 (18.9%)

37 (15.9%)

152 (65.2%)

3-Physician associations exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

117 (50.4%)

56 (24.1%)

59 (25.4%)

4-Nursing associations exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

146 (63.8%)

63 (27.5%)

20 (8.7%)

5-Other types of health professional associations exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process (e.g., Syndicate of hospitals).

115 (49.4%)

66 (28.3%)

52 (22.3%)

6-Private health providers exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

91 (39.6%)

61 (26.5%)

78 (33.9%)

7-Private insurers exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

120 (54.8%)

62 (28.3%)

37 (16.9%)

8-Values of governing parties exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

58 (25%)

49 (21.1%)

125 (53.9%)

9-Public opinion exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

78 (33.2%)

64 (27.2%)

93 (39.6%)

10-Media exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

56 (23.8%)

81 (34.5%)

98 (41.7%)

11-Research about problems related to healthcare or health systems exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

74 (31.5%)

54 (23%)

107 (45.5%)

12-Limited public funding for health exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

31 (13.1%)

18 (7.6%)

187 (79.2%)

13-Other countries’ health policies exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

60 (25.6%)

78 (33.3%)

96 (41%)

14-Donor organizations (e.g., United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO)) exerted a strong influence on the health policymaking process.

25 (10.6%)

40 (16.9%)

171 (72.5%)

Views and practices on the use of evidence

1-I generally look and/or ask for scientific evidence to support my work in formulating and implementing health policies.

9 (3.8%)

18 (7.7%)

208 (88.5%)

2-I have access to health research through an internet connection at my organization.

29 (12.3%)

21 (8.9%)

185 (78.7%)

3-There are contact and collaborative relations between researchers and health policymakers/ decision makers in my organization.

68 (29.3%)

64 (27.6%)

100 (43.1%)

4-I participated in meetings with researchers to identify high-priority policy issues for which research is needed to inform how to address these issues.

34 (14.5%)

37 (15.8%)

163 (69.7%)

5-Health policymakers request scientific evidence in the policymaking process.

66 (28.1%)

55 (23.4%)

114 (48.5%)

6-The scientific evidence is delivered at the right time.

99 (42.9%)

68 (29.4%)

64 (27.7%)

7-There are summaries of evidence with messages that specify possible actions about health policies issues I confronted in my organization.

83 (35.5%)

69 (29.5%)

82 (35.0%)

8-The available scientific evidence provides sufficient information on the impacts, costs and concrete benefits of the studied or soon-to-implement health policies.

75 (32.2%)

67 (28.8%)

91 (39.1%)

9-The available scientific evidence is delivered with information about its quality and local applicability.

93 (40.1%)

67 (28.9%)

72 (31.0%)

10-There is a sufficient quantity of health research that may contribute to inform the health policymaking/decision making process.

85 (36.8%)

50 (21.6%)

96 (41.6%)

11-There are clearly identified places to find or to ask for scientific evidence that may inform the health policymaking/decision making process.

78 (33.3%)

44 (18.8%)

112 (47.9%)

12-Health policymakers use scientific evidence in the policymaking process whenever it is available and supplied to them.

56 (23.9%)

56 (23.9%)

122 (52.1%)

13-I have received training to acquire, assess the quality and local applicability of scientific evidence, and apply scientific evidence in health policymaking/decision making.

76 (32.5%)

34 (14.5%)

124 (53%)

14-There is explicit budget or funding for both research and evidence- informed health policymaking within my organization.

130 (55.3%)

47 (20%)

58 (24.7%)

15-There is an administrative structure suitable to support an evidence- informed health policymaking process (for example; a policy analysis department or a decision support unit, or the availability of resources, incentives and time for the use of scientific evidence in health policymaking).

123 (52.6%)

45 (19.2%)

66 (28.2%)

16-The political actors related with health (political parties, ministers, parliament, other ministries, etc.) value the use of scientific evidence in the policymaking process.

84 (35.9%)

83 (35.5%)

67 (28.6%)