Table 10 Types of local evidence to address specific policy questions

Diagnosing the problem or goal

To estimate the magnitude of the problem or issue that the policy aims to address and stakeholders' views on it

• Vital statistics data from routine sources, surveys such as the national DHS

• Morbidity data from routine sources at national, sub-national or institutional (e.g. hospital) level

• Local studies of stakeholder views and experiences

To diagnose the likely causes of the problem

• Local studies of stakeholder views and experiences

• Data on risk factors from surveys

To describe local delivery, financial or governance arrangements for healthcare

• Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance policies, guidelines and records

• Regulations of professional organisations

Assessing policy options

To contextualise evidence from global reviews of the effects of interventions and to make this evidence relevant

• Data from local health delivery agencies on the range of interventions currently implemented (for a particular health problem) and their outcomes, which can be compared with the programmes evaluated in global reviews

• Data from local health delivery agencies on local coverage of these interventions

To inform assessments of the likely impacts of policy options (e.g. due to the existence of modifying factors)

• Local studies of similar programmes

To inform judgements about values and preferences regarding policy options (i.e. the relative importance that those affected attach to possible impacts of policy options) and views regarding these options

• Local studies of stakeholder views

• Information from stakeholder organisations, e.g. organisations representing the public and specific consumer groups, such as those living with particular health problems

• Information from deliberative dialogues with stakeholders

To estimate the costs (and savings) of the policy options

• Local studies of programme costs and savings

• Cost data held by health departments or programmes or by non-governmental delivery agencies

Examine the effects of a policy option on particular local groups

• Routinely collected programme data

• Local studies focusing on the group/s of interest

Exploring implementation strategies for a policy option

To assess the availability of resources (including human resources, technical capacity, infrastructure, and equipment)

• Resource data held by health departments or programmes or by non-governmental delivery agencies

• Local studies of resource use by similar programmes

To identify barriers to implementing policy options

• Local studies of stakeholder views

• Information from stakeholder organisations, e.g. organisations representing the public and specific consumer groups, such as those living with particular health problems

• Information from deliberative dialogues with stakeholders

• Local barrier studies

Monitoring the effects of a policy option

Monitor the sustainability of programme effects over time

• Routinely collected programme data

Examine the equity impacts of a programme following implementation

• Data that can be disaggregated by gender, age, area of residence, etc.