Table 2 Potential facilitators and barriers to the use and implementation of knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) activities

Facilitators:

 National funders formulate their priorities and calls for proposals in response to national and regional needs

59

 Personal and organisational contacts among policymakers were quite stable over time

43

 Funding sources (e.g. granting agencies) encourage engagement in KTE activities

43

 Funding sources (e.g. granting agencies) consider KTE activities an allowable expense

43

 Policymakers have access to technical support for acquiring, assessing and applying health systems and policy research (HSPR) research

42

 Structures and processes exist to link you with policymakers

38

 National funding sources encourage KTE activities

38

 Policymakers invest financial and/or human resources in KTE activities

22

 Policymakers create opportunities to develop joint HSPR research initiatives with them

22

Barriers:

 Policymakers lack the expertise for acquiring, assessing and applying HSPR research

59

 Priorities in the health system draw attention away from HSPR research

59

 Policymakers do not make decisions on the basis of HSPR research

53

 Policymakers and stakeholders consider that the available HSPR has little practical policy applications

38

 Policymakers do not have technical access (i.e. journal subscriptions, links to research) to the appropriate databases to search for HSPR research

32

 Policymakers and stakeholders consider that the available HSPR lacks credibility

24