Table 5 Findings from studies that examine other types of linkages among variables*
Domain | Themes | Factors influencing weight given to themes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Larger number of studies | Higher-quality studies | Studies in different contexts | ||
Context affects: activities/outputs âž” impacts | No studies identified | NA | NA | NA |
Context affects: activities/outputs âž” outcomes | No studies identified | NA | NA | NA |
Infrastructure affects: activities/outputs âž” impacts | No studies identified | NA | NA | NA |
Infrastructure affects: activities/outputs âž” outcomes | No studies identified | NA | NA | NA |
Context ➔ infrastructure | Financial sustainability  • One study found that political transitions and institutional rivalry emerged as barriers to the financial sustainability of KT platforms [23] – 1.5/3 | No (1) | No | NA |
Context ➔ activities/outputs | Political support  • Two studies found that political support increased awareness and the perceived legitimacy of a KT platform and thereby the demand for (and then supply of) its activities and outputs (e.g. rapid syntheses) [33, 45] – 2/5, 1/3, respectively External factors  • One study found that external factors limited the ability of one KT platform in Cameroon to link policy-makers and researchers effectively, in this case due to a poliomyelitis outbreak limiting time and resources of policy-makers [36] – 1.5/5 | No (2 or 1) | No | Yes for political support (6) |
Infrastructure ➔ activities/outputs | Networks/multi-institutional arrangements  • Two studies found that networks/multi-institutional arrangements involving the KT platform and governments, stakeholder organisations, research organisations (both within and outside the KT platform’s country) and/or funding agencies increased awareness of the KT platform, provided reminders to draw on it, and developed its capacity to respond with appropriate activities and outputs [33, 45] – 2/5, 1/3, respectively  • One study examining three KT platforms found that linking KT platforms with policy-makers and forming external networks with research organisations allowed KT platforms to improve capacity for research and outputs [23] – 1.5/3 | No (3) | No | Yes (10) |