RESOURCES for setting priorities
Assess the situation
Set the scene
Choose the best method
Plan and implement priority setting
Make priorities work
And more…
Understand the environment in which priority setting takes place
Map available data on research for health governance and management, to inform priority setting
- Governance structure
- Priority setting background
- Policies
- Stakeholders checklist
- Engaging stakeholders
Profile – expand map with analysis of current production, capacity and use of research for health
Performance assessment – expand profile with analysis of research for health performance
Define the focus and scope of the priority setting process
Focus and Scope – decide on the area to address; timeframe; periodicity; and extent (national, sub national, institutional) of priority setting
Ethical standards – define the standards with which the priority setting process should comply
Engage partners – formalise the partnerships arrangement and define responsibilities
Use methods suited to local context and needs
Decide on methods to be used to identify priority issues, consider use of more than one method to optimise the usefulness of results, adapt methods to specific setting, available data and resources, and to local needs
COMPOUND APPROACHES – Use and compile existing data
- Essential National Health Research
- Burden of Disease
- 3D Combined Approach Matrix
- Child Health Priorities
FORESIGHTING TECHNIQUES – Provide insight in future health priorities
Decide on technique to be used to rank priority issues, adapt ranking technique to specific setting and needs
DIRECT VALUATION TECHNIQUES
- Comparison in pairs (Introduction to Health Planning. P N Reeves, D E Bergwall, N B Woodside. Third Edition. Information Resources Press, Arlington, Virginia, 1984)
- Anchored rating scale (Planning Methods for Health and Related Organisations. P C Nutt. John Wiley & Sons. Toronto, 1984)
- Rank weight (Planning Methods for Health and Related Organisations. P C Nutt. John Wiley & Sons. Toronto, 1984)
INDIRECT VALUATION TECHNIQUES
- Hanlon method (Public Administration and Practice. J J Hanlon, George E Pickett. Eighth Edition. Mirror/Moshy College Publishing. St. Louis, 1984)
- Simplex method (Methods for Priority Setting in Area Wide Health Planning. J Drake et al. Arthur Young & Co., Washington DC, 1977. In Basic Health Planning Methods. Aspen System Corporation, Germantown, Maryland, 1978
PLAN AND IMPLEMENT PRIORITY SETTING
Develop a management framework to ensure best use of resources
Develop a plan of work with: expected outputs; people involved and their responsibilities; plans for data collection and analysis, communication, and monitoring and evaluation; timelines and budget for data collection and analysis, communication, and monitoring and evaluation
- Developing an action plan
- Setting a timetable and budget
- Communication
- M&E indicators – practical suggestions
Ensure action after priority setting, and continuous review of progress
Ensure action after priority setting, set up strategies to support the integration of defined priorities into the national agenda
Monitor and evaluate how priorities are being integrated in the national agenda; how research results are being used in decision making, funding allocation and research outcomes
