The role of communication in integrating research to policy: the case study of KEMRI, ministry of health and the mass media

Abstract

This study examines the role of communication in integrating research to policy, mainly between the Research and Development institutions, Government and Mainstream mass media. It focuses on the nature of interaction between these sectors, as their levels of interactions seem to be a major factor influencing integrating research findings with policy formulation. The main focus was the strategies used in dissemination and utilization of research findings by these institutions and the challenges to effective dissemination. The reason as to why I set up to do this study is that in the resent years Kenya has advanced in medical research but the findings seldom reach the general public or input to policy. This knowledge concepts generated from this findings' are expected to act as benchmark information to future medical research communication strategies, both for utilization of research findings and policy development. It is therefore anticipated that this project will generate information that will form the basis for developing strong linkages between the mainstream media, Research and Development institutions and the Government. This was a qualitative study where an illustrative sample of senior officers from KEMRI, the Mass Media and the Ministry of Health all-totaling to 30 participants, was selected because of their positions and functions in relation to acquisition and dissemination of research findings for input to policy. This research heavily relied on the key informants as the primary source of data as well as previous research, articles, publications, abstracts and books as the secondary source of data. Key informants for the study were drawn from 10 senior officials each, from KEMRI, Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Mass media. The interviewer using questionnaires with open-ended questions collected data. However, only 8 officials responded at the Ministry of health. Data was then transcribed into word processing document and then segmented into categories and coded using priori codes. Finally the data was summarized and organised in themes. Since the numbers were small the data analysis was done manually and this was done to determine the relationship between KEMRI, Media and Ministry of Health in relation to the role of communication in integrating research to policy. One of the major findings was that the three institutions had minimal interaction between each other. This is seen in the lack of initiative between them in finding out how each related to the other. Changes in the current dissemination strategies are therefore necessary. The failure of research findings to be used for policy is a clear indicator that communication systems and dissemination strategies are poor among the institutions studied. According to Schramm's adapted model "interaction and communication," for interaction to be effective and successful, there is need for the field of experiences of the sender and receiver to overlap, in order to challenge and extend the knowledge of the receiver. (Heinich, et.al., 1996). For research findings to be utilized for policy, Rogers's diffusion of innovations theory shows that there is need for a systematic process by which new ideas and practices are spread through channels over time among and between social systems. The findings also show that there lacked a specific office and staff for the purpose of dissemination and sourcing, acquisition and packaging of the research information either for public consumption or for use in public health policy development for the three institutions, respectively. This seriously hampered the use of research findings for input in policy. The discussion in this study centres on the possibility of incorporating themes, derived from the study findings in relation to the model of interaction and communication, as well as the diffusion of innovation theory. In conclusion, the limited interactions between the three sectors; the lack of specific strategies for dissemination and acquisition of research findings for policy development, are challenges that need to be overcome. The nature of the infrastructure and the nonavailability of resources, such as the modem information technology, to all researchers and government institutions need to be addressed. This would also mean encouraging researchers to translate the information for ease in consumption for input to policy, and more so for the media to use it as a tool for educating the public on the latest research findings. Therefore through increased interaction amongst the three institutions and the development of a suitable and appropriate communication strategy, would be a solution towards the dissemination of research findings and using it for purposes of health policy development.