El-Jardali and Fadllallah provide an excellent summary of the many dimensions of knowledge use, and the breath of issues and activities that must be considered if knowledge is to be put into practice. However, reliance on a continuum (rather than a cyclical, multidirectional, systems) model creates a number of limitations, particularly when promoting evidence-informed action in the areas of hea...

BACKGROUND Few empirical studies of research utilisation have been conducted in low and middle income countries. This paper explores how research information, in particular findings from randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews, informed policy making and clinical guideline development for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa. ...

BACKGROUND Health policymaking is a complex process and analysing the role of evidence is still an evolving area in many low- and middle-income countries. Where evidence is used, it is greatly affected by cognitive and institutional features of the policy process. This paper examines the role of different types of evidence in health policy development in Nigeria. METHODS The role of evidence ...

The doctrine of informed consent is evolving. It has taken different routes in different jurisdictions. However, these different paths are converging to a general consensus. The Bolam test, which has been the primary exposition of this doctrine in this country, sets the standard of care as a matter of medical judgement. However, recent cases, particularly Rogers v Whitaker, shift the perspectiv...

BACKGROUND There is a scarcity of empirical data on institutions devoted to knowledge brokerage and their influence in Africa. Our objective was to describe two pioneering Knowledge Translation Platforms (KTPs) supporting evidence informed health system policymaking (EIHSP) in Cameroon and Uganda since 2006. METHODS This comparative historical case study of Evidence Informed Policy Network (E...