IMPACT AND UTILISATION OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FINDINGS IN THE HEALTHCARE POLICIES OF MALAYSIA: 2005-2015

Introduction  
Research impact occurs when there are benefits resulting from the undertaking of research. The aim of this study was to look into the impact of funded biomedical research between years 2005-2015 from the aspects of knowledge production, research targeting and capacity building, as well as health system policy and decision making.    

Materials and Methods  
This study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods research design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Only biomedical projects related to breast cancer, coronary heart disease and dengue as well as funded by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) between year 2005 and 2015 were included in this study.     

Results  
From the questionnaire responses (N=58), on average each funded project managed to produce two outputs and one higher degree student. More than half (61.4%) of the questionnaire responses agreed that their funded projects would lead to subsequent future research. However, only 6 projects (10.3%) were reportedly cited in systematic reviews, 4 projects (6.9%) were cited in health policies, and 3 projects (5.2%) were cited in CPGs. In-depth interviews with the KOLs also saw that most of the local research findings were found to be irrelevant to be adopted into policies by the policymakers.     

Conclusions  
Paybacks on knowledge production as well as research targeting and capacity building had been well achieved but impact on health system policy and decision making had not been well attained.  

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