Setting health research priorities using the CHNRI method : VII. A review of the first 50 applications of the CHNRI method
Date
2017-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Edinburgh University Global Health Society
Abstract
Background: Several recent reviews of the methods used to
set research priorities have identified the CHNRI method
(acronym derived from the “Child Health and Nutrition Research
Initiative”) as an approach that clearly became popular
and widely used over the past decade. In this paper we
review the first 50 examples of application of the CHNRI
method, published between 2007 and 2016, and summarize
the most important messages that emerged from those experiences.
Methods: We conducted a literature review to identify the
first 50 examples of application of the CHNRI method in
chronological order. We searched Google Scholar, PubMed
and so–called grey literature.
Results: Initially, between 2007 and 2011, the CHNRI method
was mainly used for setting research priorities to address
global child health issues, although the first cases of application
outside this field (eg, mental health, disabilities and zoonoses)
were also recorded. Since 2012 the CHNRI method
was used more widely, expanding into the topics such as
adolescent health, dementia, national health policy and education.
The majority of the exercises were focused on issues
that were only relevant to low– and middle–income countries,
and national–level applications are on the rise. The first
CHNRI–based articles adhered to the five recommended
priority–setting criteria, but by 2016 more than two–thirds
of all conducted exercises departed from recommendations,
modifying the CHNRI method to suit each particular exercise.
This was done not only by changing the number of criteria
used, but also by introducing some entirely new criteria
(eg, “low cost”, “sustainability”, “acceptability”, “feasibility”,
“relevance” and others).
Conclusions: The popularity of the CHNRI method in setting
health research priorities can be attributed to several key
conceptual advances that have addressed common concerns.
The method is systematic in nature, offering an acceptable
framework for handling many research questions. It is also
transparent and replicable, because it clearly defines the context
and priority–setting criteria. It is democratic, as it relies
on “crowd–sourcing”. It is inclusive, fostering “ownership”
of the results by ensuring that various groups invest in the
process. It is very flexible and adjustable to many different
contexts and needs. Finally, it is simple and relatively inexpensive
to conduct, which we believe is one of the main reasons
for its uptake by many groups globally, particularly
those in low– and middle–income countries.
Description
CITATION: Rudan, I., et al. 2017. Setting health research priorities using the CHNRI method : VII. A review of the first 50 applications of the CHNRI method. Journal of Global Health, 7(1):011004, doi:10.7189/jogh.07.011004.
The original publication is available at http://jogh.org
The original publication is available at http://jogh.org
Keywords
CHNRI method, Child health, Nutrition research, Research management
Citation
Rudan, I., et al. 2017. Setting health research priorities using the CHNRI method : VII. A review of the first 50 applications of the CHNRI method. Journal of Global Health, 7(1):011004, doi:10.7189/jogh.07.011004