To main content

Promoting good policy for leadership and governance of health related rehabilitation: a realist synthesis

Abstract

Background

Good governance may result in strengthened performance of a health system. Coherent policies are essential for good health system governance. The overall aim of this research is to provide the best available scientific evidence on principles of good policy related leadership and governance of health related rehabilitation services in less resourced settings. This research was also conducted to support development of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines on health related rehabilitation.


Methods

An innovative study design was used, comprising two methods: a systematic search and realist synthesis of literature, and a Delphi survey of expert stakeholders to refine and triangulate findings from the realist synthesis. In accordance with Pawson and Tilley’s approach to realist synthesis, we identified context mechanism outcome pattern configurations (CMOCs) from the literature. Subsequently, these CMOCs were developed into statements for the Delphi survey, whereby 18 expert stakeholders refined these statements to achieve consensus on recommendations for policy related governance of health related rehabilitation.


Results

Several broad principles emerged throughout formulation of recommendations: participation of persons with disabilities in policy processes to improve programme responsiveness, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, and to strengthen service-user self-determination and satisfaction; collection of disaggregated disability statistics to support political momentum, decision-making of policymakers, evaluation, accountability, and equitable allocation of resources; explicit promotion in policies of access to services for all subgroups of persons with disabilities and service-users to support equitable and accessible services; robust inter-sectoral coordination to cultivate coherent mandates across governmental departments regarding service provision; and ‘institutionalizing’ programmes by aligning them with preexisting Ministerial models of healthcare to support programme sustainability.


Conclusions

Alongside national policymakers, our policy recommendations are relevant for several stakeholders, including service providers and service-users. This research aims to provide broad policy recommendations, rather than a strict formula, in acknowledgement of contextual diversity and complexity. Accordingly, our study proposes general principles regarding optimal policy related governance of health related rehabilitation in less resourced settings, which may be valuable across diverse health systems and contexts.
Read publication

Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Joanne McVeigh
  • Malcolm MacLachlan
  • Brynne Gilmore
  • Chiedza McClean
  • Arne Henning Eide
  • Hasheem Mannan
  • Priscille Geiser
  • Antony Duttine
  • Gubela Mji
  • Eilish McAuliffe
  • Beth Sprunt
  • Mutamad Amin
  • Charles Normand

Affiliation

  • The University of Dublin, Trinity College
  • University of Stellenbosch
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • SINTEF Digital / Health Research
  • University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin
  • France
  • USA
  • University of Melbourne
  • Ahfad University for Women

Year

2016

Published in

Globalization and Health

ISSN

1744-8603

Publisher

BioMed Central (BMC)

Volume

12:49

Page(s)

1 - 18

View this publication at Cristin