Exploring Health Research Priority Setting in a South African Province: A Nominal Group Technique Approach

Christo Heunis (), Deirdre van Jaarsveldt, Perpetual Chikobvu, Gladys Kigozi-Male and Moroesi Litheko
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Christo Heunis: Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Deirdre van Jaarsveldt: School of Nursing, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Perpetual Chikobvu: Free State Department of Health, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Gladys Kigozi-Male: Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Moroesi Litheko: Free State Department of Health, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: In August 2022, the Free State Provincial Health Research Committee used the online nominal group technique (NGT) for Health Research Priority Setting (HRPS) for the Free State Department of Health (FSDoH) and the research community, considering various stakeholders’ perspectives. This paper explores and describes the identified health research priorities. It also assesses their alignment with the National Health Research Strategy. Additionally, it provides an opinion on the feasibility of using the online NGT for collaborative co-creation of provincial-level health research priorities. Most of the identified health research priorities resonate with the national health research priorities identified by the National Health Research Committee. However, research to “ strengthen surveillance ” was uniquely perceived to be a priority by the participants in the Free State HRPS exercise. A plausible reason for this might be their heightened awareness of the vital role optimal surveillance systems play in coordinating intersectoral responses to pandemics, particularly considering the serious challenges emerging during the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Keywords: health research priority setting; online nominal group technique; Free State province (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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