Skip main navigation

Managing mixed health systems: the role of evidence

If more evidence is needed to guide decision making in health systems, what questions should be asked, and research methodologies used?

While it’s clear that much more evidence is needed to guide decision making in health systems, there is disagreement about the questions we should be asking and the types of research methodologies appropriate to answer those questions.

The types of evidence we seek are often constrained by what resources (including time and expertise) we have available to collect and analyse data. But what other factors (organisational, cultural, political) might shape what evidence we seek and the questions we ask?

It’s good to reflect, near the end of this course, on how the system itself may shape and constrain even what we study and learn from it.

This article is from the free online

Transforming Primary Health Care through Health Systems Strengthening

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now