Assessing Health Policymakers’ Knowledge and Capacity for Optimizing Computer-Aided Approaches in Evidence-Informed Policymaking

The role of policymakers’ capacity in determining the right policy direction cannot be overemphasized. In recent times, the use of computer-aided tools innovates and smartly enhances policymakers’ operational capacity. This study assesses key policymakers’ knowledge/perception, capacity for optimizing computer-aided approaches in facilitating evidence-informed policymaking in Ebonyi State Nigeria. This cross-sectional study used structured questionnaire of 5-point likert scale among key health policymakers/stakeholders in the health sector in Ebonyi State. The study had fifty (50) participants who were key stakeholders in the health sector sampled at the technical meetings of the Advocacy Working Group (AWG) of Health Policy Plus (HP+) in Ebonyi State. Data was collected using the questionnaire and analyzed in a table of descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS version 20 software. Findings from the research recorded fair knowledge/perception of basic computing techniques/approaches with average mean rating MNR (3.69), and for policymaking ideals MNR (3.74) less evidence use dynamics MNR (2.87). Capacity for optimizing computer-aided approaches returned a very weak average MNR (2.99), desire/willingness to adopt emerging computing technique in evidence-informed policymaking MNR (4.40). Policymaking perspectives average MNR (3.66). The study findings indicated fair knowledge index, very weak capacity for optimizing computer-aided approaches, but with a high desire both to adopt and uptake it in advancing EIP in the health sector. The study recommends comprehensively articulated strategic capacity enhancement training intervention for key policymakers on this subject. Keywords: Computer-Aided, Synthesize, Evidence-Informed, Pretest, Optimize, Policy, Health Journal Reference Format: Igboji, Kingsley O., Uneke, Jesse C., Uneke, Chika T. Otubo & Ogbaga, Ignatius N*. (2024): Assessing Health Policymakers’ Knowledge and Capacity for Optimizing Computer-Aided Approaches in Evidence-Informed Policymaking. Journal of Behavioural Informatics, Digital Humanities and Development Rese Vol. 10 No. 4. Pp 49-62. isteams.net dx.doi.org/