Making information more meaningful: “Actionability” framework for information

Background: Given health challenges in resource poor settings, relevant and actionable information is urgently needed. The implementation of effective prevention and wellness programs depends on the availability of easily digestible information that health care workers can rapidly put into action across the health system. The “actionability” framework has evolved from a qualitative study conducted in India by the Knowledge for Health (K4Health) Project at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs to assess the information needs of health workers at different levels of the health system.

Objectives: Local level adaptation is a key element to translate research into practice. No criteria exist to determine what constitutes actionable information, yet how information is presented, to a large extent, determines its use. We list key criteria for actionable information and describe the pathway to move from complex, technical information to actionable information.

Methods: Qualitative data from 46 key informant interviews and nine focus group discussions (FGDs) collected from public health professionals at varying levels of the health system in UP, India was analyzed in an iterative manner leading to the identification of five parameters of actionable information.

Results: Five parameters of actionable information emerged: language, timeliness, simplification, quantity, and access. Barriers related to each of these parameters reduce the use of information. The actionability framework has been developed to guide the adaptation of informational content for use. The framework also specifies the outcomes of information use and can be used to assess the utility of different information products for varying audiences.

Discussion: The focus of most information and knowledge management products is on technology. The actionability framework provides a tool for knowledge management professionals to focus on an equally important issue, adaptation of vast informational content for all levels of the health system.