Skip to content

CHNRI Method

The ideometrics platform uses the CHNRI method for prioritising research questions - but what is the CHNRI method?

Overview

The CHNRI method gathers and priotises research priority questions with the following key steps:

  1. Gathering Research Questions: Experts and stakeholders collectively identify and propose a comprehensive list of potential research questions that could address a specific health problem or knowledge gap.

  2. Defining Criteria for Evaluation: The CHNRI method uses a structured framework of criteria to evaluate each research question. Common criteria include:

    • Answerability: Is the research question feasible, and can it be answered with available methods and resources?
    • Effectiveness: Would addressing this question significantly improve health outcomes or reduce disease burden?
    • Deliverability: Can the interventions based on this research be realistically implemented in the target populations?
    • Equity: Would the research outcomes reduce health disparities or benefit marginalised groups?
    • Feasibility: Does the research align with existing technological, financial, and human resource capabilities?
    • Additional or modified criteria may be included depending on the specific health issue or research field.

  3. Scoring by Experts: Each research question is scored against the predefined criteria by a group of experts. The experts independently rate each question based on how well it meets each criterion on a scale of 0-1 (typically descretely 0 - no , 0.5 - maybe or 1 - yes). The ratings are aggregated to give each question a composite score.

  4. Calculating Priority Scores: The ratings are analysed to calculate a priority score for each question. This score reflects the question’s potential impact, feasibility, and other evaluated factors, allowing the research questions to be ranked.

  5. Generating a Ranked List of Research Priorities: The research questions are ranked from highest to lowest based on their scores, highlighting the top priorities that meet the criteria most effectively.

Advantages of the CHNRI Method

  • Transparency: CHNRI provides a transparent, systematic, and reproducible approach to setting research priorities.
  • Inclusivity: The method incorporates diverse expert opinions and stakeholder input.
  • Customizability: The criteria can be adapted to different research fields, making it versatile for various health and research agendas.
  • Emphasis on Impact: By focusing on criteria like equity, feasibility, and effectiveness, CHNRI aims to ensure that research priorities are aligned with potential real-world benefits.

Applications of the CHNRI Method

The CHNRI method has been widely used in global health research, particularly for setting research priorities for infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, and other health issues that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

Overall, the CHNRI method is a valuable tool for organizations, research institutions, and policymakers to make informed, evidence-based decisions about where to allocate resources for maximum health impact.