Perceptions of the usefulness and use of research conducted in other countries

Semi-structured interviews in Ghana and England explored perceptions of the usefulness and use of foreign research (ie, beyond the original study country) compared to locally conducted research (ie, conducted in Ghana). There was a preference for locally conducted studies, although interviewees generally recognised the potential usefulness of foreign research. Various factors affected whether foreign research was considered useful or used; it was not used automatically or indiscriminately. Researchers should recognise the potential usefulness of their research beyond the original study country. Further work is needed to explore how to maximise the utility of foreign research, as a means of enabling evidence-informed decision making where locally conducted research is not available.