‘A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in Pre-eclampsia: co-developed Policy Labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone.’

Objective The aim of this article is to describe co-development and delivery of Policy Labs in Sierra Leone and Zambia for expedition of emerging evidence into clinical management of Pre-eclampsia. Design Co-development and delivery of Policy Labs. Setting Policy Labs were undertaken in Freetown, Sierra Leone and Lusaka, Zambia. Population Participants were purposively selected in each setting to represent a diverse range of relevant stakeholders. Methods Working with King’s Policy Institute, we co-developed and delivered two Policy Labs based on their 8-step process and the ‘trust-translation-timing’ model. Main outcome measures Policy Lab attendance; Policy Lab delivery; Policy Lab report and agreed outputs. Results Two Policy Labs were held: in Zambia (14 February 2023) and Sierra Leone (7 March 2023), attended by 35 and 39 diverse stakeholders respectively, included women via pre-recorded video clips. Both labs were successfully facilitated by local, well-respected female team members, and addressed co-developed questions (‘What are enablers and barriers to offering planned early delivery between 34 and 37 weeks?’ – Zambia; ‘How can we improve timely detection and appropriate action in women with Pre-eclampsia?’ – Sierra Leone) in answer to context-specific emerging evidence. Participants at both labs identified lack of Pre-eclampsia awareness as a key barrier, and recommended development of locally designed, community based strategies to increase access to timely, evidence-based Pre-eclampsia management. Conclusions Policy Labs are a novel approach to facilitate transfer of new knowledge into policy and action. Future Policy Labs should feature the women, participating in real time, at the forefront of the discussion.