Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics

Maleka Sultana; Noman Perves; Muzaherul Huq; Anwar Islam

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics

Maleka Sultana^*

, Noman Perves

, Muzaherul Huq

, Anwar Islam

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 14, Issue 4)

Received: 25 May 2026 Accepted: 8 June 2026 Published: 11 July 2026

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Abstract

Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions. This manuscript argues that research literacy should be recognized as a core healthcare leadership competency because evidence-based decision-making depends on leaders’ ability to understand research methods and statistics. Research literacy enables leaders to differentiate strong evidence from weak evidence, interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, evaluate program outcomes, and make transparent decisions in complex health systems. Drawing on principles of research methodology, hierarchy of evidence, epidemiology, program evaluation, and evidence-informed policymaking, the paper discusses how healthcare leaders can use research methods and statistics to improve public health planning, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It also highlights the risks of evidence-blind leadership, including inefficient spending, poorly targeted interventions, weak accountability, and preventable health inequities. The paper concludes that research literacy should be embedded in healthcare leadership education, institutional decision-making structures, and continuing professional development. A research-literate healthcare leader is not necessarily a full-time researcher, but must be able to ask answerable questions, critically appraise evidence, interpret statistical findings, engage with technical experts, and translate knowledge into ethical, equitable, and context-sensitive public health action.

Published in	American Journal of Health Research (Volume 14, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
Page(s)	179-188
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Research Literacy, Healthcare Leadership, Evidence-based Decision-making, Public Health, Research Methods, Statistics, Health Policy, Evidence-informed Practice

References

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[14]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC approach to answering program evaluation questions. CDC Evaluation. CDC; 2024. URL: https://www.cdc.gov/evaluation/faq
[15]	Yost J, Dobbins M, Traynor R, DeCorby K, Workentine S, Greco L. Tools to support evidence-informed public health decision making. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14: 728. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-728
[16]	Orton L, Lloyd?Williams F, Taylor?Robinson D, O’Flaherty M, Capewell S. The use of research evidence in public health decision making processes: systematic review. PLoS One. 2011; 6(7): e21704. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021704
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APA Style

Sultana, M., Perves, N., Huq, M., Islam, A. (2026). Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics. American Journal of Health Research, 14(4), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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ACS Style

Sultana, M.; Perves, N.; Huq, M.; Islam, A. Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics. Am. J. Health Res. 2026, 14(4), 179-188. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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AMA Style

Sultana M, Perves N, Huq M, Islam A. Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics. Am J Health Res. 2026;14(4):179-188. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11,
  author = {Maleka Sultana and Noman Perves and Muzaherul Huq and Anwar Islam},
  title = {Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {14},
  number = {4},
  pages = {179-188},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20261404.11},
  abstract = {Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions. This manuscript argues that research literacy should be recognized as a core healthcare leadership competency because evidence-based decision-making depends on leaders’ ability to understand research methods and statistics. Research literacy enables leaders to differentiate strong evidence from weak evidence, interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, evaluate program outcomes, and make transparent decisions in complex health systems. Drawing on principles of research methodology, hierarchy of evidence, epidemiology, program evaluation, and evidence-informed policymaking, the paper discusses how healthcare leaders can use research methods and statistics to improve public health planning, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It also highlights the risks of evidence-blind leadership, including inefficient spending, poorly targeted interventions, weak accountability, and preventable health inequities. The paper concludes that research literacy should be embedded in healthcare leadership education, institutional decision-making structures, and continuing professional development. A research-literate healthcare leader is not necessarily a full-time researcher, but must be able to ask answerable questions, critically appraise evidence, interpret statistical findings, engage with technical experts, and translate knowledge into ethical, equitable, and context-sensitive public health action.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics
AU  - Maleka Sultana
AU  - Noman Perves
AU  - Muzaherul Huq
AU  - Anwar Islam
Y1  - 2026/07/11
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 179
EP  - 188
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
AB  - Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions. This manuscript argues that research literacy should be recognized as a core healthcare leadership competency because evidence-based decision-making depends on leaders’ ability to understand research methods and statistics. Research literacy enables leaders to differentiate strong evidence from weak evidence, interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, evaluate program outcomes, and make transparent decisions in complex health systems. Drawing on principles of research methodology, hierarchy of evidence, epidemiology, program evaluation, and evidence-informed policymaking, the paper discusses how healthcare leaders can use research methods and statistics to improve public health planning, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It also highlights the risks of evidence-blind leadership, including inefficient spending, poorly targeted interventions, weak accountability, and preventable health inequities. The paper concludes that research literacy should be embedded in healthcare leadership education, institutional decision-making structures, and continuing professional development. A research-literate healthcare leader is not necessarily a full-time researcher, but must be able to ask answerable questions, critically appraise evidence, interpret statistical findings, engage with technical experts, and translate knowledge into ethical, equitable, and context-sensitive public health action.
VL  - 14
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Maleka Sultana

Department Medical and Scientific Affairs, Nestlé Bangladesh Plc, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2828-3247
Noman Perves

Marketing and Patient access, Fresenius Medical Care, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0255-3912
Muzaherul Huq

Department of Public Health, Public Health Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0302-0755
Anwar Islam

Centre for Control of Chronic Diseases (CCCD), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1897-4818

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APA Style

Sultana, M., Perves, N., Huq, M., Islam, A. (2026). Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics. American Journal of Health Research, 14(4), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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ACS Style

Sultana, M.; Perves, N.; Huq, M.; Islam, A. Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics. Am. J. Health Res. 2026, 14(4), 179-188. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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AMA Style

Sultana M, Perves N, Huq M, Islam A. Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics. Am J Health Res. 2026;14(4):179-188. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11,
  author = {Maleka Sultana and Noman Perves and Muzaherul Huq and Anwar Islam},
  title = {Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {14},
  number = {4},
  pages = {179-188},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20261404.11},
  abstract = {Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions. This manuscript argues that research literacy should be recognized as a core healthcare leadership competency because evidence-based decision-making depends on leaders’ ability to understand research methods and statistics. Research literacy enables leaders to differentiate strong evidence from weak evidence, interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, evaluate program outcomes, and make transparent decisions in complex health systems. Drawing on principles of research methodology, hierarchy of evidence, epidemiology, program evaluation, and evidence-informed policymaking, the paper discusses how healthcare leaders can use research methods and statistics to improve public health planning, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It also highlights the risks of evidence-blind leadership, including inefficient spending, poorly targeted interventions, weak accountability, and preventable health inequities. The paper concludes that research literacy should be embedded in healthcare leadership education, institutional decision-making structures, and continuing professional development. A research-literate healthcare leader is not necessarily a full-time researcher, but must be able to ask answerable questions, critically appraise evidence, interpret statistical findings, engage with technical experts, and translate knowledge into ethical, equitable, and context-sensitive public health action.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics
AU  - Maleka Sultana
AU  - Noman Perves
AU  - Muzaherul Huq
AU  - Anwar Islam
Y1  - 2026/07/11
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 179
EP  - 188
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
AB  - Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions. This manuscript argues that research literacy should be recognized as a core healthcare leadership competency because evidence-based decision-making depends on leaders’ ability to understand research methods and statistics. Research literacy enables leaders to differentiate strong evidence from weak evidence, interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, evaluate program outcomes, and make transparent decisions in complex health systems. Drawing on principles of research methodology, hierarchy of evidence, epidemiology, program evaluation, and evidence-informed policymaking, the paper discusses how healthcare leaders can use research methods and statistics to improve public health planning, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It also highlights the risks of evidence-blind leadership, including inefficient spending, poorly targeted interventions, weak accountability, and preventable health inequities. The paper concludes that research literacy should be embedded in healthcare leadership education, institutional decision-making structures, and continuing professional development. A research-literate healthcare leader is not necessarily a full-time researcher, but must be able to ask answerable questions, critically appraise evidence, interpret statistical findings, engage with technical experts, and translate knowledge into ethical, equitable, and context-sensitive public health action.
VL  - 14
IS  - 4
ER  -

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