Table 2.
Engagement of respondents in activities to bridge the gap between research, policy and practice in defined clinical areas
| Activity | Defined clinical area; % (no.) of respondents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total n = 308 | Insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria n = 72 | Intrauterine devices for contraception n = 94 | Oral rehydration therapy to prevent dehydration in children with diarrhea n = 50 | DOTS to treat tuberculosis n = 92 | |
| Producer-push* | |||||
| What is transferred frequently or always to target audiences outside the scholarly community? | |||||
| Provided articles published in scientific journals | 44 (133/303) | 28 (20/72) | 48 (43/90) | 54 (27/50) | 47 (43/91) |
| Provided project reports | 43 (125/294) | 39 (28/72) | 43 (36/83) | 45 (22/49) | 43 (39/90) |
| Provided syntheses of the research literature (not including formal systematic reviews) | 33 (96/295) | 27 (19/70) | 37 (32/87) | 47 (23/49) | 25 (22/89) |
| Provided systematic reviews of the research literature† | 27 (79/296) | 24 (17/70) | 28 (24/87) | 42 (20/48) | 20 (18/91) |
| Developed brief summaries of articles or project reports | 46 (137/300) | 36 (25/70) | 45 (41/91) | 58 (28/48) | 47 (43/91) |
| Developed brief summaries of syntheses or systematic reviews | 33 (99/296) | 23 (16/69) | 32 (28/88) | 47 (23/49) | 36 (32/90) |
| Developed messages for target audiences that specified possible action (i.e., recommendations, take-home messages, actionable messages) | 57 (174/303) | 57 (41/72) | 59 (54/91) | 69 (34/49) | 49 (45/91) |
| To whom is research being transferred frequently or always and with what investments in fine-tuning the approach to them? | |||||
| Obtained or updated contact information for target audiences | 59 (179/303) | 55 (39/71) | 59 (53/90) | 62 (31/50) | 61 (56/92) |
| Obtained or reviewed information that described the needs or goals of specific target audiences | 55 (165/300) | 57 (41/72) | 57 (49/86) | 56 (28/50) | 51 (47/92) |
| Developed research products that used language appropriate to specific target audiences | 57 (167/293) | 52 (37/71) | 60 (49/81) | 58 (29/50) | 57 (52/91) |
| Developed research products appealing to specific target audiences (e.g., graphics, colour, humour and packaging) | 48 (141/293) | 42 (30/71) | 54 (45/83) | 49 (24/49) | 47 (42/90) |
| Developed research products that provided examples or demonstrations of how specific target audiences could use the research | 43 (125/292) | 35 (25/71) | 49 (40/81) | 49 (24/49) | 40 (36/91) |
| Tailored the content of mailings or emails to specific target audiences | 27 (77/290) | 21 (15/71) | 35 (28/81) | 38 (18/48) | 18 (16/90) |
| Tailored other aspects of bridging approach to specific target audiences | 36 (107/296) | 32 (23/71) | 40 (35/87) | 44 (21/48) | 31 (28/90) |
| By whom is research being transferred frequently or always and with what investments in supporting their efforts? | |||||
| Reviewed the research literature about effective approaches to bridging | 40 (117/294) | 28 (20/72) | 51 (42/82) | 40 (20/50) | 39 (35/90) |
| Reviewed information from websites, list-serves, etc., about effective approaches to bridging | 38 (112/297) | 26 (19/72) | 40 (34/85) | 41 (20/49) | 43 (39/91) |
| Participated in activities to build bridging skills (e.g., conferences or courses about bridging) | 42 (125/301) | 36 (26/72) | 45 (40/88) | 44 (22/50) | 41 (37/91) |
| Shared experiences with people performing bridging roles in other organizations like your own | 40 (120/302) | 36 (26/72) | 43 (39/90) | 42 (20/48) | 38 (35/92) |
| Identified and worked with bridging specialists outside the organization | 31 (91/295) | 26 (19/72) | 35 (29/83) | 24 (12/50) | 34 (31/90) |
| Identified and worked with knowledge brokers‡ outside the organization | 21 (62/298) | 14 (10/72) | 26 (22/85) | 34 (17/50) | 14 (13/91) |
| Identified and worked with credible messengers§ | 32 (92/287) | 24 (17/70) | 35 (27/78) | 46 (22/48) | 29 (26/91) |
| Developed relationships with print, radio or television journalists | 33 (96/295) | 38 (27/72) | 32 (26/82) | 36 (18/50) | 27 (25/91) |
| How is research knowledge being transferred frequently or always to particular target audiences, and specifically using passive strategies? | |||||
| Provided at cost and upon request articles, reports, syntheses or systematic reviews | 19 (55/295) | 6 (4/70) | 23 (19/84) | 18 (9/50) | 25 (23/91) |
| Provided free upon request (but not through a website) articles, reports, syntheses or systematic reviews | 45 (135/303) | 25 (18/71) | 48 (43/90) | 46 (23/50) | 55 (51/92) |
| Provided through a website articles, reports, syntheses or systematic reviews | 21 (61/296) | 13 (9/71) | 16 (14/85) | 16 (8/49) | 33 (30/91) |
| Provided free upon request (but not through a website) brief summaries or messages that specified possible action | 40 (121/300) | 34 (24/71) | 34 (30/89) | 47 (23/49) | 48 (44/91) |
| Provided through a website brief summaries or messages | 19 (55/295) | 15 (11/71) | 17 (14/84) | 18 (9/49) | 23 (21/91) |
| Provided on a website dedicated entry-points or sections for specific target audiences | 15 (43/294) | 10 (7/71) | 13 (11/84) | 21 (10/48) | 16 (15/91) |
| Posted to a list-serve brief summaries or messages | 13 (39/292) | 6 (4/70) | 11 (9/83) | 29 (14/49) | 13 (12/90) |
| Mailed or emailed notices that new material of potential interest had been posted to a website | 14 (43/297) | 6 (4/71) | 16 (14/86) | 27 (13/49) | 13 (12/91) |
| Mailed or emailed articles, reports, syntheses or systematic reviews without an explicit request | 15 (45/294) | 8 (6/71) | 13 (11/83) | 22 (11/49) | 19 (17/91) |
| Mailed or emailed (but not through a list-serve or newsletter) brief summaries or messages without an explicit request | 14 (42/295) | 4 (3/70) | 15 (13/86) | 27 (13/48) | 14 (13/91) |
| Mailed or emailed a newsletter containing brief summaries or messages | 20 (59/296) | 13 (9/70) | 20 (17/86) | 29 (14/49) | 21 (19/91) |
| Mailed or emailed a newsletter containing dedicated sections for specific target audiences | 18 (54/293) | 13 (9/70) | 20 (17/85) | 29 (14/48) | 16 (14/90) |
| Submitted media releases to print, radio or television journalists | 23 (68/299) | 13 (9/71) | 23 (20/88) | 31 (15/49) | 26 (24/91) |
| Accepted requests from journalists to participate in interviews or debates | 25 (73/296) | 10 (7/70) | 30 (26/88) | 21 (10/47) | 33 (30/91) |
| Published research in non-scholarly publications read by specific target audiences | 23 (68/301) | 6 (4/70) | 33 (30/90) | 30 (15/50) | 21 (19/91) |
| How is research knowledge being transferred frequently or always to particular target audiences, and specifically using interactions related to the research process? | |||||
| Interacted when developing a specific research question, objectives or hypothesis | 51 (155/301) | 39 (28/72) | 52 (46/89) | 46 (22/48) | 64 (59/92) |
| Interacted when establishing the preferred research design and methods | 51 (153/300) | 38 (27/72) | 49 (43/88) | 54 (26/48) | 62 (57/92) |
| Interacted when executing the research | 60 (182/301) | 57 (41/72) | 53 (47/88) | 61 (30/49) | 70 (64/92) |
| Interacted when analyzing or interpreting the research findings | 56 (170/301) | 36 (26/72) | 58 (51/88) | 63 (31/49) | 67 (62/92) |
| Interacted when developing research products (e.g., project reports, brief summaries or messages) | 59 (177/302) | 46 (33/72) | 60 (53/89) | 57 (28/49) | 68 (63/92) |
| Interacted when undertaking bridging activities | 57 (173/302) | 57 (41/72) | 57 (50/88) | 56 (28/50) | 59 (54/92) |
| Interacted when responding to individual queries resulting from your research products or bridging efforts | 49 (147/297) | 37 (26/71) | 50 (43/86) | 54 (26/48) | 57 (52/92) |
| How is research knowledge being transferred frequently or always to particular target audiences, and specifically using interactions outside the research process? | |||||
| Interacted through government-sponsored meetings | 41 (123/298) | 32 (23/71) | 39 (34/88) | 45 (22/49) | 49 (44/90) |
| Interacted through an expert committee or group | 42 (126/299) | 26 (18/70) | 46 (41/90) | 49 (24/49) | 48 (43/90) |
| Conferences and workshops | 55 (168/303) | 39 (28/72) | 60 (55/91) | 54 (27/50) | 64 (58/90) |
| Interacted through public hearings or testimonies | 25 (74/294) | 23 (16/69) | 26 (23/87) | 37 (18/49) | 19 (17/89) |
| Interacted through formal private or public networks | 29 (85/295) | 30 (21/71) | 28 (25/88) | 36 (17/47) | 25 (22/89) |
| Interacted through events organized by them or their organization | 54 (162/299) | 54 (39/72) | 57 (51/89) | 51 (25/49) | 53 (47/89) |
| Interacted through events organized by their target audiences | 32 (96/297) | 22 (16/72) | 35 (30/86) | 39 (19/49) | 34 (31/90) |
| Interacted through events organized by print, radio or television journalists | 21 (62/294) | 14 (10/70) | 18 (16/87) | 29 (14/49) | 25 (22/88) |
| Interacted through informal conversations | 40 (120/298) | 38 (27/72) | 33 (28/86) | 46 (23/50) | 47 (42/90) |
| Interacted through events organized by bilateral, regional or international organizations (e.g., World Health Organization) | 31 (93/298) | 35 (25/71) | 27 (24/89) | 35 (17/49) | 30 (27/89) |
| What efforts are frequently or always being undertaken to evaluate bridging activities? | |||||
| Assessed the perceived usefulness of research products made available to specific target audiences (e.g., reports, brief summaries, and messages) | 40 (119/299) | 37 (26/71) | 42 (37/89) | 47 (22/47) | 37 (34/92) |
| Assessed the perceived usefulness of their or their organization’s bridging activities | 40 (119/299) | 30 (21/70) | 47 (42/89) | 48 (23/48) | 36 (33/92) |
| Assessed any changes in their target audiences’ awareness of the research on the topic that may be attributable to their bridging activities | 36 (108/296) | 34 (24/71) | 38 (33/86) | 51 (24/47) | 29 (27/92) |
| Assessed any changes in their target audiences’ knowledge of research on the topic that may be attributable to their bridging activities | 36 (108/299) | 28 (20/71) | 39 (35/89) | 51 (24/47) | 32 (29/92) |
| Assessed any changes in their target audiences’ attitudes towards research on the topic that may be attributable to their bridging activities | 33 (99/296) | 27 (19/71) | 36 (31/86) | 49 (23/47) | 28 (26/92) |
| Assessed any changes in their target audiences’ self-reported behaviour that may be attributable to their bridging activities | 29 (83/291) | 20 (14/71) | 33 (27/82) | 47 (22/47) | 22 (20/91) |
| Assessed any changes in their target audiences’ actual (i.e., objectively measured) behaviour that may be attributable to their bridging activities | 31 (91/290) | 30 (21/71) | 38 (31/81) | 47 (22/47) | 19 (17/91) |
| Facilitating user pull* | |||||
| What passive strategies have been used frequently or always to facilitate user pull? | |||||
| Provided access to a searchable database of articles, reports, syntheses or systematic reviews on the topic | 40 (120/300) | 25 (18/72) | 44 (38/87) | 37 (18/49) | 50 (46/92) |
| Provided access to a searchable database of brief summaries or messages that specified possible action | 36 (107/300) | 18 (13/72) | 33 (29/88) | 44 (21/48) | 48 (44/92) |
| Clearly identified in websites, newsletters and other communication vehicles who could answer questions about a report, summary or message | 28 (82/295) | 14 (10/71) | 31 (26/84) | 27 (13/48) | 36 (33/92) |
| Clearly identified in websites, newsletters and other communication vehicles who could answer questions more generally about the topic | 25 (73/295) | 15 (11/71) | 29 (24/84) | 23 (11/48) | 29 (27/92) |
| Maintained some reserve (financial or human resources) capacity to conduct short-term research projects in response to target audience requests | 20 (58/288) | 14 (10/71) | 20 (16/81) | 28 (13/47) | 21 (19/89) |
| What active strategies have been used frequently or always to facilitate user pull? | |||||
| Developed capacity of target audiences to acquire research on the topic through searchable databases (e.g., MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information [LILACS] database) | 23 (67/293) | 13 (9/71) | 19 (16/83) | 44 (21/48) | 23 (21/91) |
| Developed capacity of target audiences to assess the quality and applicability of research on the topic | 31 (89/291) | 15 (11/71) | 35 (28/81) | 42 (20/48) | 33 (30/91) |
| Developed capacity of target audiences to adapt research on the topic to increase its perceived relevance (e.g., by linking it to local issues) | 38 (114/297) | 29 (20/70) | 41 (36/87) | 45 (22/49) | 40 (36/91) |
| Developed capacity of target audiences to apply research on the topic (e.g., by combining research with other types of information) | 40 (119/296) | 24 (17/71) | 51 (45/88) | 51 (24/47) | 37 (33/90) |
| Exchange* | |||||
| What exchange efforts are frequently or always undertaken? | |||||
| Established and/or maintained long-term partnerships related to the topic with target audience representatives (e.g., advisory board) | 43 (129/298) | 36 (26/72) | 47 (41/88) | 36 (17/47) | 49 (45/91) |
| Involved representatives of target audiences in conducting a needs assessment for their target audiences | 36 (106/296) | 30 (21/71) | 41 (36/88) | 21 (10/47) | 43 (39/90) |
| Involved representatives of target audiences in establishing the overall direction of their or their organization’s research on the topic | 32 (96/297) | 32 (23/72) | 27 (24/88) | 23 (11/47) | 42 (38/90) |
| Involved representatives of target audiences in establishing the overall direction of their or their organization’s bridging activities related to the topic | 31 (92/298) | 29 (21/72) | 27 (24/88) | 30 (14/47) | 36 (33/91) |
| Involved representatives of target audiences in assessing the progress of their or their organization’s research on the topic | 35 (104/299) | 33 (24/72) | 31 (28/89) | 38 (18/47) | 37 (34/91) |
| Involved representatives of target audiences in assessing the progress of their or their organization’s bridging activities on the topic | 32 (95/296) | 32 (23/72) | 32 (28/87) | 30 (14/47) | 33 (30/90) |
Note: DOTS = directly observed treatment, short course.
*
Producer-push efforts = strategies that involve “pushing” or communicating research to target audiences outside the research community; facilitating user pull = strategies that involve enhancing access to research and developing target audiences’ capacity to use research; exchange efforts = strategies that involve engaging target audiences in research and bridging activities.
†
Reviews that follow explicit rules to reduce bias in searching the literature, identifying eligible articles, extracting data, etc.
‡
People who bring researchers and their target audiences together and build relationships among them that make knowledge transfer and exchange more effective.
§
Individuals who are seen as credible by members of a target audience.