Table 1.
Reasons, resources, and methods used to disseminate the results of research in public health in Brazil, US, and UK %a (n).
| Dissemination characteristics | Brazil | United Kingdom | United States | Total | P value (χ 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasons to disseminateb | |||||
| Raise awareness of the findings | 92.1 (209) | 93.1 (216) | 94.4 (251) | 93.2 (676) | .598 |
| Influence practice or policy | 91.2 (207) | 93.1 (216) | 90.2 (240) | 91.4 (663) | .512 |
| Influence practice | 81.1 (184) | 83.6 (194) | 80.1 (213) | 81.5 (591) | .583 |
| Influence policy | 78.0 (177) | 85.3 (198) | 75.6 (201) | 79.4 (576) | .021 |
| Stimulate discussion or debate | 86.3 (196) | 74.6 (173) | 70.7 (188) | 76.8 (557) | <.01 |
| Attract future funding | 52.4 (119) | 62.5 (145) | 52.3 (139) | 55.6 (403) | .037 |
| Raise the organizational profile | 52.4 (119) | 64.7 (150) | 42.1 (112) | 52.6 (381) | <.01 |
| Promote public understanding of science | 47.1 (107) | 40.1 (93) | 57.9 (154) | 48.8 (354) | <.01 |
| Justify public funding | 60.4 (137) | 48.3 (112) | 39.1 (104) | 48.7 (353) | <.01 |
| Satisfy grant/contractual obligations | 15.0 (34) | 36.6 (85) | 41.4 (110) | 31.6 (229) | <.01 |
| Improve your own communication | 29.1 (66) | 24.1 (56) | 21.1 (56) | 24.6 (178) | .117 |
|
| |||||
| Importance of dissemination to nonresearch audiences | |||||
| Importance to your own work | |||||
| Very important | 77.7 (171) | 69.6 (160) | 54.2 (143) | 66.4 (474) | |
| Important | 19.5 (43) | 24.3 (56) | 24.2 (64) | 22.8 (163) | |
| Somewhat/not important/NS | 2.7 (6) | 6.1 (14) | 21.6 (57) | 10.8 (77) | <.01 |
| Importance to the work of your unit/department | |||||
| Very important | 75.9 (167) | 65.7 (151) | 37.7 (100) | 58.5 (418) | |
| Important | 22.7 (50) | 26.5 (61) | 24.5 (65) | 24.6 (176) | |
| Somewhat/not important/IDK c | 1.4 (3) | 7.8 (18) | 37.7 (100) | 16.9 (121) | <.01 |
|
| |||||
| Resources & structures for dissemination in unit/department | |||||
| Formal communication/dissemination strategy or plan | 27.8 (62) | 20.2 (46) | 31.8 (84) | 26.9 (192) | .014 |
| Dedicated person or team responsible for dissemination-related activities | 32.0 (71) | 20.6 (47) | 52.6 (140) | 36.0 (258) | <.01 |
|
| |||||
| Method of disseminationb | |||||
| Academic journals | 98.7 (224) | 97.8 (227) | 100.0 (266) | 98.9 (717) | .067 |
| Academic conferences | 91.6 (208) | 96.1 (223) | 92.5 (246) | 93.4 (677) | .117 |
| Report to funders | 79.7 (181) | 91.4 (212) | 68.0 (181) | 79.2 (574) | <.01 |
| Seminars and/or workshops | 69.2 (157) | 71.1 (165) | 60.9 (162) | 66.8 (484) | .035 |
| Press releases | 32.6 (74) | 48.3 (112) | 62.0 (165) | 48.4 (351) | <.01 |
| Face to face meetings | 49.8 (113) | 40.1 (93) | 53.4 (142) | 48.0 (348) | .01 |
| Other conferences | 21.6 (49) | 55.2 (128) | 42.5 (113) | 40.0 (290) | <.01 |
| Media interviews | 32.6 (74) | 31.9 (74) | 50.8 (135) | 39.0 (283) | <.01 |
| Newsletters | 13.7 (31) | 39.2 (91) | 45.1 (120) | 33.4 (242) | <.01 |
| Email alerts | 6.2 (14) | 7.8 (18) | 22.2 (59) | 12.6 (91) | <.01 |
| Targeted mailings | 3.1 (7) | 16.4 (38) | 16.2 (43) | 12.1 (88) | <.01 |
|
| |||||
| Designing for dissemination/processes/actions | |||||
| Stage in the research process that dissemination-related activities are planned | |||||
| Early | 60.0 (132) | 35.2 (80) | 45.1 (120) | 46.6 (332) | |
| Late | 36.8 (81) | 64.8 (147) | 39.1 (104) | 46.6 (332) | |
| Never | 3.2 (7) | 0.0 (0) | 15.8 (42) | 6.9 (49) | <.01 |
| Frequency that research summaries/key messages are written for specific nonresearch audiences | |||||
| Always/usually | 34.7 (76) | 31.3 (71) | 32.0 (85) | 32.6 (232) | |
| Sometimes | 22.8 (50) | 48.5 (110) | 37.6 (100) | 36.5 (260) | |
| Rarely/never/NS | 42.5 (93) | 20.3 (46) | 30.5 (81) | 30.9 (220) | <.01 |
| Frequency the impact of your research is evaluated? | |||||
| Always/usually | 22.4 (49) | 13.3 (30) | 15.5 (41) | 16.9 (120) | |
| Sometimes/rarely | 55.7 (122) | 69.5 (157) | 56.8 (150) | 60.5 (429) | |
| Never | 19.2 (42) | 17.3 (39) | 26.5 (70) | 21.3 (151) | |
| Not sure | 2.7 (6) | 0.0 (0) | 1.1 (3) | 1.3 (9) | <.01 |
| Frequency that a framework/theory is used to plan dissemination-related activities | |||||
| Always/usually | 10.8 (24) | 8.8 (20) | 16.7 (44) | 12.3 (88) | |
| Sometimes/rarely | 22.4 (50) | 48.5 (110) | 38.4 (101) | 36.6 (261) | |
| Never | 60.1 (134) | 39.6 (90) | 25.9 (68) | 41.0 (292) | |
| Not sure | 6.7 (15) | 3.1 (7) | 8.7 (23) | 6.3 (45) | |
| Do not plan dissemination activities | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 10.3 (27) | 3.8 (27) | <.01 |
| Time dedicated to dissemination-related activities to nonresearch audiences. | |||||
| <5% | 36.5 (80) | 31.4 (71) | 54.4 (143) | 41.5 (294) | |
| 5–20% | 35.6 (78) | 52.7 (119) | 34.6 (91) | 40.7 (288) | |
| >20% | 27.9 (61) | 15.9 (36) | 11.0 (29) | 17.8 (126) | <.01 |
a% within local; bthose responding “yes”; cIDK = I do not know.