Table 1.

Modes of delivery used in Evidence Rounds for promotional purposes, communication and dissemination

Mode of delivery	Details and contextual influences
Group educational sessions and discussion forum	The presentations at all sessions had a similar structure with small differences if warranted by the topic eg. presenters carried out a retrospective local audit for 3 out of the 6 group sessions. Therefore, repeat attendees became familiar with the format and upcoming and potential presenters knew what to expect. We found that the majority of staff remained behind for facilitated discussion. We promoted an informal and relaxed atmosphere where all disciplines and professions were encouraged to contribute their opinions. At times, it was necessary to refocus discussion on key points related to the topic, to bring the group’s attention to break-off conversations, to encourage discussion of the applicability of evidence to local practice and practical aspects at the hospital that would influence how the evidence would be addressed/handled.
In-person meetings	One-to-one and group meetings were arranged with key informants (eg. practice development and front-line staff interested in research) for implementation planning. These interactions were important for gaining an understanding of the organizational context and choosing the implementation team. It was pivotal to our initiative to gain buy in, and collaborate and partner with HCPs to give them the opportunity to be involved in, contribute to and co-design and development of the initiative. Through recommendations from these meetings and additional contacts, we reached out to those who could be considered as potential opinion leaders and champions. A key intention was to identify people with different professional perspectives to identify their needs and bring them on board. We held meetings with presenters for preparatory, enabling and support purposes. Presenters attended two preparatory meetings, the first after the search strategy was completed to give an overview of results and assign sources and another a few days before the presentation to merge slides, gain clarity about the format of the presentation, make final modifications, summarise information, and identify issues for discussion.
Website	Using a web hosting platform, we designed a logo for Evidence Rounds, purchased a suitable domain name and created a dedicated website. It was designed to present information in a minimalist and aesthetically-pleasing format. During the initiative, the site was updated regularly with current information. The website homepage contained six clickable links, each of which had a distinct core function: • to explain the Evidence Rounds initiative • to act as a repository of presentation slides from group sessions • to provide links to informational resources about searching for, and critically appraising evidence • to present information requested by attendees and presenters. For example, explanations of p values and confidence intervals and a brief guide to creating slides for Evidence Rounds group sessions aimed at presenters • to show the schedule of past and future group sessions • to provide contact details for the KT professional We sought informal feedback from staff regarding its usefulness and accessibility. The site was flagged at group sessions, meetings, in email correspondence and on promotional posters (see Additional file 2). When the term “Evidence Rounds” was searched for in the most commonly used search engine, the website did not appear directly and so a desktop shortcut was added to the computer in the neonatal unit. In hindsight, training in search engine optimisation (SEO) which would have been useful to optimise the findability of the website.
Social media	Dedicated accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn were set up. After discussion with staff regarding what they and their colleagues were finding useful, it was decided to discontinue updating each of these platforms and concentrate on modes of delivery preferred by staff such as email, word-of-mouth and the website. Staff were keen to manage work-life boundaries when it came to online technologies.
Email	Reminders to attend group sessions were mostly sent via email to staff mailing lists by HCPs from the implementation team. Email was used commonly for communication by the implementation team and presenters and was used to recruit participants for focus groups and interviews. Personalised certificates of attendance or participation (for presenters) were emailed to attendees on an opt-in basis (see Additional file 3 and Additional file 4).
Posters	Staff reported that posters, although a more passive mode of delivery, were effective at reminding them about upcoming group sessions when strategically located. They were designed using an online graphic design service called Canva.
Word of mouth	Word-of-mouth played a vital role in the delivery of information during the implementation process and was deemed a very effective means of engaging our target audience by the implementation team. Some HCPs started attending group sessions based on recommendations from their colleagues and we were told that discussion about evidence covered in group sessions and its implications for practice continued from the classroom to the wards.