Abstract
Introduction There has been an increasing focus on disseminating research findings, but less about practices specific to disseminating and engaging non-researchers. The present project sought to describe dissemination practices and engagement of stakeholders among dissemination & implementation (D&I) scientists.
Methods Methods to disseminate to and engage non-research stakeholders were assessed using an online survey sent to a broad, diverse sample of D&I scientists.
Results Surveys were received from 210 participants. The majority of respondents were from university or research settings in the U.S. (69%) or Canada (13%), representing a mix of clinical (28%) and community settings (34%). 26% had received formal training in D&I. Respondents indicated routinely engaging in a variety of dissemination-related activities, with academic journal publications (88%), conference presentations (86%), and reports to funders (74%) being the most frequent. Journal publication was identified as the most impactful on respondents’ careers (94%), but face-to-face meetings with stakeholders were rated as most impactful on practice or policy (40%). Stakeholder involvement in research was common, with clinical and community-based researchers engaging stakeholder groups in broadly similar ways, but with critical differences noted between researchers with greater seniority, those with more D&I training, those based in the US, and those in community vs, clinical research settings.
Conclusions There have been increases in stakeholder engagement, but few other practices since the 2012 survey, and some differences across subgroups. Methods to engage different stakeholders deserve more in-depth investigation. D&I researchers report substantial misalignment of incentives and behaviors related to dissemination to non-research audiences.
Footnotes
pilar.ingle{at}ucdenver.edu, daniel.matlock{at}ucdenver.edu, rbrownson{at}wustl.edu, russell.glasgow{at}ucdenver.edu
List of Abbreviations
- D&I
- Dissemination and Implementation
- NIH
- National Institutes of Health
- PCORI
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
- CIHR KT
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Knowledge Translation
- IRI
- Implementation Research Institute.
- MT-DIRC
- Mentored Training for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer
- CDC
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- VA QUERI
- Veterans Association Quality Enhancement Research Initiative
- KT Canada
- Knowledge Translation Canada
- NCI D&I
- National Cancer Institute Dissemination and Implementation
- TIDRH
- Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health
- Regional PH Org
- Regional public health organization