School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Health Expect. 2022 Oct;25(5):2515-2524. doi: 10.1111/hex.13573. Epub 2022 Jul 31.
Effective transfer of research findings to key knowledge users, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is not always achieved, despite being a shared priority among researchers, funders, healthcare and community stakeholders and decision-makers. A constructivist grounded theory study conducted in 2015-2019 in Ghana that explored sickle cell-related fatigue in adolescence resulted in numerous implications for practice and policy. Peer-reviewed funding was obtained to support disseminating these findings to relevant stakeholders.
Key steps in implementing this study dissemination project included: (1) identifying and attracting target stakeholders from healthcare and community organizations; (2) tailoring tools for communication of research findings for the stakeholder groups and (3) designing interactive workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing and uptake.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 healthcare and community stakeholders participated in the dissemination workshops. The dissemination activities contributed new layers of understanding to the original research findings through discussions. Through the workshops, participants identified culturally valuable and actionable recommendations that they could take forward to improve care and support for young people with sickle cell disease in Ghana. A follow-up 6 months post the workshops indicated some positive knowledge usage and benefits.
This dissemination project provided a unique opportunity for researchers and stakeholders to share in the interpretation of research findings and to strategically plan recommendations to improve SCD-focused care and support for young people in Ghana. Further research dissemination should continue to be grounded in locally generated knowledge, include systematic, long-term evaluation of dissemination outcomes and be adequately financed.
Public involvement in this study was critical to the research dissemination project. The Sickle Cell Association of Ghana (Kumasi chapter) actively supported the project's development, organization and facilitation. Parent members of the Association, the Association's executive members and volunteers, and the health professionals involved in sickle cell care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital participated in the project workshops. They contributed to the knowledge transfer and uptake.
尽管研究人员、资助者、医疗保健和社区利益攸关方和决策者都将研究成果向关键知识用户（尤其是在低收入和中等收入国家）有效传递视为共同优先事项，但这一目标并不总能实现。2015 年至 2019 年，在加纳进行了一项探索青少年镰状细胞相关疲劳的建构主义扎根理论研究，该研究对实践和政策产生了诸多影响。为了将这些研究结果传播给相关利益攸关方，获得了同行评审的资金支持。
实施本研究传播项目的关键步骤包括：（1）确定并吸引来自医疗保健和社区组织的目标利益攸关方；（2）为利益相关群体量身定制研究结果沟通工具；（3）设计互动研讨会，以促进知识共享和采用。
尽管受到 COVID-19 大流行的影响，仍有 50 名医疗保健和社区利益攸关方参加了传播研讨会。通过讨论，传播活动为原始研究结果增添了新的理解层次。通过研讨会，参与者确定了具有文化价值和可操作性的建议，他们可以将这些建议付诸实践，以改善加纳镰状细胞病青少年的护理和支持。在研讨会结束后 6 个月进行的后续调查显示，一些积极的知识使用和收益。
该传播项目为研究人员和利益攸关方提供了一个独特的机会，使他们能够共同解读研究结果，并战略性地规划建议，以改善加纳针对镰状细胞疾病的护理和支持。进一步的传播研究应继续立足于本地生成的知识，包括对传播结果进行系统、长期评估，并提供充足的资金。
公众参与本研究对传播项目至关重要。加纳镰状细胞协会（库马西分会）积极支持该项目的开发、组织和促进。该协会的家长成员、协会的执行成员和志愿者，以及在科姆福·阿诺克耶教学医院参与镰状细胞护理的卫生专业人员都参加了项目研讨会。他们为知识的转移和应用做出了贡献。
