Canadian Centre for Health & Safety in Agriculture, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
PLoS One. 2022 Sep 22;17(9):e0274769. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274769. eCollection 2022.
Participatory research approaches have developed in response to the growing emphasis on translation of research evidence into practice. However, there are few published examples of stakeholder engagement strategies, and little guidance specific to larger ongoing research programs or those with a rural focus. This paper describes the evolution, structure, and processes of an annual Rural Dementia Summit launched in 2008 as an engagement strategy for the Rural Dementia Action Research (RaDAR) program and ongoing for more than 10 years; and reports findings from a parallel mixed-methods study that includes stakeholder and researcher perspectives on the Summit's value and impact. Twelve years of stakeholder evaluations were analyzed. Rating scale data were summarized with descriptive statistics; open-ended questions were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. A thematic analysis was also used to analyze interviews with RaDAR researchers. Rating scale data showed high stakeholder satisfaction with all aspects of the Summit. Five themes were identified in the qualitative data: hearing diverse perspectives, building connections, collaborating for change, developing research and practice capacity, and leaving recharged. Five themes were identified in the researcher data: impact on development as a researcher, understanding stakeholder needs, informing research design, deepening commitment to rural dementia research, and building a culture of engagement. These findings reflect the key principles and impacts of stakeholder engagement reported in the literature. Additional findings include the value stakeholders place on connecting with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, how the Summit was revitalizing, and how it developed stakeholder capacity to support change in their communities. Findings indicate that the Summit has developed into a community of practice where people with a common interest come together to learn and collaborate to improve rural dementia care. The Summit's success and sustainability are linked to RaDAR's responsiveness to stakeholder needs, the trust that has been established, and the value that stakeholders and researchers find in their participation.
参与式研究方法是为了响应将研究证据转化为实践的日益重视而发展起来的。然而，很少有关于利益相关者参与策略的发表案例，也几乎没有针对大型正在进行的研究计划或以农村为重点的研究计划的具体指导。本文描述了 2008 年发起的年度农村痴呆症峰会作为农村痴呆症行动研究（RaDAR）计划的参与策略的演变、结构和过程，以及对峰会价值和影响的利益相关者和研究人员的平行混合方法研究的结果。对 12 年来的利益相关者评估进行了分析。评分量表数据采用描述性统计进行总结；对开放式问题采用归纳主题分析进行分析。对 RaDAR 研究人员的访谈也采用了主题分析。评分量表数据显示，利益相关者对峰会的各个方面都非常满意。定性数据中确定了五个主题：听取不同观点、建立联系、合作变革、发展研究和实践能力、充满活力。研究人员的数据中确定了五个主题：对作为研究人员的发展的影响、了解利益相关者的需求、为研究设计提供信息、加深对农村痴呆症研究的承诺以及建立参与文化。这些发现反映了文献中报告的利益相关者参与的关键原则和影响。其他发现包括利益相关者对与来自不同背景的利益相关者建立联系的重视程度、峰会的复兴方式以及峰会如何发展利益相关者的能力以支持其社区的变革。研究结果表明，峰会已经发展成为一个实践社区，有共同兴趣的人聚集在一起学习和合作，以改善农村痴呆症护理。峰会的成功和可持续性与 RaDAR 对利益相关者需求的响应能力、建立的信任以及利益相关者和研究人员在参与中发现的价值有关。
