Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, 1836 San Jacinto Blvd, Ste 571, Austin, TX 78701 (
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, Texas.
Prev Chronic Dis. 2024 Nov 7;21:E87. doi: 10.5888/pcd21.240171.
Significant barriers to the implementation of evidence-based policy exist. Establishing an infrastructure and resources to support this process at the state level can accelerate the translation of research into practice. This study describes the adaptation and initial evaluation of the Texas Research-to-Policy Collaboration (TX RPC) Project, focusing on the adaptation process, legislative public health policy priorities, and baseline researcher policy knowledge and self-efficacy.
The federal Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC) method was adapted to the Texas legislative process in 2020. Policymakers and public health researchers were recruited using direct outreach and referrals. Legislators or their aides were interviewed to determine health policy needs, which directed the development of legislator resources, webinars, and recruitment of additional public health researchers with specific expertise. Researchers were trained to facilitate communication with policymakers, and TX RPC Project staff facilitated legislator and researcher meetings to provide data and policy input.
Baseline surveys were completed with legislators to assess the use of health researchers in policy. Surveys were also administered before training to researchers assessing self-efficacy, knowledge, and training needs. Qualitative data from the legislator interviews were analyzed using inductive and deductive approaches. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for scales and individual survey items.
Legislative offices (n = 21) identified health care access, mental health, and health disparities as key health issues. Legislators reported that health data were important but did not actively involve researchers in legislation. Researchers (n = 73) reported that policy informed their work but had low engagement with legislators. Researcher training surveys indicated lower policy self-efficacy and knowledge and the need for additional training.
Adaptation of the RPC model for state-level health policy is feasible but necessitates logistical changes based on the unique legislative body. Researchers need training and resources to engage with policymakers.
实施循证政策存在重大障碍。在州一级建立支持这一进程的基础设施和资源可以加速研究向实践的转化。本研究描述了德克萨斯州研究与政策合作（TX RPC）项目的改编和初步评估，重点介绍了改编过程、立法公共卫生政策重点以及基线研究人员的政策知识和自我效能。
2020 年，联邦研究与政策合作（RPC）方法被改编用于德克萨斯州的立法程序。使用直接外联和推荐招募决策者和公共卫生研究人员。对立法者或其助手进行访谈，以确定健康政策需求，从而指导立法者资源、网络研讨会的开发，并招募具有特定专业知识的额外公共卫生研究人员。培训研究人员以促进与决策者的沟通，TX RPC 项目工作人员协助立法者和研究人员会议，提供数据和政策投入。
立法者完成了基线调查，以评估在政策中使用健康研究人员的情况。在培训前还对研究人员进行了调查，以评估自我效能、知识和培训需求。使用归纳和演绎方法对来自立法者访谈的定性数据进行分析。使用描述性统计对量表和个别调查项目进行了定量调查数据的分析。
立法办公室（n=21）确定医疗保健获取、心理健康和健康差距为关键健康问题。立法者报告称，健康数据很重要，但并未积极让研究人员参与立法。研究人员（n=73）报告称，政策影响了他们的工作，但与立法者的互动较少。研究人员培训调查表明，政策自我效能和知识较低，需要额外的培训。
为州级卫生政策改编 RPC 模型是可行的，但需要根据独特的立法机构进行后勤变更。研究人员需要培训和资源来与政策制定者互动。
