My Garden of Thoughts: Reflection #23 --Community Dissemination

 

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/rural-toolkit/6/disseminating-best-practices

    

    Both articles this week discussed how having a deeper connection with the consumer population about medical research and parent intervention programs could allow researchers to find better ways of addressing the specific needs of these populations. The first article "A Framework to Guide Research Dissemination to Communities", revealed that many participants in medical studies have a mistrust in the medical community. Often, this is a result of not receiving follow up information from studies that an individual has participated in. The article listed how following their guidelines of returning the results of past research to participants and the community at large had beneficial effects on the "individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, policy and methodological level" (pg. 9). The most difficult levels to disseminate information to were the larger population groups, like community, organizational and policy levels. This is because it is not easy to consolidation important information into material that is relatable for such a large, diverse group. Thus, it is essential to make a huge positive impact on the individual and interpersonal levels because people in these groups will spread what they have learned or experienced to a bigger audience that might trust them more than the program that is trying to reach them.

    In the second article, "Consumer Engagement and the Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination  of Evidence-Based Parenting Programs", getting the consumer's perspective on the effectiveness of parenting intervention programs was a keynote factor in making sure the programs being created would reach the largest audience possible. The article touched on how adopting a more collaborative approach between researchers and participants led to greater positive results. Know what the population wants and desires out of evidence-based parenting programs allows the researchers to make sure the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of children and adolescents are being met. One interesting aspect of this article was their discussion around the topic of building close relationships with media outlets. This relationship allowed researchers' materials and studies to be broadcasted to a a larger group more effectively because they had formed mutually beneficial bonds with journalists, radio shows, and social media marketers. Using these outlets to dissemination knowledge and research was able to reach many parents who might not have heard about this program otherwise.

    Dissemination of knowledge is powerful. I think it has the ability to connect researchers and the public is effective ways. When people are more informed, they feel more trusting of organizations and programs that need public participation. Closing the gap of understanding will allow for a more tailor-made experience for those who are choosing to participate in evidence-based programs. Ultimately, I believe this can change programs into intentionally positive experiences for individuals and the public at large. In my future career where I will be working with parents and children alike, I will plan to collaborate with organizations who effectively use several outlets to communicate with the community. I will also make it my plan to gather input from the public about programs I am a part of and work to create meaningful ways to interact with those I hope will join the program. 

- E.