A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions
Abstract Background There has been a proliferation of frameworks with a common goal of bridging the gap between evidence, policy, and practice, but few aim to specifically guide evaluations of academic-policy engagement. We present the modification of an action framework for the purpose of selecting...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Implementation Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-024-01359-7 |
| _version_ | 1797209196896190464 |
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| author | Petra Mäkelä Annette Boaz Kathryn Oliver |
| author_facet | Petra Mäkelä Annette Boaz Kathryn Oliver |
| author_sort | Petra Mäkelä |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There has been a proliferation of frameworks with a common goal of bridging the gap between evidence, policy, and practice, but few aim to specifically guide evaluations of academic-policy engagement. We present the modification of an action framework for the purpose of selecting, developing and evaluating interventions for academic-policy engagement. Methods We build on the conceptual work of an existing framework known as SPIRIT (Supporting Policy In Health with Research: an Intervention Trial), developed for the evaluation of strategies intended to increase the use of research in health policy. Our aim was to modify SPIRIT, (i) to be applicable beyond health policy contexts, for example encompassing social, environmental, and economic policy impacts and (ii) to address broader dynamics of academic-policy engagement. We used an iterative approach through literature reviews and consultation with multiple stakeholders from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and policy professionals working at different levels of government and across geographical contexts in England, alongside our evaluation activities in the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) programme. Results Our modifications expand upon Redman et al.’s original framework, for example adding a domain of ‘Impacts and Sustainability’ to capture continued activities required in the achievement of desirable outcomes. The modified framework fulfils the criteria for a useful action framework, having a clear purpose, being informed by existing understandings, being capable of guiding targeted interventions, and providing a structure to build further knowledge. Conclusion The modified SPIRIT framework is designed to be meaningful and accessible for people working across varied contexts in the evidence-policy ecosystem. It has potential applications in how academic-policy engagement interventions might be developed, evaluated, facilitated and improved, to ultimately support the use of evidence in decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:50:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30b775f3ddf24c1f9985e5b869ed15a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-5908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:50:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Implementation Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-30b775f3ddf24c1f9985e5b869ed15a32024-04-14T11:23:34ZengBMCImplementation Science1748-59082024-04-011911910.1186/s13012-024-01359-7A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventionsPetra Mäkelä0Annette Boaz1Kathryn Oliver2Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineHealth and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, The Policy Institute, Virginia Woolf Building, Kings College LondonDepartment of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineAbstract Background There has been a proliferation of frameworks with a common goal of bridging the gap between evidence, policy, and practice, but few aim to specifically guide evaluations of academic-policy engagement. We present the modification of an action framework for the purpose of selecting, developing and evaluating interventions for academic-policy engagement. Methods We build on the conceptual work of an existing framework known as SPIRIT (Supporting Policy In Health with Research: an Intervention Trial), developed for the evaluation of strategies intended to increase the use of research in health policy. Our aim was to modify SPIRIT, (i) to be applicable beyond health policy contexts, for example encompassing social, environmental, and economic policy impacts and (ii) to address broader dynamics of academic-policy engagement. We used an iterative approach through literature reviews and consultation with multiple stakeholders from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and policy professionals working at different levels of government and across geographical contexts in England, alongside our evaluation activities in the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) programme. Results Our modifications expand upon Redman et al.’s original framework, for example adding a domain of ‘Impacts and Sustainability’ to capture continued activities required in the achievement of desirable outcomes. The modified framework fulfils the criteria for a useful action framework, having a clear purpose, being informed by existing understandings, being capable of guiding targeted interventions, and providing a structure to build further knowledge. Conclusion The modified SPIRIT framework is designed to be meaningful and accessible for people working across varied contexts in the evidence-policy ecosystem. It has potential applications in how academic-policy engagement interventions might be developed, evaluated, facilitated and improved, to ultimately support the use of evidence in decision-making.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-024-01359-7Evidence-informed policyAcademic-policy engagementFramework modification |
| spellingShingle | Petra Mäkelä Annette Boaz Kathryn Oliver A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions Implementation Science Evidence-informed policy Academic-policy engagement Framework modification |
| title | A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions |
| title_full | A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions |
| title_fullStr | A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions |
| title_short | A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions |
| title_sort | modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic policy engagement interventions |
| topic | Evidence-informed policy Academic-policy engagement Framework modification |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-024-01359-7 |
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