Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system?
Abstract Background The importance of engaging stakeholders in the research process is well recognised. Whilst engagement is important, guidelines and practices vary for how stakeholders should be involved in research and how to facilitate effective collaborative relationships. Methods This study ai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-020-00599-5 |
| _version_ | 1819091985901813760 |
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| author | Yvonne Laird Jillian Manner Louise Baldwin Ruth Hunter John McAteer Sarah Rodgers Chloë Williamson Ruth Jepson |
| author_facet | Yvonne Laird Jillian Manner Louise Baldwin Ruth Hunter John McAteer Sarah Rodgers Chloë Williamson Ruth Jepson |
| author_sort | Yvonne Laird |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The importance of engaging stakeholders in the research process is well recognised. Whilst engagement is important, guidelines and practices vary for how stakeholders should be involved in research and how to facilitate effective collaborative relationships. Methods This study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders involved in the policy and practice area of outdoor space and non-communicable disease prevention. Stakeholders interviewed included academics, practitioners, policy-makers, knowledge brokers and a funder. Results The findings suggest that stakeholders had positive experiences when engaged meaningfully in the research process, where research projects were carefully planned and managed with attention to context and culture, and where the research team was effective, respectful and communicative. These factors help to facilitate the translation of research into policy and practice. However, multiple challenges of collaborative research were identified which related to structural and systemic challenges, building and maintaining relationships, use and collection of data and information, cultural perceptions of research and research generation, and getting evidence into action. Participants felt that changing the funding system, exploring more collaborative research methodologies, improved research translation, and more effective collaborative relationships at all stages of the research process could address some of these challenges. Conclusions The findings highlight that, whilst stakeholder engagement in research was considered important, structural, cultural and individual practices impacted how this worked in practice. Identifying and testing solutions to address these challenges could improve synergies between research, policy, and practice and lead to the production of impactful research that reduces wastage of public funding, improves implementation of findings and ultimately improves public health outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:48:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ae1152ae2394dc2888409293c736cde |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:48:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ae1152ae2394dc2888409293c736cde2022-12-21T18:47:38ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052020-07-0118111010.1186/s12961-020-00599-5Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system?Yvonne Laird0Jillian Manner1Louise Baldwin2Ruth Hunter3John McAteer4Sarah Rodgers5Chloë Williamson6Ruth Jepson7Sydney School of Public Health, Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, University of SydneyScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, School of Health in Social Science, University of EdinburghSchool of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationCentre for Public Health, Queen’s University BelfastScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, School of Health in Social Science, University of EdinburghDepartment of Public Health and Policy, University of LiverpoolPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of EdinburghScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, School of Health in Social Science, University of EdinburghAbstract Background The importance of engaging stakeholders in the research process is well recognised. Whilst engagement is important, guidelines and practices vary for how stakeholders should be involved in research and how to facilitate effective collaborative relationships. Methods This study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders involved in the policy and practice area of outdoor space and non-communicable disease prevention. Stakeholders interviewed included academics, practitioners, policy-makers, knowledge brokers and a funder. Results The findings suggest that stakeholders had positive experiences when engaged meaningfully in the research process, where research projects were carefully planned and managed with attention to context and culture, and where the research team was effective, respectful and communicative. These factors help to facilitate the translation of research into policy and practice. However, multiple challenges of collaborative research were identified which related to structural and systemic challenges, building and maintaining relationships, use and collection of data and information, cultural perceptions of research and research generation, and getting evidence into action. Participants felt that changing the funding system, exploring more collaborative research methodologies, improved research translation, and more effective collaborative relationships at all stages of the research process could address some of these challenges. Conclusions The findings highlight that, whilst stakeholder engagement in research was considered important, structural, cultural and individual practices impacted how this worked in practice. Identifying and testing solutions to address these challenges could improve synergies between research, policy, and practice and lead to the production of impactful research that reduces wastage of public funding, improves implementation of findings and ultimately improves public health outcomes.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-020-00599-5co-productioncollaborationinterdisciplinaryaction researchpartnerships |
| spellingShingle | Yvonne Laird Jillian Manner Louise Baldwin Ruth Hunter John McAteer Sarah Rodgers Chloë Williamson Ruth Jepson Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system? Health Research Policy and Systems co-production collaboration interdisciplinary action research partnerships |
| title | Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system? |
| title_full | Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system? |
| title_fullStr | Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system? |
| title_short | Stakeholders’ experiences of the public health research process: time to change the system? |
| title_sort | stakeholders experiences of the public health research process time to change the system |
| topic | co-production collaboration interdisciplinary action research partnerships |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-020-00599-5 |
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