Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study
Abstract Background Appropriate dissemination of public health evidence is of high importance to ensure that scientific knowledge reaches potential stakeholders and relevant population groups. A wide distrust towards science and its findings indicates that communication thereof remains below its pot...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Systematic Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02272-8 |
| _version_ | 1797784777254764544 |
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| author | Stefanie Maria Helmer Katja Matthias Lea Mergenthal Mia Reimer Karina Karolina De Santis |
| author_facet | Stefanie Maria Helmer Katja Matthias Lea Mergenthal Mia Reimer Karina Karolina De Santis |
| author_sort | Stefanie Maria Helmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Appropriate dissemination of public health evidence is of high importance to ensure that scientific knowledge reaches potential stakeholders and relevant population groups. A wide distrust towards science and its findings indicates that communication thereof remains below its potential. Cochrane Public Health provides an important source of high-quality scientific evidence in the field of public health via reviews with systematic methodology. The aims of this study were to identify (1) dissemination strategies and (2) stakeholders of Cochrane Public Health reviews. Methods This is a bibliographic study with a cross-sectional design. All 68 records (reviews or review protocols) listed on the Cochrane Public Health website ( https://ph.cochrane.org/cph-reviews-and-topics ) up to 8 March 2022 were included. Record characteristics, dissemination strategies, and potential stakeholder details were coded by one author, and 10% of records were checked by another author. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics or narratively into common themes. Results The 68 records were published between 2010 and 2022 and included 15 review protocols and 53 reviews with systematic methodology (46 systematic, 6 rapid, and 1 scoping review). All 53 reviews were disseminated via open-access plain language summaries (PLS) in English with translations into 3–13 other languages. Other dissemination strategies included information on Cochrane websites (e.g., clinical answers or guidelines) available for 41/53 reviews and Cochrane news or blogs that mentioned 19/53 reviews. Overall, 23/68 records mentioned the actual stakeholder involvement in review production, protocol development, or formulation of dissemination plans. The potential stakeholders included several highly diverse groups, such as the general population or specific communities (e.g., racial minority groups), policy and decision makers, and researchers and professionals in various fields (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, education, or care). Conclusions This study shows that Cochrane Public Health reviews are disseminated predominantly via PLS in different languages and via review information on Cochrane websites. Planned dissemination strategies were rarely reported although actual stakeholders were involved in the planning and production of some reviews. The relevance of Cochrane Public Health reviews for non-academic stakeholders and the general population highlights the need for the dissemination of evidence from such reviews beyond academia. Systematic review registration The study was prospectively registered at the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/ga9pt/ ). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:44:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-930c6ccec7904f2192fa32dcc9aac063 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-4053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:44:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systematic Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-930c6ccec7904f2192fa32dcc9aac0632023-07-09T11:07:47ZengBMCSystematic Reviews2046-40532023-07-011211810.1186/s13643-023-02272-8Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic studyStefanie Maria Helmer0Katja Matthias1Lea Mergenthal2Mia Reimer3Karina Karolina De Santis4Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences, University of BremenFaculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Applied Science StralsundDepartment of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPSDepartment of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPSCochrane Public Health Europe (https://ph.cochrane.org/cochrane-public-health-europe)Abstract Background Appropriate dissemination of public health evidence is of high importance to ensure that scientific knowledge reaches potential stakeholders and relevant population groups. A wide distrust towards science and its findings indicates that communication thereof remains below its potential. Cochrane Public Health provides an important source of high-quality scientific evidence in the field of public health via reviews with systematic methodology. The aims of this study were to identify (1) dissemination strategies and (2) stakeholders of Cochrane Public Health reviews. Methods This is a bibliographic study with a cross-sectional design. All 68 records (reviews or review protocols) listed on the Cochrane Public Health website ( https://ph.cochrane.org/cph-reviews-and-topics ) up to 8 March 2022 were included. Record characteristics, dissemination strategies, and potential stakeholder details were coded by one author, and 10% of records were checked by another author. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics or narratively into common themes. Results The 68 records were published between 2010 and 2022 and included 15 review protocols and 53 reviews with systematic methodology (46 systematic, 6 rapid, and 1 scoping review). All 53 reviews were disseminated via open-access plain language summaries (PLS) in English with translations into 3–13 other languages. Other dissemination strategies included information on Cochrane websites (e.g., clinical answers or guidelines) available for 41/53 reviews and Cochrane news or blogs that mentioned 19/53 reviews. Overall, 23/68 records mentioned the actual stakeholder involvement in review production, protocol development, or formulation of dissemination plans. The potential stakeholders included several highly diverse groups, such as the general population or specific communities (e.g., racial minority groups), policy and decision makers, and researchers and professionals in various fields (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, education, or care). Conclusions This study shows that Cochrane Public Health reviews are disseminated predominantly via PLS in different languages and via review information on Cochrane websites. Planned dissemination strategies were rarely reported although actual stakeholders were involved in the planning and production of some reviews. The relevance of Cochrane Public Health reviews for non-academic stakeholders and the general population highlights the need for the dissemination of evidence from such reviews beyond academia. Systematic review registration The study was prospectively registered at the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/ga9pt/ ).https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02272-8DisseminationKnowledge translationStakeholderSystematic reviewCochranePublic health |
| spellingShingle | Stefanie Maria Helmer Katja Matthias Lea Mergenthal Mia Reimer Karina Karolina De Santis Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study Systematic Reviews Dissemination Knowledge translation Stakeholder Systematic review Cochrane Public health |
| title | Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study |
| title_full | Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study |
| title_fullStr | Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study |
| title_short | Dissemination of knowledge from Cochrane Public Health reviews: a bibliographic study |
| title_sort | dissemination of knowledge from cochrane public health reviews a bibliographic study |
| topic | Dissemination Knowledge translation Stakeholder Systematic review Cochrane Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02272-8 |
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