Research To Reality: Moving Evidence Into Practice

Through A Community of Practice

Margaret M. Farrell MPH RDOffice of Partnership and Dissemination Initiatives

Office of Communications and EducationNational Cancer Institute

farrellm@mail.nih.gov@Margaretworking

Research To Reality: Moving Evidence Into Practice

Through A Community of Practice

Margaret M. Farrell; Alissa Gallagher; E. Peyton Purcell; Madeline La Porta; Cynthia Vinson;

Michael Sanchez; Natalie Zeigler; Candace D. Maynard; Theresa Devine

Disseminating and implementing evidence-based interventions require an active role beyond static web 1.0 resources. Researchers, community practitioners, and government partnerships must develop innovative ways to address the pressing issue of translating research into practice. The National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s Research-to-Reality (R2R) community of practice is an important aspect of the ongoing national dialogue about how practitioners and researchers can work together to move "programs that work" into the communities where they are needed most.

Since its launch in March 2010, the R2R site (researchtoreality.cancer.gov) has convened and engaged researchers and cancer control practitioners in an ongoing dialogue around identifying, adapting and implementing research-tested interventions and evidence-based programs and policies into practice.

R2R leverages a variety of applications in its work to develop a community of practice around this essential work. In order to engage researchers and cancer control practitioners, the NCI began and sustains a series of monthly “cyber-seminars” designed to highlight real world programs and initiate discussions between researchers and practitioners. This was an essential first step toward creating a community of practice.

Through ongoing discussions, featured content and partner highlights, R2R convenes stakeholders at the local, state, tribal, jurisdictional and national levels and encourages them to share their considerable knowledge and experience in addressing the burden of cancer.

As of February 2012, there are more than 800 registered members of the R2R community. More than 800 researchers and practitioners register for the monthly cyber-seminars and the site hosts more than 9.500 page views and 8,000 site visits on an average month. The level of engagement on the site, measured by time spent on the site, questions submitted via the cyber-seminars and discussions initiated and followed has continued to grow at a steady pace.

This presentation will outline work and findings to date of R2R’s ability to build the capacity of the public health workforce to reduce the gap between research and practice.

What Does It Take To Move Research Into Practice?

Redesign of Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. portal (Spring 2012)

http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips/index.do

CIS Partnership Program

• “Dissemination Arm”– Training partners

• Using What Works• P.L.A.N.E.T.

– Leading by Example• “Push-Pull” model in action• Provided leadership comprehensive

cancer control movement• Created a community of practitioners

Can NCI Create Framework for Engagement?

• Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T.– Provides access to data and research-tested

resources– 5 step approach: design, implement, adapt,

and evaluate evidence-based cancer control programs

• Step 2: “Find A Partner”• RTIPS: Research-Tested Interventions

Communities of Practice

“groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis”

Wenger, et al., 2002

Creating a Community of Engagement

• FRAMEWORK:discussions and interaction to take place within the

P.L.A.N.E.T. portal

• BUILD CAPACITYSharing best practices, learn from others, and enhance

skills through training opportunities

• ENGAGE: Communication between researchers and practitioners is

central to adapting research tested interventions

Cyber-Seminar Series

• Focus on translating research into practice• Foster engagement and dialogue by pairing

researcher with practitioners• Provide a forum to discuss successes and

challenges around implementing evidence-based cancer control programs

• Convene a community by providing consistent content on a regular basis

ResearchtoReality.cancer.gov

Creating A Framework

Engaging The CommunityRajeshwari replied on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 - 1:26pm

Hi Margaret,

Thank you so much for starting this wonderful discussion. 2011 has treated me better than 2010 and 2009 combined. In 2011, I published my first research article on the utilization of psychotropic medicines among U.S. cancer survivors. I feel good about it. Then, I got postdoctoral fellowship in Scott & White Healthcare. I am enjoying my return to academic or research field after 2 years of working in the industry. Thus, 2011 has inspired to revive my career in the healthcare research field.

Thanks,Raj

Cynthia replied on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 - 1:52pm

Hi all,

I would love to share a couple of things that I would consider "tidings of great joy" that I was able to work on during 2012.  First, I am very proud of all the work that has gone on related to Research to Reality (R2R) and send a huge kudos out to the entire R2R team and community!

Second, for the past several years I have struggled with the issue of what it takes to be able to translate evidence-based computerized tailored interventions into practice.  NCI has sponsored several meetings/expert panel sessions to discuss how to do this.  Based on these meetings two journal supplements were published in 2011.  

The first was published in March 2011 in the inaugural issue of Translational Behavioral Medicine (Volume 1, Number 1).  I was fortunate to work with some amazing colleagues on a paper published in this supplement called "Adapting research-tested computerized tailored interventions for broader dissemination and implementation". 

The second supplement was published in May 2011 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 40(5), Supplement 2 and focused on Cyberinfrastructure for Consumer Health.  Here is a link to the introduction to the supplement:  http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(11)00117-6/fulltext.

Thanks for starting the new year off on such a positive note.

Carrie replied on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 1:15pm

Happy New Year!

In 2011, our team was instrumental in forming a regional cancer coalition in a rural 29-county region in North Carolina.  Our initial coalition meeting was attended by 72 healthcare and community stakeholders from 27 counties and 36 organizations.  We are continuing to grow and moving forward by building the infrastructure of the group and collaborating with community partners in cancer-related initiatives.  Very exciting!

Building Capacity

Become a Part of R2R

To Date:834 registered users812 blocked users

Measuring Our Success

The Macurium Set of Community of Practice Measurements

(1st edition- March 2006)

• Activity – All signs of change and work, both direct and indirect

• Content – All signs of participation and knowledge

• Interaction – All signs of member socialization and collaboration

• Relevance – All signs of effectiveness

• Usability – All signs of the physical ease of use, quality and accessibility

ResearchtoReality.cancer.gov

Who Is coming to R2R?

• Collaborating is central to moving science into practice

• It is within this collaborative “space” that we are truly able to maximize our efforts

• Working within a community of practice framework is not a “nice thing to do” --- it is something we as practitioners “need to do”

Join Us!

Engage! Collaborate!

Become a Part of R2R

A Recent Success Story

Thank You! See you on R2R!

Margaret M. Farrell MPH RD

Office of Partnership and Dissemination Initiatives

Office of Communications and Education

National Cancer Institute

farrellm@mail.nih.gov

@Margaretworking